Print
RSS 
Sign up for E-news
THE FOUNDATION
 |
On having the foundation in place: That part is done. We’ve got a system in, we’ve defined our culture, there were a lot of positive things that happened. We’ve got to continue to build on that. The most difficult part – the foundation – has been laid. Now we’ve got to continue to build. We’ve got to get better as a basketball team.
On whether he feels good about the foundation: I have no reservations about that. I think we’ll come out of this with a core group of players.
On how this year's experience will help the players: They’ll be better players because of the minutes and experience they got this year. But what they all have to do is to do it again. This was just a test. The true test is if can you do it over a period of time.
On whether he feels the players took advantage of the opportunity: They seized an opportunity that was given them by an expansion team. All they did was raise their level, their professionalism on and off the court. They represented Charlotte well.
THE FUTURE
On long-term plans for building the team: We want to build again through the draft. We think we’ll get a couple of good players out of the draft, but there are a lot of scenarios. I don’t think any of this will be able to solidify until we find out where we are (in the draft) and find out what’s coming out in terms of all the players.
On having the second lottery pick: Maybe we can even move up in that situation. It’s not etched in stone. This young franchise deserved a break. We’re there. Now I want to get greedy and see if we can move up. But we will get two good players.
On whether he would consider consolidating the two picks for a trade to move up in the draft: Well, if there’s someone out there who collectively our group feels, after we do our due diligence and do our work, that we feel that we could get a terrific player who we feel real good about, then that possibility is there. But what this does is it gives us options. And that’s what you like to have in a draft, you like to have options.
On his summer plans: I’m leaving for Europe to watch players on (April 23) and then I’m going to come back and get some vacation time. We have the lottery in late May and then we start bringing players in. We’ve got to go to Chicago (for pre-draft camp) and I also want to watch some playoff games just to see how guys compete. Then we’ve got contracts that we have to make decisions about, so there’s a lot of work.
On when he has to make contract decisions: I don’t worry about that until I get back from Europe and after I get back from vacation. The restricted (free agents) are the first ones that have to be done. Unrestricted (free agents) can’t be done until July. (The deadline on the restricted is) the last day of the NBA playoffs, the championship playoffs. It could end in June or could be sooner. I think the 23rd of June is the date for the last possible playoff game. It goes for like seven days, I think, to the 30th and then there’s another deadline there that goes to October 1 that has different stipulations on it.
On when he will start bringing in rookie/free agent candidates for workouts: I’ve got to get through Europe first. Then we’ll watch those guys. Probably a little before Chicago (for pre-draft camp) or after we get back from Chicago.
On whether having two first-round picks will double the workload: Not really because we did that last year when we had our number one and we had seconds (second-round draft picks) so we brought in what, 35 or 40 people.
THE PLAYERS
 |
On Primoz Brezec: Primoz has been a terrific find. He was a guy who had not played much basketball in the NBA, but he was there in a very positive environment in Indiana. For a guy to come out and all of a sudden this year gets a chance to play and goes double figures, then he should be considered as one of the guys for the Most Improved Player Award.
On Brevin Knight; Brevin was our floor general. He took full advantage of the opportunity. He finished second in the league in assists. Some nights he just had 16 or 17 assists. He was really the key to any kind of success we had. He was our most valuable player. I think his teammates would feel the same way.
On Gerald Wallace: Gerald is athletic with talent. The best thing that happened with all these guys is that they got an opportunity and took advantage of it.
On Matt Carroll: He took advantage of the opportunity as well. He shoots the basketball and stretches defenses. He has the ability to get to the free throw line.
On the shooting guard position: We could never get any continuity there because of injuries. That hurt us a lot at that position. We could never really get a rotation like we wanted. Keith (Bogans) is hard-nosed. He works at his game and is probably one of our better defensive players at that position. Kareem (Rush) is very talented. He probably could take the pressure off a lot of our players with his shot.
FANS & THE NEW ARENA
On the fan support: We appreciated the fans. They were there and this team needed it with some of the agonizing losses. The people were there and they were consistent. They were as consistent as the basketball team in terms of being there and being supportive. That was really important for a young basketball team.
On the New Charlotte Arena opening next season: I think the arena is a fresh start for everyone. The new building will be a sense of pride for the guys on the team and everyone involved with the team. We go around the league and see all the new palaces, but our arena will be filled with all the amenities. From a basketball perspective, this new state-of-the-art will be influential in terms of recruiting free agents.
