
DRAFT PICKS: D.J. Augustin, G, 6-0, Texas -- Undersized, pass-first point guard who'll serve as a contrast to incumbent Raymond Felton.
Alexis Ajinca, C 7-0, French pro -- Raw, long-limbed athlete who figures to be a long-term project inside. Kyle Weaver, G 6-6, Washington State -- Above-average defender at shooting guard who needs to become a better shooter. Traded to Oklahoma City in August for a 2009 second-round pick,.
FREE AGENT FOCUS: Emeka Okafor's signing resolved the major issue of the summer and Ryan Hollins accepted a one-year qualifying offer to stay in Charlotte.
The Bobcats could offer Raymond Felton a contract extension now, to avoid him becoming a restricted free agent next summer, but it's questionable whether Felton and the Bobcats would agree on his long-term worth at this juncture -- particularly after spending a lottery pick on another point guard, D.J. Augustin.
PLAYER NOTES:
--General manager Rod Higgins still has to decide whether to sign another veteran big man (which in part would serve as insurance against Sean May's injury history). Higgins said any decision on complementary players was secondary to resolving the Emeka Okafor situation.
--Earl Boykins' decision to sign with an Italian team was of no consequence to the Bobcats. Boykins didn't do much in his half-season in Charlotte, and once the team drafted another point guard, Texas' D.J. Augustin, with the ninth overall pick, there was no reason to bring back Boykins.
--Rookie center Alexis Ajinca suffered a knee sprain in the final game of summer league in Las Vegas, but that isn't expected to slow him in training camp in October.
--The Bobcats signed Shannon Brown, a guard out of the developmental league. Brown would have to play very well to make this team in October, since the Bobcats already have so much talent at the guard spots.
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