NBA Draft: Bobcats talking trade

Associated PressCHARLOTTE — For a team without any picks, the Charlotte Bobcats sure aren’t acting like they plan to sit out Thursday’s NBA draft.After working out dozens of draft prospects in the past few weeks, the Bobcats have been talking deals with numerous teams in the past few days. Potential scenarios include something as big as a multiplayer trade that nets a first-round pick to something as simple as purchasing a second-round choice.“Very busy,” general manager Rod Higgins said Wednesday. “From the start to the end of the day we’re on the phones and we’re trying to improve our team. There have been a lot of conversations going on in terms of trading with other teams.”It should be no surprise. The Bobcats have pulled off draft-week deals in each of the last three years. They’ve made seven trades involving 21 players since the start of the 2008-09 season when Larry Brown took over as coach.With the Bobcats close to the luxury tax, a salary figure owner Michael Jordan has said they won’t go over, a relatively cheap rookie contract may be an attractive option.Higgins said the Bobcats will offer restricted free agent forward Tyrus Thomas a one-year, $6.2 million qualifying offer. That puts Charlotte close to the luxury tax figure even without factoring in unrestricted free agent Raymond Felton, who may not be re-signed.“We have cap considerations and a rookie contract might not be too expensive,” Brown said when asked if he wanted to obtain a pick. “If the guy can play, it’s a valuable thing, so we’ll see.”Past deals have left the Bobcats pick-less — for now. They sent a future first-round pick to Denver in 2008 so Charlotte could select Alexis Ajinca. The Nuggets later traded that lottery-protected pick to Minnesota, which uses it this year because the Bobcats made the playoffs for the first time.Phoenix holds Charlotte’s second-round selection dating to the Jason Richardson trade in 2008.But Brown said he’s been in Jordan’s office numerous times in the past week going over draft scenarios. The Bobcats could use help at point guard, especially if Felton leaves.“You always like to be aware of any possibilities,” Brown said. “We’ve had a lot of guys working on the draft. I’m a fan, I watch everybody. But it depends on what we have to give up. We’re in a different kind of situation.”For Higgins, who has been on the phone constantly in the past few days, it’s a matter of sorting out all the offers and scenarios, some of which aren’t legitimate.“A lot of teams are posturing,” Higgins said. “A lot of teams want to tell you that might do something or imply that they might do something when in all actuality it probably won’t get done. Every team is brainstorming right now.”NOTES: C Tyson Chandler has until the end of the month to decide if he’ll opt out of the final year of his deal, worth $12.7 million, and become a free agent. “He hasn’t made it clear that he’s going to do anything,” Higgins said. ... The Bobcats on Wednesday worked out free agents Courtney Fells, Anthony Grundy, Lamont Mack, Jamont Gordon and Chavis Holmes, candidates for their summer league team.