By Mike Cranston
Associated Press
CHARLOTTE ó Larry Brown had just finished watching Russell Westbrook showcase his speed, athleticism and defensive ability in a pre-draft workout Thursday when the Charlotte Bobcats coach was peppered with questions about the UCLA point guard.
Brown, though, was quick to bring up Raymond Felton, saying the team already had a “pretty good point guard here.”
Still, three years after the Bobcats took Felton with the fifth pick in the draft, they could be faced with a tough decision if Westbrook is still available with the ninth pick on June 26.
The 6-foot-3 Westbrook, who left school after averaging 12.7 points and 4.3 assists as a sophomore, has seen his draft stock soar. Coaches and scouts have raved about his quickness, leaping ability and defense, all traits craved by Brown.
“He’s a young kid that just gets better and better,” said Brown, beginning his ninth NBA coaching job. “He’s real athletic and explosive. He’s got a chance, but like all of them, he wants to learn. He wants to get better.”
Westbrook, one of six players to audition for Charlotte on Thursday, might not be around at No. 9. Westbrook has worked out for New York (No. 6) and the Los Angeles Clippers (No. 7), both in need point guards. Westbrook, who has also auditioned for Seattle (No. 4), said Charlotte was his last workout before the draft.
Is that a signal that the tightlipped Bobcats have told Westbrook they’ll take him if he’s still there?
“I’ll probably talk to them after this workout and see what happens,” Westbrook said. “But I haven’t talked to them yet.”
Westbrook is considered the next-best point guard in the draft after Derrick Rose of Memphis, who could go No. 1 overall to Chicago. D.J. Augustin of Texas, who has not worked out for Charlotte, is also a likely top-tier first-round pick.
Regardless of whether the Bobcats feel Felton is the long-term answer at point guard, Charlotte needs help at the position. Jeff McInnis was released late last season, while Earl Boykins will become a free agent next month.
“It’s a young team. I think I’d fit in real well,” Westbrook said. “Coach Brown, I’ve seen him coach for several years. It’s a good team.”
General manager Rod Higgins has identified point guard and big men as the two areas of need. Charlotte has worked out 35 draft prospects so far, ranging from young, athletic big men to Westbrook, who was not considered a top prospect until his dazzling sophomore season when he was voted Pac-10 defensive player of the year.
“I haven’t seen anybody that we’ve had in here that I could say is going to be a starter right now,” Brown said. “But if you’re drafting ninth, I would hope somewhere down the road they’re going to be a starter and a major contributor. I’ve seen a lot of those kids so far.”
Felton averaged 14.4 points and 7.4 assists last season while shuttling between both guard positions. Entering the final year of his rookie contract, Felton is eligible for a new deal this summer.
Brown, who has always emphasized point guard play, has praised Felton since taking the job. But a Westbrook-Felton pairing could make for an interesting preseason.
“It’s just like starting college all over. You’ve got to come in and work for your minutes,” Westbrook said. “You’re not going to come in and just be given playing time. You’ve got to come in and work for it and try to get on the floor as much as possible.”