MIAMI -- Michael Jordan continues to wow Fantasy owners even though he's been retired for years. He can still turn heads while sitting in an office as an executive for the Charlotte Bobcats.
Jordan keeps tinkering with the Bobcats roster to give coach Larry Brown the players he wants. We've seen Boris Diaw and Raja Bell added earlier this season for Jason Richardson, and now Vladimir Radmanovic was brought in for the disappointing Adam Morrison.
The first trade turned Diaw and Bell into Fantasy stars, and Radmanovic could be next. Are more moves on the way before the trading deadline Feb. 19? Brown wouldn't be surprised.
"We are trying to get the best team that we can," Brown said before a recent game against the Heat. "Basically I wanted four big guys to guard the center whether they be centers or power forwards. We wanted three guys that could play point guard, and we also wanted perimeter guys to play more than one position if they could. We're working toward that. I think Michael has done that."
The Bobcats have had solid Fantasy options the past few years with Emeka Okafor, Gerald Wallace and Raymond Felton. They've also had some players who flirted with breakout performances like Walter Herrmann and Matt Carroll in 2006-07.
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Boris Diaw is proving to be quite a Fantasy find in his new home.
(Getty Images)
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But this year, Brown's first as coach, has helped almost all the Bobcats shine. Okafor is a top 10 Fantasy center. Wallace, before he ran into
Andrew Bynum and suffered a broken rib and collapsed lung, is a No. 2 Fantasy forward when healthy. And Felton said he is having a breakout year. He's the No. 19 guard in Head-to-Head leagues and credits Brown for his development.
"I feel like I'm playing well," Felton said. "I feel like I'm playing the best basketball of my NBA career. Coach Brown has helped me out with the point guard game. He's helped me to learn the different points of it."
Isn't Brown known for being tough on young point guards?
"He's definitely tough on you," Felton said. "But at the same time, he's going to drill you and teach you. It's good."
Rookie guard D.J. Augustin has also played well despite battling an abdominal injury in January, but he has been a useful Fantasy option at times during the season. And then there are the new guys.
Diaw was known as a versatile player in Phoenix. Fantasy owners should remember 2005-06 when he started at center for the injured Amare Stoudemire and averaged 13.3 points, 6.9 rebounds and 6.2 assists.He's played well since then but never returned as a starting option in Fantasy leagues. That changed when he was traded to Charlotte, and he should be started in all leagues right now. He's averaging 14.5 points, 6.6 rebounds and 5.1 assists in 28 games with the Bobcats.
"It's been good," Diaw said of the trade. "Coach Brown gives us a lot of confidence. It's been good being able to play, play a lot of minutes and doing a lot of different things on the court.
"I had great years over there (in Phoenix). It was a lot of fun. I miss my teammates. But at one point, it's also about being able to express yourself and have a good role on the team and being able to play minutes. It's been a good experience here."
Diaw is known for being an unselfish player, but Brown recently told Diaw he would like to see him shoot more. That caught Diaw by surprise.
"I thought I was already shooting too much," Diaw said. "That just shows how much support he's giving to his players."
Bell also has seen a boost in his Fantasy value. He went from a reserve in Phoenix to a starter in most leagues while averaging 13.6 points, 3.7 rebounds and 2.8 assists in 21 games with Charlotte.
Known more for his defense, Bell is showing his offense is just fine now that he's getting a chance to be more aggressive.
"We've seen him do things that people haven't seen him do in the past," Diaw said. "He's handling the ball more. He's still a spot-up shooter and a very good defender, but he's doing other things as well that are good to see."
And now we'll find out if Radmanovic really was a "space cadet," as Lakers coach Phil Jackson once called him, or if he can take advantage of this opportunity.
After beginning the season as a starter for the Lakers, Radmanovic found himself behind Luke Walton and Trevor Ariza at small forward. When Bynum was injured, Lamar Odom moved into the starting lineup and Radmanovic fell even further in the rotation.
Radmanovic didn't play more than 14 minutes in any of his final six games with the Lakers and had only five points in his final four games. But if his first game with Charlotte is an indication, he should be added in all leagues now.
Against the Clippers, Radmanovic played 29 minutes and had 13 points, four rebounds and two assists. He will continue to see additional playing time until Wallace returns, which will be after the All-Star break, and his stats should improve.
Although more moves could happen, the Bobcats roster appears to be set.
"After the All-Star break everything will sort out, and I believe we'll go in the right direction," Brown said.
Fantasy owners should like the direction the Bobcats are going in right now. Thanks to Jordan and his trades, there are plenty of good options for your league.
Even now, Jordan continues to make highlight moves.
