Bobcats' backcourt gets more bounce

Charlotte will look to add Augustin, not replace Felton

CHARLOTTE -- Charlotte Bobcats general manager Rod Higgins says drafting D.J. Augustin isn't intended to outmode Raymond Felton as the team's starting point guard.

Specifically, Higgins said, there's "no truth" to a report out of New York that the Bobcats might trade Felton to the Knicks for forward David Lee.

The Bobcats used the ninth overall pick on Augustin, a 6-foot point guard out of Texas. Three years ago the Bobcats selected North Carolina alumnus Felton with the fifth overall pick -- but he has spent as much time at shooting guard as point guard while sharing the backcourt with Brevin Knight and Jeff McInnis.

Higgins said Augustin should be ready as a rookie to be the Bobcats' backup point guard, but there is no reason to assume he would supplant Felton as the starter next season.

"We don't think D.J. is going to come in right now and be the starting point guard," Higgins said.

While Higgins dismissed talk of a Felton-to-the-Knicks trade, it's clear the Bobcats were in various trade discussions leading up to the draft. Managing partner Michael Jordan confirmed the team talked to the Toronto Raptors about a deal that could have swapped forward Gerald Wallace for point guard T.J. Ford. That deal snagged when the Raptors also asked for a draft pick.

Higgins said Wallace shouldn't take offense at such talks, as it demonstrates his value around the league.

"It happens. Names come up," Higgins said. "In some ways, that's a good thing."

Higgins said the choice of Augustin over Stanford center Brook Lopez with the ninth pick was "very close" -- so close the Bobcats told Lopez's representatives the team was strongly considering him.

Neither Augustin nor Lopez worked out for the Bobcats before the draft. Augustin said his agent made that decision, adding that he did not know why no workout was set up.

He did audition for several other teams, though -- the Los Angeles Clippers at No. 7, the Indiana Pacers at No. 11 and the Sacramento Kings at No. 12 -- each team had a need for a young point guard.

AJINCA AT SUMMER LEAGUE?: Higgins is not anticipating a problem buying Alexis Ajinca's French team's contract out in time for Ajinca to play for the Bobcats' summer-league team in Las Vegas next month.

The Bobcats used the 20th overall pick, acquired from the Denver Nuggets, on the 7-foot Ajinca. The Bobcats like Ajinca's length and athleticism, but acknowledge he's not as ready for the NBA as Augustin.

Higgins said the front office would evaluate Ajinca's play in before deciding whether to sign a veteran big man.

HERE AND THERE: A bit of irony for second-round pick Kyle Weaver of Washington State: His last college game was at Time Warner Cable Arena, in the NCAA Tournament. He spent much of that week listening to his college coach, Tony Bennett, being interviewed on playing for the then-Charlotte Hornets.

The Bobcats see Weaver as a player similar to Jared Dudley --multi-skilled and savvy enough to blend in with other players' skill sets.

* Higgins confirmed the Bobcats had exercised the option on forward Jermareo Davidson (about $700,000 next season) and made qualifying offers to restricted free agents Emeka Okafor and Ryan Hollins.

* Higgins anticipates all three rookies, plus Davidson and Dudley, playing in Las Vegas for the Bobcats. Hollins might play as a free agent.