Matt Carroll News

With Sam Smith banished to Bulls.com and Peter Vescey losing steam, the mantle of brainless trade rumors seems to be up for grabs.

You're just not used to hearing much about the Charlotte Bobcats, despite my best efforts to get Gerald Wallace prematurely elected into the Hall of Fame.

Carroll to be replaced as starter? : The Charlotte Observer is reporting that D.J. Augustin and Alexis Ajinca could start Friday against the Hawks.

Based on Thursday's practice, coach Larry Brown is seriously considering starting rookies D.J. Augustin and Alexis Ajinca Friday against the Atlanta Hawks.

Michael Jordan doesn't speak publicly that often about the Charlotte Bobcats. When he does, it's always worth listening to.

IN HOTLY CONTESTED pickup games in Seattle and Mercer Island, Ryan Appleby worked to erase the perception that he's only a shooter.

Apparently he can. And did. Spitballin': Charlotte Bobcats Joe Dumars shook up the NBA with his deal for Allen Iverson but perhaps that move shouldn't be an isolated incident.

Andrea Bargnani scored 18 points for the Raptors, including a key 3-pointer with less than six minutes to go that put them ahead to stay.

Sounds strange: Chris Paul went for 20 points and 10 rebounds, and the Charlotte Bobcats say they played great defense on him.

Larry Brown is already in midseason form with these Bobcats. He's ripped Sean May for being fat, said nobody on his team plays defense, and that they are generally not ready for the season.

Thursday night we take on the Bobs at the Q. I asked the inimitable GWIII from Bobcats Bonfire , an MVN blog, to toss me some cogent pre-game thoughts.

Adam Morrison, center, talks to Matt Carroll, left. Lately, Morrison has displayed the same promise he showed at Gonzaga.

Adam Morrison walked into the Charlotte Bobcats' locker room Tuesday wearing a hooded sweatshirt, covering a secret that would leave his teammates stunned.

The problem with guaranteed contracts is they're so, well, guaranteed. Pithy as that sounds, it sums up the Charlotte Bobcats' immediate roster challenge.

As coaches go, Larry Brown might best be described as a fixer -- most comfortable in the practice gym, cleaning up the little flaws that add up to a bad team.

New head coach Larry Brown's top challenge is to lead the Bobcats to improve over last season's 32-50 record.

WILMINGTON That purple-and-pink "Little Miss Giggles" backpack he wears makes it hard to link D.J. Augustin with "tough." The backpack is a hazing prank, courtesy of Jason Richardson.

Published October 3, 2008 at 1:52 p.m. Updated October 3, 2008 at 3:03 p.m. WILMINGTON, N.C. _ Larry Brown has seemingly coached everywhere, so the unsolicited comment was striking.

How else can you explain that Atlanta Hawks going from almost beating the eventual World Champs to the third worst team in the Eastern Conference.

The Southeast Division-leading Miami Heat close out a home-and-home set with the Charlotte Bobcats this evening in North Carolina.