32-year old shooting guard Stephen Jackson gave the Bobcats a huge boost last season after coming over from the Warriors in a deal early in the year. Jackson played in 81 games (all starts) for the Bobcats last year and he averaged 38.6 minutes, 20.6 points, 5.0 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 1.6 steals per game. He has now played in 680 games (589 starts) in his NBA career and he has averaged 33.2 minutes, 16.1 points, 4.0 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 1.4 steals per game. Jackson will likely be the team leader in scoring in 2010-11.

22-year old Gerald Henderson will likely be the main backup to Jackson at shooting guard this year. Henderson played in 43 games (0 starts) for the Bobcats as a rookie last year and he averaged 8.3 minutes, 2.6 points, 1.3 rebounds and 0.3 assists per game. He only shot 35.6% from the floor last year and he will need to improve on that if he’s going to earn more minutes this year.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE BOBCATS SHOOTING GUARDS IN 2010-11: B+

The Bobcats have invited 22-year old point guard Javaris Crittenton to training camp. Crittenton didn’t play at all last season and he was one of the Wizards’ players who was part of the gunfight at the O.K. Corral (Wizards’ locker room). He has played in 113 games (10 starts) in his NBA career and he has averaged 16.4 minutes, 5.3 points, 2.4 rebounds and 1.8 assists per game. Hopefully he doesn’t pull a gun on Stephen Jackson this year.

UPDATE: (10/15/2010) – The Bobcats have released Javaris Crittenton.

The Bobcats have invited 28-year old small forward Darius Miles to training camp. Miles last played in the NBA in 2008-09 with the Memphis Grizzlies. Miles has played in 446 games (190 starts) in his NBA career and he has averaged 26.3 minutes, 10.1 points, 4.9 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 1.1 blocked shots per game. If Miles is sound health wise he could help the Bobcats off the bench this year. If he’s not healthy they will just cut him.

The Bobcats will likely have a training camp battle between 25-year old Shaun Livingston and 22-year old D.J. Augustin to determine who will start at point guard in 2010-11. The early favorite appears to be Shaun Lvingston because of his salary. Livingston played in 36 games (18 starts) for the Thunder & Wizards last season and he averaged 22.1 minutes, 6.9 points, 2.2 rebounds and 3.6 assists per game. He has now played in 193 games (79 starts) in his NBA career and he has averaged 25.8 minutes, 7.2 points, 2.9 rebounds and 4.4 assists per game. Livingston has only hit 18.8% of his shots from three point range so the Bobcats are going to need other shooters on the court when he plays.

D.J. Augustin flopped in his second year with the Bobcats. He played in 80 games (2 starts) for the Bobcats last year and he averaged 18.4 minutes, 6.4 points, 1.2 rebounds and 2.4 assists per game. Augustin has now played in 152 games (14 starts) in his two years with the Bobcats and he has averaged 22.2 minutes, 8.9 points, 1.5 rebounds and 2.9 assists per game. Augustin is also a much better shooter than Livingston as he has connected on 42% of his career shots from three point range. He was a former first round pick of the Bobcats so don’t be stunned if he beats out Livingston for the starting gig.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE BOBCATS POINT GUARDS IN 2010-11: C