If the season started today, 29-year old DeSagana Diop would be the Charlotte Bobcats’ starting center.  Diop played in only 16 games (0 starts) for the Bobcats last year and he averaged 11.3 minutes, 1.3 points, 2.5 rebounds and 0.4 assists per game.  He has now played in 552 games (83 starts) in his NBA career so far and he is averaging 14.2 minutes, 2.1 points, 3.8 rebounds, 0.4 assists and 1.1 blocked shots per game.  The Bobcats are going to need to sign a free agent or make a trade for a center, because if Diop is their starting center….they will be in big, big trouble.

The Charlotte Bobcats have a lot of quantity at power forward heading into the 2011-12 season.  It all starts with 29-year old Boris Diaw.  Diaw played in 82 games (all starts) for the Bobcats last year and he averaged 33.9 minutes, 11.3 points, 5.0 rebounds and 4.1 assists per game.  He has now played in 623 games (433 starts) in his NBA career and he is averaging 30.5 minutes, 9.8 points, 4.9 rebounds and 4.0 assists per game.  Diaw will also get some P.T. at small forward in 2011-12 for the Bobcats.  25-year old Tyrus Thomas flashes outstanding potential but it never seems to convert to the court.  Thomas played in 41 games (2 starts) for the Bobcats last year and he averaged 21.0 minutes, 10.2 points, 5.5 rebounds and 0.7 assists and 1.6 blocked shots per game.  Thomas has now played in 320 games (97 starts) in his NBA career so far and he is averaging 20.5 minutes, 8.3 points, 5.2 rebounds, 0.9 assists and 1.4 blocked shots per game.  25-year old D.J. White is also a young player who has flashed some potential so far in his career.  He played in 47 games (0 starts) for the Thunder & Bobcats last year and he averaged 14.6 minutes, 5.7 points, 3.4 rebounds and 0.4 assists per game.  White has now played in 66 games (0 starts) in his first three years in the NBA and he is averaging 13.9 minutes, 5.9 points, 3.2 rebounds and 0.4 assists per game.  19-year old Bismack Biyombo came to the Bobcats in the first round of the NBA Draft last June.  He played in Spain last year, so he has been playing against decent competition.  He claimed on Draft Night that he would lead the NBA in both rebounding and blocked shots down the road.  It will be interesting to see if he can backup his big talk.  35-year old Eduardo Najera is still around.  He played in 31 games (0 starts) for the Bobcats last year and he averaged 12.0 minutes, 2.2 points, 1.4 rebounds and 0.6 assists per game.  Najera has now played in 597 games (85 starts) in his NBA career so far and he is averaging 18.3 minutes, 5.0 points, 3.8 rebounds and 0.8 assists per game.

32-year old small forward Corey Maggette will get a big chance to shine with the Bobcats in 2011-12 as he will be replacing Stephen Jackson (who he was dealt for).  Maggette played in 67 games (18 starts) for the Bucks last year and he averaged 20.9 minutes, 12.0 points, 3.6 rebounds and 1.3 assists per game.  He has now played in 777 games (450 starts) in his NBA career and he is averaging 28.6 minutes, 16.2 points, 5.0 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game.  Maggette is a very aggressive player on offense as he gets to the free throw line a lot by attacking the basket.  31-year old Matt Carroll will backup Maggette this year.  Carroll played in 54 games (1 start) for the Bobcats last year and he averaged 10.8 minutes, 4.4 points, 1.3 rebounds and 0.4 assists per game.  He has now played in 405 games (82 starts) in his NBA career and he is averaging 17.3 minutes, 7.1 points, 2.0 rebounds and 0.7 assists per game.

The Charlotte Bobcats are likely going to start 23-year old Gerald Henderson at shooting guard in 2011-12.  Henderson played in 68 games (30 starts) for the Bobcats last year and he averaged 24.4 minutes, 9.6 points, 3.0 rebounds and 1.5 assists per game.  He has now played in 111 games (30 starts) in his first two years in the NBA and he is averaging 18.2 minutes, 6.9 points, 2.4 rebounds and 1.0 assist per game.  34-year old Morris Peterson will likely backup Henderson this year.  He only played in 4 games (0 starts) for the Thunder last year and he averaged 5.8 minutes, 1.0 point, 0.8 rebounds and 0.3 assists per game.  Peterson has now played in 711 games (487 starts) so far in his NBA career and he is averaging 27.2 minutes, 10.7 points, 3.5 rebounds and 1.5 assists per game.