2007-2008
Finish: 43-39

What went well
The Charlotte Bobcats wanted this season to be the one where they shook off the expansion team doldrums and become a contender. Gm Brandon, so patient for three years of mediocrity and sculpting, was ready for some wins. But tragedy struck the team early on. Troubled forward Eddie Griffin was killed when his SUV struck a train, putting an end to a promising career mired with personal projects. It is possible such a horrible event would set a tone for the season, but the Bobcats shook it off and got on with business.

Brandon has been working with the same players for many years now and when Darko Milicic opted for free agency, the team did everything in its power to woo him back. They also brought in bench specialist Jerry Stackhouse to help teach the young players. But the big move was yet to come.

The Bobcats are an anomaly in this league. They are not free-wheeling traders, by any means. In fact, it had been over two years since the team made a trade of any kind. But Brandon had a whopper up his sleeve. He traded original Bobcat Bostjan Nachbar, Martell Webster and rookie Brandan Wright for super-duper star Michael Redd and change. The pundits in Charlotte went nuts. Now the team had a legitimate chance to contend.

What went bad
They didn’t make the playoffs. They finished two games behind Boston with a franchise-best record. The team, riding off of Redd, were doing well for most of the season, but then collapsed at the end. Blame it on lack of depth, but these upstart ‘Cats were scary for awhile. It just wasn’t enough.

The Stars

Michael Redd, G -
Oh, what a season for Michael Redd. The people in Milwaukee are kicking themselves right now, especially after such a poor showing from that team. Redd averaged a career-high 36.8 points on 51% shooting. Though he missed some games due to injury, he was more healthy than the prior season. He is still a top-rated player in the game.