Jeremy Brevard – USA Today Sports Images
The famous philosophers Boyz II Men once sang, “I thought we’d see forever, but forever’s gone away. It’s so hard to say goodbye, to yesterday.” That pretty much sums up the relationship between the Charlotte Bobcats and guard Gerald Henderson.
Henderson is in his fourth year with the Bobcats. In his rookie season of 2009-2010, he played in 43 games for a Charlotte team that made the playoffs for the only time in franchise history. Henderson’s future with the Bobcats seemed like it might be prosperous.
Then came the past three seasons where Henderson’s role has grown, but the team’s success of the 2009-2010 season has yet to be duplicated. Henderson has been mediocre, but hasn’t truly developed into the player that Charlotte had hoped he would.
Averaging 12.8 points, 2.3 assists and 3.4 rebounds per game and shooting only 43 percent this season this season, Henderson has simply become another run-of-the-mill swing man that does a bevy of things decently, but nothing spectacularly.
The problem arises in the fact that the Bobcats already have several guards like Kemba Walker, Ramon Sessions and Ben Gordon that provide the majority of the team’s production. Thus, Henderson’s presence only makes the guard position a little crowded on the Bobcats’ roster.
Given that and the Bobcats’ intense struggles in the post, it seems like it’s time for Henderson to be moved.
Not only could Henderson be a valuable asset to a team in need of a guard that doesn’t make too many mistakes, but his contract is also easily tradable, as it expires after this year and is only worth $3.1 million this season.
With the trade market beginning to heat up leading up to the February trade deadline, it would be wise of the Bobcats to try and deal Henderson in return for some pieces that will help their struggling post-play—even if it is so hard to say goodbye.
