The Bobcats nearly drafted center Brook Lopez, who ended up going to the Nets with the 10th pick, last June.

Charlotte was on the clock at No. 9, and made it clear to Lopez's representatives that he was their choice. That was confirmed by several agents who were in touch with one of Lopez's agents, who went ballistic as soon as the Bobcats picked point guard D.J. Augustin instead.

"It was a pretty big shock. I said, 'I feel like Brady Quinn,'" Lopez recalled, referring to the Cleveland Browns' quarterback who slipped in the 2007 NFL Draft. "I'm sure Brady heard about me saying that -- I'm afraid to meet him now. But I'm glad how it ended up. I feel lucky the way it turned out."