Bobcats select Duke guard Gerald Henderson

June 25, 9:22 PMCharlotte Bobcats ExaminerDavid Sentendrey

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Leaving Duke University, Gerald Henderson will join a team full of Tar-Heels after being selected with the No. 12 overall pick by the Charlotte Bobcats in the 2009 NBA Draft.

The Bobcats need help on offense, finishing at the bottom of the NBA in scoring last season.

This is a solid pick for the Bobcats. Many speculated that Terrance Williams was the pick  the Bocbats wanted, but he was grabbed one pick before Charlotte by the New Jersey Nets.

After averaging 16.5 points, 4.9 rebounds and 2.5 assists last season at Duke, Henderson will come to Charlotte and learn to develop at the shooting guard position under Raja Bell.

The Bobcats are without a solid backup for Raja Bell. Henderson should get valuable minutes as a rookie learning from Bell, who has had enough experience in the league to show Henderson the ropes.

Last season, Bobcats’ rookie from Texas, D.J. Augustin, averaged 26.5 minutes and 11.8 points per game. Augustin helped improve Charlotte’s offense immediately, backing up Raymond Felton. Look for Henderson to come in and do the same.

This was the pick that I would have liked to make in the 2009 Examiner Mock Draft, but Henderson was taken to the Toronto Raptors with the No. 8 overall pick.

Henderson will join a team with former UNC athletes like Raymond Felton, possibly Sean May if Charlotte offers him a smaller contract and he accepts it, head coach Larry Brown and managing partner Michael Jordan.

Tough crowd for a former “Dukie”.

But Henderson is in Charlotte now, competing for a team that may be only one piece away from their first ever playoff birth.

Can Henderson be that missing piece?

If his pedigree is a sign of anything to come, then yes. His father played 13 season in the NBA and won NBA championships with the Boston Celtics and the Detroit Pistons.

Henderson will bring to Charlotte strong defense, which Larry Brown will love and still improve, perimeter shooting, quickness getting to the basket and all-around toughness.