| The Charlotte Observer (Charlotte, N.C.) CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- The Charlotte Bobcats have added an extra first-round pick for Thursday night 20th overall and don't be surprised if that's either an effort to acquire Georgetown center Roy Hibbert or a way to move up from No.9. SAVE MONEY ON TRAVEL DEALS The Bobcats completed a deal late Wednesday with the Denver Nuggets for No. 20. In return, the Bobcats will send a future first-round pick to the Nuggets. That pick has some protection, but the Bobcats didn't specify what that provision is. A league source with knowledge of the protection said the Nuggets would get Charlotte's 2009 first-round pick only if it is outside the top 14. That the Bobcats added a pick in the early 20s was not a surprise. The Charlotte Observer previously reported talks between the Bobcats and New Jersey Nets concerning the 21st pick. The NBA source with knowledge of those talks said the Bobcats were potentially targeting Hibbert, a 7-foot-2 college senior. Ideally, the Bobcats would address their needs Thursday night by adding a big man and a point guard. They retain the ninth overall pick, although general manager Rod Higgins said he's exploring ways to move up in the draft order. Sending Nos. 9 and 20 to a top-eight team could be one way for the Bobcats to move up. Higgins didn't say which top-eight teams he's approached, but several NBA sources identified the Memphis Grizzlies, with the No.5 overall pick, as the team most willing to deal down. Those same sources said the Grizzlies are looking to discard the contract of forward Brian Cardinal, who has underachieved since signing as a free agent. Cardinal is owed $6.3 million next season and $6.75 million the following season. That would be a huge price, both in real dollars and salary-cap space, to move up four spots in the draft. There are ways to balance off some of that burden. For instance, the Bobcats could include injured forward Sean May, owed $2.66 million next season, to reduce the net effect on Charlotte's payroll. Trading first-round picks has become a common practice in the Bobcats' short history. They moved from fourth to second in their first season to acquire center-forward Emeka Okafor and last season sent the rights to No.8 pick Brandan Wright to Golden State for veteran Jason Richardson.
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