Report: Tyrus Thomas could be snag in Charlotte Bobcats trading No. 2 pick in NBA Draft

The Bobcats are shopping the No. 2 pick in Thursday's NBA Draft, but the team reportedly wants bidders to take on the $26 million contract for Tyrus Thomas as well. (Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)

Rumors have swirled in recent days of Michael Jordan's Charlotte Bobcats looking to trade the team's No. 2 pick in Thursday's NBA Draft for proven talent and/or multiple first round-picks.

But Michael Lee of The Washington Post reports that the kicker to the Bobcats trading away that highly-coveted pick could be getting a team to also take on the contract for Tyrus Thomas, the team's forward who is owed more than $26 million over the next three years:

According to multiple sources, the Bobcats are trying to convince teams interested in the second pick to also take back disappointing power forward Tyrus Thomas. [W]hen asked if teams would be willing to touch Thomas, one Western Conference executive said, “I don’t think so.”

Thomas had his best season statistically in 2008-09 with the Chicago Bulls, averaging 10.8 points 6.4 rebounds, 1.9 blocks and 1.2 steals in nearly 28 minutes per game. But he's coming off one of his worst seasons in the league, averaging 5.6 points and 3. 7 rebounds in 18 minutes per game for the Bobcats last season.