CHARLOTTE -- You don’t have to look too closely to see why the Charlotte Bobcats traded for Stephen Jackson, a malcontent with a huge contract. 

It’s all about scoring. The Bobcats are averaging a league worst 82.4 points per game. But this trade won’t be as huge a boon to the boxscore as the Bobcats expect. 

The trade - which cost Charlotte guard Raja Bell and forward Vladimir Radmanovic and also netted spare part Acie Law - puts Jackson at shooting guard and gives the Bobcats a guy who can help make plays for others, something that Bell could not do. 

For those who haven’t watched the Bobcats play this season, their best play has been throw it up and hope Gerald Wallace gets the rebound for a putback. They have been held below 80 points five times in nine games. 

Jackson’s point forward abilities will help put an end to that, taking some of the playmaking responsibilities from Raymond Felton, who has career worsts of 3.0 turnovers per game and 36 percent shooting. 

Charlotte’s 80-74 loss to Portland seemed to be the tipping point for this trade. Afterward, coach Larry Brown lamented, "We defended as well as we can and I thought we played hard. We just can’t make shots." 

While this trade will help in that regard, it’s not like Jackson will pump in 20 points per game for Charlotte's struggling offense. His scoring average is inflated by the frenetic pace of the Golden State Warriors, who play faster than Phoenix or New York. 

The Warriors attempt nine more shots per game than the Bobcats. Using ESPN’s pace factor, Golden State plays at the NBA’s fastest pace while Charlotte is the league’s slowest team. 

The math is simple: Less shots and a slower pace will equal less scoring by Jackson in Charlotte. He should be able to inject some life into the Bobcats' offense, transforming it from cover-your-eyes bad to just bad. But that is about all. 

Where the water really gets muddy is when you look at this deal from a financial perspective. In the offseason, Charlotte traded Emeka Okafor to New Orleans for Tyson Chandler, in part because Okafor’s contract runs through the 2014 and Chandler’s ends in 2011. 

Bell had an expiring contract and Radmanovic’s deal runs through 2011. But Jackson just signed a three-year extension that doesn't begin until next season. He will be making $10 million when he is 35. 

Guards and wings start to lose their mojo in their mid-30s - Bell is a good example - and Jackson has averaged more than 39 minutes per game over the last two seasons. And that doesn't even take into account his volatile temperament. 

It looks like the Charlotte Bobcats seem to be hoping that this temporary relief will help heal the longtime pain. 

James Hamlin is a frequent contributor to Pro Basketball News. He can be reached at jameshamlin810@gmail.com.