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July 21, 2008
What next for Okafor?
So now what?
A source with knowledge of the negotiations says Emeka Okafor is ready to move on, rather than accept what the Charlotte Bobcats have offered long-term for his services.
The Bobcats can hold on to him for next season, but perhaps the best way to preserve value is to arrange a sign-and-trade. The Bobcats aren’t saying what they’d consider but here are five ideas that might be worth considering now or later:
MIAMI: Does Shawn Marion float your boat? He appears to be available, with a single, $17.8 million season left on his contract. Swapping Okafor (plus another contract) for Marion would make the Bobcats smaller, but more athletic.
CLEVELAND: Remember when the Bobcats signed Anderson Varejao to that offer sheet last season? Predictably the Cavaliers matched it in an instant. But now Varejao’s agent, Dan Fegan, is interested in moving his client to a team that would prioritize re-signing Varejao.
The Bobcats need an athletic, energetic big man, but here’s the rub: Under league rules, the Bobcats couldn’t trade for Varejao until a year has passed from the time of the offer sheet. That means after Dec. 5. It’s possible the Bobcats could wait that long to resolve the Okafor issue, but that’s a long time to sit in limbo with an unhappy star.
GOLDEN STATE: In case you haven’t noticed, the Warriors have some interesting questions regarding their big men. Andris Biedrins is another of those restricted free agents, and Al Harrington ($9.2 million this season, $10 million next season) is very available.
CHICAGO: I’m not so sure that Okafor’s performances against the Bulls would make that team’s management swoon. However, this is a team with a lot of moving parts, a lot of disenchanted employees and cause to think they’d be open to a deal.
Luol Deng, another restricted from the class of 2004, would help any team. Would Deng, plus maybe one of three forwards (Joakim Noah, Tyrus Thomas or Andres Nocioni?) make sense as the basis for a deal?
DALLAS: I don’t have any ideal match here, but have you ever heard of a sign-and-trade scenario that didn’t involve Mark Cuban?
Posted by Observer staff on July 21, 2008 at 11:37 PM | Permalink
Comments
Okafor is a greedy SOB. He thinks he's much better than he is. It if wasn't for his height he would be an engineer or something...he isn't athletic at all. I would do Deng and Noah in a heartbeat.
Posted by: Okajoke | Jul 22, 2008 12:45:49 AM
Okafor is greedy. We can get someone better than him. He doesnt play with any passion or heart. And he isnt even that good. I would love getting someone with a passion and athleticism that can make this team better. While Ajinca is still learning, we are one big man away form being really good.
Posted by: Bobcatsfan89 | Jul 22, 2008 1:56:47 AM
If we don't get a halfway decent big out of a sign and trade with Okafor, then we get screwed. The only players out of the ones that Bonnell mentions that qualify as decent bigs are Andris Biedrens and Marion. Biedrens is not nearly the player that Okafor is, but with another player and/or picks added, it could be a worthwhile trade. Marion is intriguing mainly because of salary cap ramifications for next season. And while he is a better player than Okafor, he doesn't come close to providing the defensive presence down low that this team will need.
If Okafor is really set on going, I don't blame him, but an ownership and management group that has done all the right things to market the 'Cats, except one. WIN. And we won't be doing that anytime soon if we can't return something close to equal value for 'Mek.
Posted by: BustaCat | Jul 22, 2008 2:22:22 AM
Oh, and by the way, the STUPIDEST thing we could do is trade for Varejao?! WTF! How is this even an option ANYONE would ever consider! Mohammed is better than Varejao! I would resign McInnis and play him at PF before I traded Emeka Okafor for Anderson Varejao.
Posted by: BustaCat | Jul 22, 2008 2:27:36 AM
And Tommy Jones' comment above once more confirms a lot of people's opinions of Charlotte. The fact that it gets posted and remains posted on the site of a so called "reputable newspaper" just astounds me.
Posted by: Rustyman | Jul 22, 2008 5:52:52 AM
GOOD RIDDANCE. This guy is a joke. He'll always be a role player, never dominant, wannabe center, weak at defending any player outside 2 feet around the rim, be an offensive liability with no post moves that leads the league in having his shot blocked, and he's due to get injured.
Sorry Choke-afor, you lost me last year when you and your agent said you wanted 'Dwight Howard money'. I'm sorry but a guy that wants to get paid like that should at least have the potential to one day make an all-star team, and he NEVER will. You don't deserve anywhere near that. Go on over to Memphis or the Clippers, never to be heard from again.
Posted by: black bush | Jul 22, 2008 7:26:20 AM
black bush, the Clippers didn't want him. Nobody wants him, including us apparantly. Does anyone know what LB's track record is in sign and trade deals? And Rustyman, the racist comment is still posted because Mike Persinger isn't awake yet.
Posted by: apauldds | Jul 22, 2008 7:45:32 AM
I like Okafor, he is a solid defender who can also give you about 12 - 14 pts a game but I certainly can blame the man for wanting to leave the Bobcats.
Posted by: matt | Jul 22, 2008 7:46:40 AM
Gentlemen,
Please relax. The Bobcats' amazing and legendary director of operations, Michael Jordan, oversees and directs all player personnel issues, draft choices and trades. Having Michael as our major player assessment agent is our ace in the hole. With his unique insights into player strengths and future contributions, it is abundantly clear that the Bobcats are on the fast track to an NBA championship. Michael is a legend...perhaps the greatest athlete in U.S. sports history! He is a winner and he directs and manages our trades. How can we go wrong? There is no question that shrewd move to trade into that additional first round draft pick this year will pay dividends for this promising team for years and years. Now, I feel comfortable with MJ managing the Okafor situation. Mr. Jordan dissects and analyzes talent like an accountant crunches numbers. I suspect he is in the nerve center/war room of Time Warner Arena pouring over stats, videos and working the phones, coming up with options that will lead the Bobcats to the NBA CHAMPIONSHIP! We should all be in awe and certainly very proud to have this fabulous former basketball superstar working overtime to ensure that the CHARLOTTE BOBCATS will be hoisting the championship trophy at TRADE AND TRYON! He is the perfect role model for our children, as well as the prototype NBA executive. Wouldn't any NBA TEAM drool at the prospect of having this hoops hall of famer directing their player personnel? Mike, THANKS FOR ALL YOU DO TO HELP PUT BOBCATS IN THE WINNER'S CIRCLE AND TO SEND THE BOBCATS POPULARITY THROUGH THE ROOF!
Posted by: Alex Moore | Jul 22, 2008 8:08:30 AM
Trade Okafor to CHI for Deng and Noah, that makes sense to me. Deng will be a starter right away, while Noah will get a lot of minutes (he needs out of that stacked Bulls team anyway). Okafor will never be anything in the NBA, he just doesn't have the game to be dominant.
Posted by: whitemiket | Jul 22, 2008 8:33:33 AM
We should look into packaging Wallace and Okafor. I think with the 2 of them on the together...we should be able to get a big and a backup 3. Guys who might then be available: Boozer, Stoudamire, Wilcox, or Al Jefferson. But Okafor alone has as much trade legs as Lt. Dan from Forrest Gump.
Of Ricks scenarios I say Marion or Biedrins...but I would want a Bellinini or Chalmers thrown in to sweeten the pot.
And Alex Moore...time for some fresh material holmes.
Posted by: eleaf14 | Jul 22, 2008 8:44:54 AM
Neither Emeka Okafor have ever used a phrase remotely close to "I want Dwight Howard money." If they have, please show me a reference to it. Okafor is an All-Star right now on a team that doesn't suck with a decent point guard. I'm intrigued by your take, too, Matt, that Okafor is a 12-14 PPG player. Interestingly, he's never scored lower than 13 PPG, and he was up at 15 as a rookie with a poor post game prior to Ray Ray's showing up and stealing everybody else's shots. Emeka's FGAs keep going down as his FG% goes up...doesn't make sense to me.
Posted by: Michael Procton | Jul 22, 2008 8:45:27 AM
Honestly, I know big men have more value around the league than wing players, but would Chicago really accept Okafor for Deng and Noah? I seriously doubt it however I would take that trade in a heartbeat and would then start Deng alongside Richardson. I would try and move Wallace for another big.
Posted by: Mason | Jul 22, 2008 8:52:01 AM
Procton, per my post yesterday, here is a direct quote from a post of yours about Augustin scoring at the rim but that he has not done it against real NBA PFs and Cs. You came back with the following, so like I said, how is it that Augustin is playing against real NBA PFs and Cs where as Randolph is playing against hacks? How is it that you know more than all of the GMs and scouts who are now drooling over Randolph? How is it that they all believe Randolph will play PF and SF yet you claim he couldn't help our team? Do you know who most of the teams in the East play at PF? Do you just like ot argue to hear yourself talk? Do you flip a coin in order to see which side of a debate you want to take? How is it that you also mention quality frontcour and include Julian Wright, who is smaller than Randolph, but don't consider Randolph a frontcourt player?
"Real NBA Cs and PFs?" I'm sorry, but he put up 15 points on a very low shot total (9 shots) again, and he did it against a quality frontcourt that included Hilton Armstrong and Julian Wright, who both have significant NBA experience.
Posted by: Mason | Jul 22, 2008 9:00:04 AM
OK, fine. I didn't substantiate that point. Augustin had a good game against Armstrong and Wright, both of whom indeed have NBA experience. Randolph's two great games were against Nathan Jawai and Desmon Farmer of the Raptors (neither has ever played an NBA game) and Mareese Speights and Jason Smith of the 76ers. Again, Randolph will get DESTROYED if he tries to play PF. Julian Wright is a frontcourt player because he has a post game. As you described, Randolph can drive. Unfortunately, he can't post up, can't rebound, can't defend in the post. BIG WING. Further, the difference between a big, athletic player being able to take over a summer league game and an undersized point guard being able to do the same is HUGE. Randolph can outplay summer league guys based on his size advantage and athletic ability. Augustin is STILL massively outsized, summer league or regular season. His ability to find the rim, draw contact, and still put up a good shot translates much better than Randolph being able to break down Nathan Jawai.
Posted by: Michael Procton | Jul 22, 2008 9:33:13 AM
Oh, and before you tell me about how Jason Smith has NBA experience: 76 G, 1107 MP. Armstrong+Wright: 178 G, 2012 MP.
Posted by: Michael Procton | Jul 22, 2008 9:35:22 AM
Procton, why are you challenging my 12-14 pt reference. For a career, Okafor has an average of 14pts/game
Posted by: matt | Jul 22, 2008 10:03:38 AM
Procton, how many more points do you think Mek would score with Augustin's 2APG?
Posted by: apauldds | Jul 22, 2008 10:05:01 AM
Okafor is a solid role player. However, dude is not worth over 12 million a year. I would love to see the Bobcats get Deng and Thomas for Okafor. Emeka is a solid NBA PF, but his time here in Charlotte has run its course.
I really hope this Verajo nonsense comes to a hault. I do not want that guy on this team. I would rather pay Okafor 14 million a year than sign Anderson.
Posted by: Token | Jul 22, 2008 10:10:34 AM
Because he's never scored fewer than 13.1. 12 is significantly lower than 13.1.
And ap, based on WATCHING the games (which I doubt you did), I assume he'll get several more given he's a little better of a finisher than James Mays and Kyle Hines.
Posted by: Michael Procton | Jul 22, 2008 10:11:25 AM
This team doesn't need another wing player. Unless you are going to trade a guy like Wallace and Morrison or Carroll. So Marion is out of the question. There is no one out there that is worth trading Okafor. Now this hurts because bottom line he seems to be tired of dealing with this front office. Once Okafor leaves how many players are going to want to come here. This move is going to cost this organization wins. Not just this season but for the next 2,3,4 seasons if not more. We better hope Augustin is the 2nd coming of Jason Kidd or Chris Paul because Brook Lopez was there. If we would have drafted Lopez, Okafor signs back and this team is a playoff team. Get ready to see how bad it can get here. You think the TWC Arena has been empty before, wait until we start getting blown out game after game once Okafor leaves. The NBA might just send us to the D-League.
Posted by: knewt | Jul 22, 2008 10:13:14 AM
Proc, he give you scoring somewhere in the range of 12-14 points a game, his lowest average is 13.1, his career average is 14.3, there is nothing misleading or innacurate about my statement. And no 12pts and 13pts is different, but not signifigant
Posted by: matt | Jul 22, 2008 10:15:43 AM
Which is why we need to get something for him now.
Posted by: apauldds | Jul 22, 2008 10:18:38 AM
No...it discredits him as a "12 PPG scorer" when he's never been that low in his entire career.
Posted by: Michael Procton | Jul 22, 2008 10:28:40 AM
you are knitpicking here statboy, 12-14pts a game falls within the range for his lowest scoring season and scoring for last season
Posted by: matt | Jul 22, 2008 10:31:30 AM
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