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November 08, 2008
Look for trouble if ailing Okafor is sidelined
Emeka Okafor spent most of Saturday practice in a chair, covered in flannel. He was sick, and if he’s not well enough to play Sunday afternoon, it should make things quite easy for the Toronto Raptors.
Raptors big man Chris Bosh has always been a tough cover for the Bobcats, and now they have Jermaine O’Neal inside, too. If Okafor can’t play, and the Bobcats have to count on rookie center Alexis Ajinca for real minutes, this could be ugly.
Against the Hornets Friday, Ajinca committed three fouls in as many minutes. So I doubt he can do much with either Bosh or O’Neal right now without hearing constant whistles. Okafor complained of stomach aches and headaches.
But since they didn’t send him home (he listened from the sideline as the Bobcats walked through the Raptors’ plays), I suspect he’ll at least give it a try to play versus the Raptors.
Posted by Observer Sports on November 8, 2008 at 03:59 PM | Permalink
Comments
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Posted by: tony belk | Nov 8, 2008 4:10:11 PM
Rick,
Great coverage on the Wallace rumors. Can you expand on why we would want to trade Wallace for just Curry? Why not ask for both Lee and Curry back? Or, why not trade for Harrington striaght up and leave the Knicks out of it? He is a PF that could play alongside Okafor. Just Curry though? Seems like we could get more...
Posted by: HJ | Nov 8, 2008 5:09:55 PM
Like you said, Ajinca would foul out in a matter of minutes, so he's not going to be on the court for an extended period of time. But, I would love to see what he's got against that caliber of competition.
Actually, I would assume Nazr and Andre Brown would take Okafor's minutes, and Dudley/G-Wallace would see more minutes at the 4.
I hope Okafor gets well soon, since we totally need him to be anything near competitive.
Posted by: Cats_Fan | Nov 8, 2008 6:13:22 PM
In Ajinca's defense at least one of those fouls was taken by him to keep from being called on Okafor.
Posted by: Bro D. | Nov 8, 2008 7:49:39 PM
Agree with HJ. Wallace for Curry, (0 minutes this season, out of shape like May) we would be getting hosed. David Lee is the Knick we need, maybe for Felton. Gerald is too good to let go for that deal and better than Al Harrington.
Posted by: CharlotteFan | Nov 8, 2008 8:36:04 PM
Marc Stein's Weekend Dime:
"The Warriors, sources say, are not interested in absorbing the contract of Charlotte's very available Gerald Wallace, seeing little need for Wallace (and the four seasons left on his contract after this one at a cost of $38 million) when they have Corey Maggette and the soon-to-be-extended Stephen Jackson. (For the record, I was indeed told Friday that Jackson's contract extension is still coming sooner rather later.)
The Knicks continue to seriously covet Golden State's Al Harrington, but Charlotte, offering Wallace, won't work as a third-team facilitator. One source indicated that the Bobcats indeed have some interest in an Eddy Curry-for-Wallace swap, but taking on Wallace would run completely counter to New York's hopes (prayers?) of freeing up the salary-cap space to get into the bidding for LeBron James and the rest of the amazing 2010 free-agent class.
The most consistent trade chatter these days, besides anything involving Harrington or Wallace, maintains that no team in circulation is more motivated to deal than Portland … as long as you don't ask the Blazers for Brandon Roy, LaMarcus Aldridge or, yes, Greg Oden."
Posted by: Yeah? | Nov 8, 2008 10:00:04 PM
I wouldn't be too fixated on Wallace-Curry-Harrington as the issue. Read what Jordan said to Scott Fowler: That he's receptive to trading for a big man and he'd also like a true third point guard.
You're not going to get a quality big man without giving up something of value in return. Gerald represents value in return, which is why I think his name keeps coming up as available.
I think Bobcats management is saying by implication that Emeka Okafor and Jason Richardson would be harder to replace than Gerald. That's a reasonable point of view, but when you extract Gerald Wallace from that team, you extract a standard for energy and aggressiveness. And that would hurt.
Posted by: Rick Bonnell | Nov 9, 2008 8:52:44 AM
Mr. Bonnell, I posted this info because I wanted to disprove the notion that the Bobcats were making this particular deal. I know that we need another big & GW is the most likely to go because of his talent and we certainly aren't trading Emeka or J-Rich, but like many fans I don't want to see Gerald get traded. He plays so hard and has been with the franchise since the beginning so I hope he doesn't have to leave.
Posted by: Yeah? | Nov 9, 2008 1:05:27 PM
very simple bonnell, if you don't want break the core. Please please tell bobcats get Van Horn Juwan Howard or P.J. Brown, or Michael Sweetney. Or get Antoine Walker memphis want to dump him. They will accept any garbage player to get rid walker. My question to you why why don't SLOW IQ BB FRONT OFFICE SEE this opportunity, talking to the third PG why they get Tinsley for a bad contracts of Matt Caroll, Nazr, even Wallace. You are always complaining about bad contracts of these players Bird announce they will accept bad contract to dump tinsley. Please relay MJ this...
Posted by: lancer | Nov 9, 2008 10:09:21 PM
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