Emeka Okafor Wants Out of Charlotte
What’s going on right now that every legit NBA free agent would seemingly rather poke himself in the eye than re-sign with his squad? Josh Childress would rather take his game overseas than play in ATL. Luol Deng is pissed that the Bulls won’t pay him his money. And now, talks between Emeka Okafor and the Bobcats have badly soured.
As things stand now, Emeka Okafor will be an ex-Charlotte Bobcat by the end of next season, if not sooner.
Negotiations between Okafor and the Bobcats are at an impasse, an informed source told the Observer, with the team offering less now than the $12 million-plus annual salary it did a year ago. A restricted free agent, center-forward Okafor now wants a sign-and-trade to another team, the source said, and is not inclined to remain with the Bobcats long-term.
There are two major issues here, one on each side of this problem. First, if Okafor thinks that he’s really worth more than $12 million per year, then what should Dwight Howard be paid? He reworked his deal last year and is going to make about $13 million next year - a number that grows by about $1-2 million over each year of his deal. Let’s be realistic, buddy.
Second, what happens to Charlotte if they can’t get Okafor back in uniform? Nazr Mohammed and Sean May could combine to be the most anemic offensive front line in the League.
Both sides of these negotiations need each other more than they think - but who needs the other one more?
Source: Charlotte Observer
July 22nd, 2008 at 9:00 am
Tony says:
The Bobcats have enough wing scorers to unload for another big men. Okafor isn’t worth $12 mil. He’s not even guaranteed to give you a double-double every night or even any post offense.
July 22nd, 2008 at 9:04 am
ERIC says:
Okafor is only one of around 4 players to average a double-double the last 4 seasons. It wont be 20/10, closer to 10/10. I wouldnt say he’s worth $12 million but he’s def better that Diop, Dampier, more stable than Dalambeast. You overpay for quality bigmen.
July 22nd, 2008 at 9:07 am
E$ says:
bring him home, Rockets!
July 22nd, 2008 at 9:15 am
jz_smoove says:
its definitely a weak market this year, lots of drama but the pieces do not have enough juice to justify their demands. to all 30 teams , please do not overpay scrubs!!
July 22nd, 2008 at 9:18 am
D says:
I had heard back during midseason through a friend of a friend who knew Emeka that he didn’t intend to re-up with the Bobcats. Can you blame him? But yeah, dude definitely wants to get paid. And he definitely isn’t worth what he probably wants. But then again, he probably just wants to get the hell out of Charlotte.
July 22nd, 2008 at 9:33 am
fiyaman says:
sign n trade for Camby/Kaman
July 22nd, 2008 at 9:34 am
Kobeef says:
You know….
if the Clippers saw this coming and can force Charlotte into a sign and trade (Kaman for Okafor) it will go down as one of the most brilliant recoveries ever.
It could happen.
July 22nd, 2008 at 9:42 am
Spliff 2 My Lou says:
I blame agents. They’re job is to get their clients as much money as possible so they make them think they’re worth more than they are. I don’t blame somebody for trying to get paid but demanding big time money when you haven’t earned it is ridiculous.
The only situation more ridiculous than this is in the NFL when rookies who haven’t played a down get fat guaranteed contracts.
July 22nd, 2008 at 9:46 am
hahns says:
zbo okafor sign and trade?
July 22nd, 2008 at 9:46 am
Spliff 2 My Lou says:
The clippers can’t afford to trade Kaman now at least offensively. They don’t need two defensive minded big men who don’t really score. Kaman has offensive ability but also rebounds and plays d.
July 22nd, 2008 at 9:47 am
YOUNGFED says:
Forget Emeka “Fukafor”
July 22nd, 2008 at 9:55 am
shake&bake says:
It’s not easy to find 15 and 10 guys at center who are also good defensively. I don’t think he should be paid what Dwight is paid, but he is a good player. Trade him to the Bulls for Deng. I don’t care if Charlotte doesn’t need wings, I just want the Bulls to get better. Haha
July 22nd, 2008 at 10:14 am
Spliff 2 My Lou says:
Not a bad idea shake&bake although the bobcats wouldn’t go for that unless the bulls throw in a big man. I want desperately for the Bulls to get better too but I’m not sold yet at paying Okafor 12million a year.
July 22nd, 2008 at 10:22 am
fiyaman says:
Zbo for Okafor wont work cause we would need to resign okafor to big contract which we aint doing besides im not a big fan of his anyway although i wud but him next to Zbo and get rid of Curry faster than he cud eat a big mac
July 22nd, 2008 at 10:25 am
Pskila says:
Emeka needs to be shut up, he is on a garbage team in the weak as water Western Conference. What does he expect?…. the market isn’t as strong as it once was for big men(Alonzo Mourning…lol). Teams are hoping and vying for that strong nucleus of players; instead of just depending on one player to do it all. Kobe Bryant found out the hard way that without the strong heart of a team, there is really nothing that you can do against anyone in a real war.
July 22nd, 2008 at 10:26 am
Pskila says:
correction of the last statement…lol..Weak as water Eastern conference…
July 22nd, 2008 at 11:03 am
yallallreadyknow says:
what exactly is emeka upset about? does this punk think he should get more than $12 million per year? hahaha….i’d let his punk ass rot on the bench.
the bobcats dont need him as much as he needs them. but they should trade him to sacto for brad miller
July 22nd, 2008 at 11:04 am
yallallreadyknow says:
and what is luol dengs problem? $57 million is not enough?
July 22nd, 2008 at 11:05 am
yallallreadyknow says:
these two africans sure got americanized quick huh?
they had flies in their eyes when they were kids….begging us for 5cents a day so they could get a bowl of rice….
….now they turning down millions
July 22nd, 2008 at 11:20 am
fiyaman says:
Rashaad Lewis got $100 mil last 4 nothing all u guys hear are just hating cause yall know that everyone here would be after the $$ just as well.. its not like they trying top brk the bank but I cant blame them for trying to get as much as they could.. they aing aft no $100mil they just trying to secure their future..
and I dont see what the fact that they Africans have to do with this.. Because they from Africa they not allowed to get paid.take ur racist ass somewhere else cause 99% of the league is african whether they want to admit it or not … and u love watchin and hating on those Africans..
envy is a bitch
July 22nd, 2008 at 11:24 am
Dagomar says:
I’ll take Kaman over Okafor. The guy is fragile and hasn’t shown much upside. $12 mil a year only makes sense when you consider teams overpay for big men, and with nobody else offering him a rival contract the Bobcats can afford to play hardball with this.
July 22nd, 2008 at 11:37 am
I`CouldBeYourFather says:
Are you kidding…Kaman is better than Okafor?
Kaman that plays for the clippers?
The bobcats can not afford to lose Okafor….who else do they have? Sean “I’m hurt again” May? Nazr Mohammed is like booboo….
July 22nd, 2008 at 11:37 am
Truth says:
@yallallreadyknow
I’m siden wit fiyaman on that statement homie. That’s messed up. That’s past politically incorrect that’s just downright offensive. Why make a statement like that? That’s not funny at all. The PERFECT example is lewis, dude is grossly overpaid and it has nothing to do with origin but with the nature of the business in the NBA. You see other people getting overpaid, you gone try to get yours too.
July 22nd, 2008 at 12:09 pm
Celts Fan says:
Emeka HAS ALREADY MISSED OVER 100 GAMES DUE TO INJURY in his very short career. Stay healthy, show you have some offense, ANY offense, then maybe. $12M+ per? Get real…
and yes, I’d take Kaman over him too. At least w/ Chris, you know he’s gonna be there night in, night out (and check the #s he put up not having to defer to Elton Brand last year. He’s better than most people think - looking like a meth-addicted Hulk Hogan probably doesn’t help though…)
July 22nd, 2008 at 12:16 pm
Promoman says:
If Emeka does leave, he’d better not go to Denver.
July 22nd, 2008 at 12:18 pm
fiyaman says:
its funny how Kaman is all of sudden durable aft playing just 1 full season.. he’s just as injury prone as Okafor…
July 22nd, 2008 at 12:20 pm
I`CouldBeYourFather says:
That (yallallreadyknow) sort of mentality is learned…from an early age…you can’t correct it
July 22nd, 2008 at 12:28 pm
miamiVIS3 says:
Pat Riley Better get on the phone
July 22nd, 2008 at 1:14 pm
frankie says:
Emeka Okafor isn’t crazy for wanting more money…but he should be happy that it was offered, and obviously should’ve taken it.
And if the Clips traded Kaman away for Okafor, they’re idiots. Then again, if they traded CAMBY away for Okafor, that’d be a pretty good deal. They’re more or less the same player statistically (though right now, Camby is the better player), except Okafor is MUCH younger.
July 22nd, 2008 at 1:20 pm
I`CouldBeYourFather says:
I wouldn’t give Emeka 12mil…but I would still take him over Kaman…
EMEKA OKAFOR
PPG: 13.8; RPG: 10.70; APG: 0.9; EFF: + 18.95
CHRIS KAMAN
PPG: 15,7; RPG: 12,70; APG: 1,9; EFF: + 23,12
Very similar stats
July 22nd, 2008 at 1:21 pm
daQUEsT?on says:
wtf are the denver nuggets waiting for!!!!!!!!!!!!! go get okafurr thats who we need!!!! and nuggets manegement is looking pretty stupid about the camby trade because its been a week now and nothing else has happened oh @ dime how much money can the nuggets actually offer to a free agent like okafur??
July 22nd, 2008 at 1:28 pm
dagwaller says:
Yea, Couldbeyourfather, that makes sense. Kaman is better than Okafor at everything, and you would take him over Kaman. They’re the same age, and Kaman is bigger and just came off of a season in which he posted almost 3 blocks to Okafor’s almost 2. Math in the house?
July 22nd, 2008 at 3:04 pm
Tha Boddy says:
Okafor to the Wizards for Brendan Haywood and Blatche come home to the D.C. Maryland area buddy
July 22nd, 2008 at 3:30 pm
I`CouldBeYourFather says:
yEA, Dagwaller…..you can’t measure heart…you do the math..
Why would the clippers go out an duplicate his position with Camby if he was better…that doesn’t make sense…add that up!
July 22nd, 2008 at 4:01 pm
doc says:
That shit sound fucked up how Couldbe said it but I like Okafor too.Just shoulda used career stats instead of that 1 year.Kaman might fall off he a retard or some shit like that I heard.He just got that retard strength.
July 22nd, 2008 at 5:14 pm
dagwaller says:
Ha, good point about the strength doc.
Father, when has anyone EVER questioned the heart for either player? Kind of weird to bring that in.
Why would you rather use career stats when you’re not getting the rookie Kaman - you’re getting the version that just had a good season? As Father pointed out, Mek didn’t have a bad season at all last year, but Kaman had a better one. You could say that Kaman’s numbers took a jump since he was the focal point of the offense for the first time, but then again, isn’t that what Okafor has been since he came into the league? Unless you’re afraid of Raymond Felton…
Father, good point about duplicating the position. Then again, you were the one that thought it would be a good idea to send Emeka to the Clippers…duplicating the position that Camby plays (still).
Next?
July 22nd, 2008 at 7:12 pm
Homeless J says:
@ daquestion - Denver acquired something like a 9.9 million trade exception by trading away Camby. that means they don’t even need to be under the cap and make a huge offer to get Okafor, Charlotte just needs to sign him to whatever kind of contract Denver would agree to pay him and then trade him over. there would probably need to be another contract or two in there though because it doesn’t sound like Okafor wants 10mil per year.
then again it really just seems to me like Okafor wants out of Charlotte so badly that he might take less money just to go to another team. you’ve gotta factor in with Dwight Howard that it’s not just the contract, it’s also the fact that florida is a lot more fun to be in and the players who play there get a lot more exposure. who knows, maybe Okafor would take 10mil to play with AI and Carmelo.
and haha @ Doc and the retard strength Clerks II line, and the guy who said Kaman looked like a meth-addicted hulk hogan (dead-on description except even the Hulkster looks like he knows how to count to 15 without using his fingers and toes, and white dope is like the opposite of steroids, it kills your muscles. so substitute Winstrol V shots for loads of dope and you’ve got a semi-retarded German rebounding machine with bad hair.)
July 22nd, 2008 at 8:05 pm
tim says:
what could the pistons give up to get him?
July 22nd, 2008 at 8:12 pm
cjr says:
IM JUST SO GLAD DA MAGIC PICK HOWARD OVER HIM LOL