Hooped Up

It’s not exactly a pay cut but, $2 million dollars left on the table it still  $2 million dollars left on the table.  Then again, it looks like Okafor has just found his reason for leaving the Bobcats to join a real contender.

Emeka Okafor was once offered over $12 million a season. Now, according to a source I consider credible, the Bobcats offer is much closer to a $10 million-a-season average.

Charlotte Observer

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.

Charlotte Observer

Larry Brown has big plans for Emeka Okafor. The new Charlotte Bobcats coach is hoping he’ll get to work with him.

With contract talks involving the restricted free agent moving slowly, Brown made it clear Thursday it’s important the Bobcats keep their starting big man.

“I hope that it works out because I was with him a little while and he’s a terrific kid,” said Brown, who coached Okafor on the 2004 U.S. Olympic team. “He plays a position that’s very hard to find. And he’s the second pick in the draft. I’m sure we’ll do what’s right. Hopefully he’ll be here.”

Okafor turned down a contract offer from Charlotte last summer worth more than US$12 million a year.

Press Release 

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I reported just before the season-opener that Emeka Okafor passed on a contract extension worth an average of more than $12 million a season. The reaction from those scouts was shock; shock both that the Bobcats offered that much and that Okafor said no. The greater shock was that Okafor, who’s making about $5.4 million this season, turned it down. One scout predicted there’s a greater chance Okafor would seriously injure himself this season than there was that he’d improve enough to attract a significantly higher offer — from the Bobcats or any other team. The real question here is if Okafor has Joe Smith in his 5 and if not he should get on it.

Charlotte Observer