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Okafor staying in Charlotte?

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I'd say there's an 80 percent chance Emeka Okafor is a Bobcat next season and a 50 percent chance he's around for the long haul. It takes courage and conviction to turn down the $60million-plus Okafor did last summer, to become a restricted free agent. Now he gets to enjoy being wooed by the Bobcats and others. The negotiations have been courteous. Okafor went out of his way last season to say he appreciated what the Bobcats offered, and that his preference is to stay with the team that drafted him four years ago. Still, there's no sense reaching free agency unless you're open to changing teams. The flavor of the moment is the Clippers, whose loss of Elton Brand leaves them short a power forward but holding abundant salary-cap room.

Charlotte Observer

Emeka Okafor, Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images Emeka Okafor, Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images
July 12, 2008  09:11 AM ET

I think hed be a lot more successful with the clippers.. he can provide solid rebounding and defense for the clips to complement Kaman's offensive skills. With Davis, Thornton, and Gordon.. this team could become more than just "la's other team". Who knows? Maybe even Tim Thomas will step it up when surrounded by better players hahah

July 12, 2008  09:40 AM ET

If I were him I would go to the Clips. That team has a better chance than the Bobcats do.

July 12, 2008  10:20 AM ET

Okafor would do well with a good center such as Kaman. He needs to play PF, provide rebounding and defense, and get out on the break some. Clippers make sense.

July 12, 2008  10:22 AM ET

I think Okafor would be a nice fit for the Warriors, & just ok for the Clippers. The warriors could vault into the playoffs instantly with a line up of M.Ellis, C.Maggette, S. Jackson, E. Okafor, & A. Beidrins. Still they could keep or trade A.Harrington for key bench players. Bobcats haven't made moves to vault themselves into the playoffs. They're still unwilling to give Okafor (since last year) an A.Bogut(overpaid 14.5 per year) contract. If i were Okafor i would make the Bobcats pay me by signing a offer sheet from another team even if it's the same as the Bobcats (who'll have to match) offered just to get my raise.

July 12, 2008  11:17 AM ET

Okafor would be wise to get away from Charlotte. As long as Michael Jordan is making personnel decisions for the Bobcats, this team is going nowhere. Okafor turned down that extension for a reason. This team needs a center. What does Jordan do? He chooses the smallest player in the draft, with all the centers still available. If Okafor has any desire at all of ever being a winner, he should get out now while he can. Golden State or the Clippers would both be excellent choices. Ironically, both would take him as far from Charlotte as possible without going in the ocean.

July 12, 2008  11:21 AM ET

Rare time I agree with u Hllywd

July 12, 2008  11:28 AM ET

why stay with Charlotte? them and the Clippers are D-league teams. Jordan is not good in the front office.

July 12, 2008  11:35 AM ET

yes hllywd is correct i would think he would do better in gsw as his rebound totals will improve and he might score alot as well there.

July 12, 2008  11:48 AM ET

The Bobcats would be pretty lucky if Okafor decides to stay. Even though we won't be seeing any improvement from him, he's great at defense and very consistent. Still, I was pretty surprised when they didn't draft Lopez. I thought he would have been a good insurance policy (in case Okafor left), and would have allowed Okafor to play his natural PF position the whole game.

July 12, 2008  11:56 AM ET

okafor rebounds more wen he's a pf. this year was a down year...

July 12, 2008  12:03 PM ET

STAY WITH THE BOBCATS....NO I HAVEN'T LIKED THE DISCUSSION JORDAN HAS MADE BUT THE TEAM IS GHETTO FREE AND A WONDERFULL CARING ORGANIZATION....AND IN THE FUTURE I SEE THE GETTING BETTER

July 12, 2008  12:07 PM ET

I SAY STAY WITH THE BOBCATS...NO I HAVEN'T AGREED WITH ALL OF JORDAN DISCUSSIONS...BUT THE BOBCATS COME OUT EVERY NIGHT AND GIVE THERE BEST...THE TEAM IS GHETTO AND DRAMA FREE!!! THEY HAVE A GOOD FUTURE IN SIGHT.....THAT IS THE PROBLEM WITHTHE NBA EVERYBODY WANTS TO TRADE....WITHOUT BUILDING A SOLID FOUNDATION "FIRST"

July 12, 2008  12:44 PM ET

Right on the money, hllywd. Charlotte isn't going anywhere anytime soon,

July 12, 2008  12:51 PM ET

GS cant afford him after signing Maggette

July 12, 2008  12:57 PM ET

Trade him to chicago for Gordon and Thomas

July 12, 2008  01:03 PM ET

"I think hed be a lot more successful with the clippers"

They are the CLIPPERS.
Agreed Charlotte is a BAD franchise.....but the clippers are worse and have more of a history of being a bad franchise.

If he wants $- which is ABSOLUTELY okay since he is still young- go to the clips
But if he wants a 'good situation' he should take a pay cut for a year, sign for the mid-level and once you are in the system- you can be re-signed for more n the future

But a choice between charlotte & the clippers is AWFUL

July 12, 2008  01:20 PM ET

Good player, bad team. Would have more success in LA. That is either team.

July 12, 2008  01:33 PM ET

I heard that the Clippers and the Knicks are talking about the Clippers acquiring Zach Randolph. The Knicks are trying to make cap space for 2010 the summer of Lebron, Amare, and D-Wade. I don't think signing Okafor would be a bad move for the Clippers. I am not a fan of Zach Randolph and all the trouble he causes with his teammates and coaches wherever he goes. The Clippers wouldn't be bad if they signed Okafor and acquired Randolph.

C Chris Kaman
PF Emeka Okafor
SF Zach Randolph
SG Eric Gordon
PG Baron Davis

Comment has been removed
 
July 12, 2008  01:49 PM ET

sheed for okafor

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