NBA - Sports Rumors

Tue Jul 28, 2009 8:34 am EDT

Okafor-for-Chandler deal nearly done

By Mark Miller

Emeka Okafor(notes) and Tyson Chandler(notes) should pack their bags. According to the Charlotte Observer, they are about to change teams.

Charlotte Bobcats coach Larry Brown is apparently happy to be gaining 7'1" center Tyson Chandler from the New Orleans Hornets and losing Okafor, who is the first player the Bobcats ever drafted way back in 2004. However, Brown might want to remember that Okafor has played every game for the Bobcats in the past two years and Chandler missed 37 last year for the Hornets.

No worries, though, even if Chandler misses every game, if you count the 2013-14 option year, the deal will save the Bobcats more than $40 million when it's all over.

Source: Charlotte ObserverNew Window

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27 Comments

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  1. JS
    1. Posted by JS Tue Jul 28, 2009 8:53 am EDT

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    Not real significant for either team.
  2. WIPE ME DOWN
    2. Posted by WIPE ME DOWN Tue Jul 28, 2009 9:06 am EDT

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    as a hornets fan im loving this trade..we need to move on from chandler and his injuries.. okafor will expand his offensive game with chris paul.. this trade makes alot of sense for the hornets
  3. freezy
    3. Posted by freezy Tue Jul 28, 2009 9:06 am EDT

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    still a bad move on charlottes behalf
  4. Nick M
    4. Posted by Nick M Tue Jul 28, 2009 9:07 am EDT

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    Much better deal for New Orleans. Tyson Chandler is defensive specialist who only gets 8 and 8. While Okafor can score on his own and put up double doubles. The Hornets are going to be the next Phoenix suns, run and gun but wont make a championship run.
  5. chillyfromphilly
    5. Posted by chillyfromphilly Tue Jul 28, 2009 9:17 am EDT

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    i guess the bobcats are doing it to save money down the line. i'm man enough to admit it now, but i"m one of the people that thought( at the time) the magic drafted the wrong center in that draft. boy, was i wrong.
  6. lew h
    6. Posted by lew h Tue Jul 28, 2009 9:50 am EDT

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    okafor wil play well than chandler if 1 on 1, but wil him do the same thing or better team work than chandler, especialy wif paul.
  7. casper
    7. Posted by casper Tue Jul 28, 2009 9:52 am EDT

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    Okafor just doesnt have it on offense, yeah double double, but he's just not someone who the Bobcats can depend on to convert offensively, the Bobcats will finally have a true center. Diaw and Chandler, thats some versatile athletic big men, I like it. And Chris Paul wont have Chandler to bail him out anymore, and we all know Okafor isnt going to be finising any alley oops from Paul.
  8. Dimebag Dustin
    8. Posted by Dimebag Dustin Tue Jul 28, 2009 9:58 am EDT

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    lew h... Wow, you are wise.
  9. Stevarino
    9. Posted by Stevarino Tue Jul 28, 2009 10:01 am EDT

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    I hated the move last year when we got rid of J-Rich for Diaw and Bell so I will reserve my judgment of this move until everything pans out. Larry seems to know what he's doing so I guess we'll see...
  10. jonnygoad
    10. Posted by jonnygoad Tue Jul 28, 2009 10:13 am EDT

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    I'm with Mr. Boombastic! leh h's analysis of this trade is top notch and I definitely see a potential sports analyst / broadcasting career in his future. Maybe he can team up with Ricky Henderson and Charles Barkley. Possibly a children's sports book....the possibilities are endless.
  11. rstealercavsfan (Shaqalier)
    11. Posted by rstealercavsfan (Shaqalier) Tue Jul 28, 2009 10:34 am EDT

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    I think this trade works well for both teams.
    Okafor and D-West would be a tough front court to deal with.
    And Chandler added to a team who needed an inside defensive presence works as well.........
  12. K NEL
    12. Posted by K NEL Tue Jul 28, 2009 10:50 am EDT

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    Good trade for both teams if Chandler stays healthy. Hell he was nothing more then a shot blocker, rebounder, and a alley oop machine for CP3. Okafor can do all of that and bring some Offense to the table. Charlotte is taking the gamble of the two but if Chandler is good they made a upgrade for the better to contend with the Eastern Conference powers
  13. The A-Train
    13. Posted by The A-Train Tue Jul 28, 2009 11:05 am EDT

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    This deal can be broken down into two components: the basketball end of the deal and the salary-cap end of the deal.
    Good basketball deal for New Orleans, with the addition of a player that is durable and can play both the 4 and 5 spots (though better suited for the 4), averaging a double-double over the span of a career that has had him out of position and guarding bigger players (at the 5) most of the time. Not sure this makes them a contender in the West (or even in their division), but it at least appears as though they're trying.
    The jury's out on Charlotte's basketball end of the deal, as Chandler has to prove he can stay healthy. Should he be able to do so, Charlotte gets a very athletic center who has the height, length, and athleticism to at least make life in the paint a little more difficult for opposing centers.
    Salary-cap wise, this deal favors New Orleans in the short-term, with Okafor due less money than Chandler this season. However, long-term benefits swing in the direction of Charlotte, as Okafor's contract balloons over its length while Chandler's contract might be an asset as part of a sign-and-trade deal next summer (in the event that he is not seen as a long-term fit in the plans of the Bobcats).
    All-in-all, the deal could be a lateral swap of players, with both teams getting what they want (both in terms of basketball and salary-cap), but with neither team seeming to boost themselves into contention any more than before the deal was done.
  14. ME
    14. Posted by ME Tue Jul 28, 2009 11:38 am EDT

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    Okafer - Chandler?
    Does anyone really think Chandler is better?
    Whats he gonna do without d's on paul and west?
  15. Austin G
    15. Posted by Austin G Tue Jul 28, 2009 12:17 pm EDT

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    hahaha lew h...you have to be kidding me? Was that even a sentence?
  16. New York King
    16. Posted by New York King Tue Jul 28, 2009 12:39 pm EDT

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    Hornets will miss the shot block of Chandler & Paul will miss the alleys to Chandler but Okafor is an underrated beast in the paint , GREAT TRADE for the HORNETS........Hornets should also go after Michael Redd he would be a great fit and they should also sign Ramon Sessions to back up Paul at point so he won't be over used....
  17. TJ
    17. Posted by TJ Tue Jul 28, 2009 2:31 pm EDT

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    New York King... I know the Knicks made it seem that Owner's pockets are bottomless, but there is not way the hornets ever make either of those moves. It is a wonder that New Orleans is trading for equal to better talent now!
  18. glok
    18. Posted by glok Tue Jul 28, 2009 2:44 pm EDT

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    chandler (overrated) isn't even half the player okafor (underrated) is. a steal for the hornets! a frontline of d west and okafor. nice.
  19. Luis J
    19. Posted by Luis J Tue Jul 28, 2009 3:26 pm EDT

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    New Orleans makes out like bandits.
  20. ME
    20. Posted by ME Tue Jul 28, 2009 4:23 pm EDT

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    Larry Brown LOL
    Didn't like the guy...shipped him away for chandler????
    Not that Tyson is horrible but c'mon
  21. Claude M
    21. Posted by Claude M Tue Jul 28, 2009 4:26 pm EDT

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    Dumb deal; Okafur is young and a solid low post presence. Chandler has been an underachiever all his career. Just when I thnik the bobcats are getting better they do somthing stupid. Oh well, LAKERS BASKETBALL BABY!
  22. ME
    22. Posted by ME Tue Jul 28, 2009 4:48 pm EDT

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    What would other eams have given up for Emeka???????
  23. Mike C
    23. Posted by Mike C Tue Jul 28, 2009 10:24 pm EDT

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    and next up is bringing allen iverson.
  24. E
    24. Posted by E Tue Jul 28, 2009 11:18 pm EDT

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    what are the Bobcats thinking? great move for Hornets

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