Emeka Okafor and The Charlotte Bobcats came to an agreement on Tuesday July 29th worth $72 million for six years.
Okafor was the Bobcats’ first ever draft choice with the No. 2 overall pick in 2004 and was widely viewed around the league as a prime sign-and–trade candidate, on the premise that the Bobcats wouldn’t spend the money to keep him. Bobcats proved all the nay-sayers wrong on July 29th. . “It’s unfortunate when people criticize our ownership,” said General Manage Bob Higgins. The Bobcats raised questions about it’s own interest in retaining the 25 year old Okafor by making what sources say was a five year contract offer to veteran center DeSagana Diop early in free agency.
Okafor averaged 13.8 points, 10.7 rebounds and 1.7 blocks last season in 33.2 minutes per game, but never clicked with coach Sam Vincent. Vincent was fired by team president and former teammate Michael Jordan after just one season. Okafor has already played for new Bobcats’ Coach Larry Brown on the 2004 U.S. Olympic team and has generated plenty of praise from the bench veteran lately.
"I hope that it works out because I was with him a little while and he's a terrific kid," Brown said earlier this month. "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."
Although Okafor was limited to 26 games in his second NBA season because of injury, he played all 82 games last season and has averaged a double-double in each of his four seasons in the league. So, with stats like that you might feel happy about the resigning, but lots of us still can’t get that second season out of our mind… when his face was rarely seen in action.
prime sign-and–trade candidate, on the premise that the Bobcats wouldn’t spend the money to keep him. Bobcats proved all the nay-sayers wrong on July 29th. . “It’s unfortunate when people criticize our ownership,” said General Manage Bob Higgins. The Bobcats raised questions about it’s own interest in retaining the 25 year old Okafor by making what sources say was a five year contract offer to veteran center DeSagana Diop early in free agency.