Okafor "positive" he'll sign extension soon...

[ALong13]

CHARLOTTE — There was no hesitation, no hint of a contract dispute or even a worry about his future. Emeka Okafor said Monday he was “positive” he’d soon be signing a long-term extension with the Charlotte Bobcats.

“I’m positive that it’s going to happen,” Okafor said during the team’s annual preseason media day. “You just have to be patient and let things work out for themselves.”

Okafor can be a restricted free agent next summer if he doesn’t sign with the Bobcats by the end of this month. But he’s eligible to receive as much as a five-year, $85 million extension — or what Orlando has given Dwight Howard, the No. 1 pick in the 2004 NBA draft in which Okafor was chosen second by the Bobcats.

Neither Bobcats part-owner Michael Jordan or general manager Rod Higgins would comment on the negotiations. But team spokesman B.J. Evans said Jordan and Higgins told him they were as committed to signing Okafor to a long-term contract as they have been since last spring, when Jordan said Okafor was a team priority.

A phone message to Okafor’s agent, Jeff Schwartz, on Monday was not returned.

Bobcats forward Gerald Wallace also was confident Okafor would be signed to a long-term contract, but said he hoped it was done before the Oct. 31 deadline so it wouldn’t drag into the season. Wallace signed the Bobcats’ largest contract thus far in their franchise this summer, when he was inked for six years at $57 million.

Okafor, the 2005 NBA rookie of the year, has averaged 14.5 poins, 10.9 rebounds and 2.1 blocks while playing in 166 of 246 games during his three-year career.

http://www.gastongazette.com/sports/bobcats_10881___article.html/okafor_year.html"]Link (http://"[url) Here[/URL]


Great news to hear for both Okafor, the Bobcats, and the fans...(yes, that would be us...) Wonder how much he'll get, I think he'll get a nice amount, and as long term as the Cats can give him...

[Slam]

I'm so torn when it comes to his contract. I am a huge fan and have been a huge supporter of the great man.

BUT!!

My heart says "sign him for 6 years and max him out".

Then my head says "he's missed a LOT of games and if we are on the hook for him for 6 years and he continues to miss games, we are screwed".

I'd sign him for 6 if I could get the last 2 as team options.

The money I'm still thinking about.

[dav7z]

I think i would offer him a five year 65 milion as a first offer. With a team option the last two years. A flat 13 milion a year for the next five years.

[ALong13]

65 million over 5 years wouldn't be bad at all, and I wouldn't be surprised to see him go somewhere close to it, I don't see him getting anymore than 15 million a year...and I don't see him getting that IMO...

[timang]

i just want him signed by us. FAST. :biggrin:

[davcbow]

No worries here.... :g:

[spectre]

Compare this to the "Honets" article. Told you guys he's feeling pressure!



I think i would offer him a five year 65 milion as a first offer. With a team option the last two years. A flat 13 milion a year for the next five years.


I think 13 is pretty fair to both sides and I could see the Bobcats doing that. If there was no injury issues Mek would be getting that 85.

[Alex]

GREAT news, I hope this gets resolved as quickly as possible.

[chabber]

Compare this to the "Honets" article. Told you guys he's feeling pressure!



I think i would offer him a five year 65 milion as a first offer. With a team option the last two years. A flat 13 milion a year for the next five years.


I think 13 is pretty fair to both sides and I could see the Bobcats doing that. If there was no injury issues Mek would be getting that 85.


No doubt. He and Dwight haven't been too far off production wise on the court. If his injuries history wasn't cause for concern he would have a legit case for the whole shebang.

[Slam]

I 100% agree Spectre. If he had only missed a few games over the past three years I would open the wallet wide for him. There is a very good chance he might not miss another significant amount of games in the next 5 years, but the risk is still there.

75 for 6 with the last 1 being a team option would be great IMO

[Mustachio]

you have to base contracts on what you know...

we know hes a very talented defensive big man. a little limited offensively.

we know hes had injury issues ever since college and has missed significant playing time with us because of it.

we know hes a quality person and a great member of our young team.

knowing that... i think its fair for us to go on the conservative side... like 13 mil. you cant give him 85... not yet.

you can always restructure later... (it hurts me to say this about my boy mek) but dont give an injury risk a bunch of money and years... cause that can cripple a franchise.

[spectre]

The thing is, he was on track for a 80 game season last year except for little tear he got. We all know that ankle thing was unusual, and he's never had back issues that we know of ever since coming to the NBA.

If we do get him for 13 per in the end I bet we all consider it a steal.

[Slam]

I would.

Of course, if we got him for 13 per for 5 and he only played 50 or 60 games a season, I would consider it over paying.

[dvdbumpus]

you can always restructure later... (it hurts me to say this about my boy mek) but dont give an injury risk a bunch of money and years... cause that can cripple a franchise.



*cough* ALLAN HOUSTON *cough*

[dav7z]

Thats why i think a five year 13 miliom is fair. With the last two years a team option.
Thats where i would start . I would go up to five year 75 milion last two years teanm option. That team option is important to me.

[MattD]

In retrospect, I am glad he didnt sign the extension, hes not playing very well, but...

I think I understand now why Okafor may have refused the huge salary, and it makes more and more sense. Okafor is very very smart, I think he'd love to be getting a big paycheck, but I think he would rather be happy in a good situation. I think he's be decently happy here in Charlotte, enjoying that we've embraced him, but after preseason with the new coach, had mixed feelings, he has the option to walk away from charlotte, and I bet if Sam Vincent is still running the show or unless something drastically changes he will.

[davcbow]

I think if something isnt done soon the fans are going to start walking away if they havent already started.... :g:

[Dead_Real]

Glad to hear they are still working on getting him locked up would suck to see him leave and we don't get anything back via trade etc.

[ohara831]

I think if something isnt done soon the fans are going to start walking away if they havent already started.... :g:
__________________________________________________ _

And that right there better be the biggest concern for mgmnt. They need to keep the fans they have, and then add more fans. The product they have now is not exciting, barely entertaining, and more often than not - heartbreaking.

[TheBeagle]

I think if something isnt done soon the fans are going to start walking away if they havent already started.... :g:
If fans walk when the going gets tough, they were never fans to begin with. Screw 'em!!! It's been disappointing so far, and will continue to be this season, but like GW does after taking a charge of hard foul, I will also, metaphorically, pick myself off the floor and be ready for the next game. If anybody wants to jump off the Bobcats fan bandwagon that signed up for it before Game 1, have at it, but I'm still there!!!!!!