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 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.

[davcbow]

No worries here....

[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