Okafor...

[amour217]

I think we can all agree on this: so far during his tenure with the Bobcats, Emeka Okafor has been consistent....consistently giving us fits.

Tonight, Okafor - our #2, highest draft pick in team history - matched up against undrafted Earl Barron (who?!) and put up a whopping 6 points and 8 boards to Barron's 8 points and 8 boards. Okafor should've been completely dominant not only on the boards, but offensively as well. The same can be said about our last game as well. Thank God Nazr played big tonight, or our bigs would've looked shameful against a team on its last legs.

So here's the deal, let's put it all out there: what do we do with Okafor? Do we let him walk? Re-sign him on the cheap considering his lack of oomph? Or do we look into a sign-and-trade? And if we do let him walk, what direction does our team go from there?

Discuss...

[Keetch]

It all depends on who our next coach is. If we keep Vincent and his Mokeski side-kick; then we might as well trade Okafor.

If we don't trade him; he won't sign anyway except for one year. Then ultimately its not up to the Bobcats. Okafor is moving on; he obviously doesn't wish to play here.

Our team leadership is poor.

[ohara831]

We lucked up he did not take the $13 mil/yr offer. But his ego want let him take anything less, or at least not enough of a reduction to make it worth our time.

Only real option is a sign and trade. Since we cannot do anything before the draft, our only option is to so it afterwards. I do not know if we can have an "agreement' in place at the draft with a team telling them to pick a certain person and then we will do the sign and trade. Maybe it is for.... oh, who knows! I'm just pissed they did not do something before the trade deadline.

I hope all those who posted how we'd be crazy to trade Okafor and that he is worth the money enjoy his play. Get a real good eyeful of his mediocrity and enjoy how he is wasting our time and money when we could have and should have moved him a couple months ago. A defensive presence? Bullcrap! He can put up a consistent double double if you are allowed to add back to back games. God, our only hope is that no one watches our games as much as we do and they dont realize just how mediocre he really is as a player. Maybe we'll still get a pretty good deal. At this stage, I'd trade him to NY for Zach Randolph even tho he is a head case and a prima donna. At least he is a consistent good double double. Maybe we can get Hollins to be our "trouble shooter" who will crack his knees with a lead pipe if he shows his ass and maybe we get him on his good behavior! Attitude aside, Randolph does not quite have Okafor's Defense (of which I am more and more convinced is not so good anyway), but I think Randolph's offense is much better! If we could somehow get Crawford in the deal for someone like Carroll and May, I'd be ecstatic! Hell, I might even be erotic! Whoopie!!

[dnbman]

Like Keetch said, Okafor will be as valuable as his leadership.

I'm very curious how Okafor is coached within the framework of the team on both sides of the court.

On a sidenote, I actually think Okafor would be playing much better ball had he signed the deal. He would have known that he's hear for an extended period of time and work hard to make the best of it. Now, I think he plays with a lack of passion because he feels he's in a situation where he can't be successful and likely wont' be around.

Don't get me wrong: I understand the flaws of the mindset. I just think that's where he's at right now.

[tamburello]

Ohara, I understand you're so pissed at Okafor. As well as I am. But the board has to behave calm and logical.

There is definitely something between coach and Oak. In last 3 games, he played 22, 21 and 23 minutes, respectively. He wasn't in foul trouble. He took 6, 1(?), 6 shots. He grabbed 6, 3, 8 rebounds.

I don't know, but I guess we're being a little bit unfair to him. Although I believe we should s&t him, we have to weigh all options. I'm sure we won't give him 65 million any more.

If there are any teams willing to get him, and also if Oak wants to go, we'll probably get very little in exchange for him (may be only a 1st rounder or 1st rounder+one player). We have to think about all these.

[spectre]

Vincent alluded to benching Mek in his pregame last night...saying guys have to earn their PT. Last night I thought he was doing ok (vs. the Pacers game) but he still sat the 4th quarter.

Not signing a deal affected Deng & Gordon so I have to think it's affected Mek too. Plus, I think that "episode" where Bonnell mentioned Mek clashing with Vincent at the beginning of the year might still be unresolved.

Yah...agreed with you guys; if Vincent is still here Mek is gone. Damn shame as most of us can see what the big dude can do if he brings it...it just takes something big for that to happen. If MJ does the right thing and axes Vincent hopefully Mek will consent to a deal like Crash did; a 2 or 3 yr deal at around 9 to "prove" he can be what we need.

I still think we can get something good out of him, but if we don't watch out we're going to create an almost unstoppable front line somewhere. Bosh + Mek would be scary.

[dnbman]

I still think we can get something good out of him, but if we don't watch out we're going to create an almost unstoppable front line somewhere. Bosh + Mek would be scary.

That's my concern with both Felton and Okafor: they're going to be amazing when properly coached in a good team system.

Of course, if we don't change the coach and the system, there's no point in continually trying to put a square peg in a round hole.

[ohara831]

What I cannot get through my thick head it this one aspect of it all with Okafor. Does he have any idea at all just how much money he has cost himself? Even if he is pissed off with the Coach, or does not understand the system of the Coach, or is unhappy with being offered only $13 mil/yr - you have to go all out to prove yourself to not only YOUR teamm but everyone else, just in case you do become that FA that everyone wants and will pay top $ for to have come play for them. When you mope around, dont play with any enthusiasm, and play so half heartedly that you get outplayed by journeymen, PEOPLE NOTICE!

My guess is that he has seen his value drop to somewhere in the max range of $10 mil/yr. Considering he had an offer of $13 mil, that is a difference there of $15 -$18 mil with Charlotte's offer last yr. Had he played his butt off, he could have bumped the number to $14 or maybe $15 mil/yr. In other words, his loss of revenue can be seen as likely anywhere from a minimum of $15 mil to maybe $30 mil! That is a ton of security just flushed down the toilet.

I dont care what the issue he may have with Coach or mgmnt. If that much $ is on the line for my financial 6 yr future and my family's financial future, I'm out there busting my butt EVERY SINGLE GAME. When my time is up in Charlotte, I go to the highest bidder. I just wonder does he truly realize how much $ he has lost? And if he does, and he is holding a grudge against us and not playing so hard so he wont get hurt, then we have to realize there is no way in hell he stays here with us. Would you rather get one yr from him and then let him walk for nothing? No, we have no options now but to find a way to move him for the best we can get. It will not be a #2 pick in the first round, but you get what you can and cut your losses at this stage.

I absolutely just cannot understand someone taking this mindset as he has and just throwing it all away. It reminds me of the Ricky Williams saga in the NFL. So much talent, but he'd rather puff a joint. I'm not saying Okafor has that issue, I'm just saying that the mindset issue is just baffling to me. I think that if any of us had the talent to make $13 mil a yr for 6 yrs for playing a game we all loved to play on the hardcourt tops on playgrounds, I bet there is not a single one of us who would not be out there busting it all day long, practicing 4 hours every day to get better and prove ourselves; and laying it on the line EVERY SINGLE GAME!

Winning is a mindset! Crying, moping, whining and playing a victim - that is for Losers. Okafor, take your ball and go home - Loser.

[MattD]

Please guys, I am with Vincent on this one.

In the NBA if you dont work hard, you get no where.

Okafor doesnt work hard for this team, he doesnt have the right mental state, whatever. He isnt good. He hurts us. I have said this about 1,000,000 times. I dont care if he does or doesnt like Vincent, he still needs to work hard.

Free Agency is going to be a bitch for players looking for max contracts this summer, there are only going to be something like 3 teams that could do it.

I dont want him back, he basically has said his interests are more important then the teams by playing the way he does.

If he plays great somewhere else, then super, but he has not, and seems like he will not play well for us. So why would we resign him to a dooming contract? I wouldnt.

I first noticed the tension when Okafor sat out the fourth quarter comeback against the Jazz a while ago. I made the Emeka who? thread. I am still with what I said.

He wouldnt be part of my franchises future... did you guys ever think maybe he declined the 13 million offer not because it wasnt enough money, but because he doesnt want to be stuck here for another 6 years? We need to move on without him, he can move on without us.

Hes not a restricted FA so we cannot necessarily do a sign and trade, he could just decline our offer. Okafor is very smart, but I would be surprised if he is in a Bobcats uniform next year, even if or if not Vincent is on the bench.

[ohara831]

Please guys, I am with Vincent on this one.

In the NBA if you dont work hard, you get no where.

Okafor doesnt work hard for this team, he doesnt have the right mental state, whatever. He isnt good. He hurts us. I have said this about 1,000,000 times. I dont care if he does or doesnt like Vincent, he still needs to work hard.

Free Agency is going to be a bitch for players looking for max contracts this summer, there are only going to be something like 3 teams that could do it.

I dont want him back, he basically has said his interests are more important then the teams by playing the way he does.

If he plays great somewhere else, then super, but he has not, and seems like he will not play well for us. So why would we resign him to a dooming contract? I wouldnt.

I first noticed the tension when Okafor sat out the fourth quarter comeback against the Jazz a while ago. I made the Emeka who? thread. I am still with what I said.

He wouldnt be part of my franchises future... did you guys ever think maybe he declined the 13 million offer not because it wasnt enough money, but because he doesnt want to be stuck here for another 6 years? We need to move on without him, he can move on without us.

Hes not a restricted FA so we cannot necessarily do a sign and trade, he could just decline our offer. Okafor is very smart, but I would be surprised if he is in a Bobcats uniform next year, even if or if not Vincent is on the bench.

_________________________________________________

Very well said! Very very well said and thought out! Rep 1