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Okafor, Chandler at center of talks
Bobcats, Hornets working on trade
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Published: July 28, 2009
Updated: 07/28/2009 12:50 am
The Charlotte Bobcats are working on a trade that would send Emeka Okafor to the New Orleans Hornets for Tyson Chandler, two people familiar with the deal told The Associated Press yesterday.
The swap of 26-year-old centers wasn't expected to be completed until today and was unlikely to include other players, the people said on condition of anonymity because an official announcement has not been made.
The deal would be a gamble for the Bobcats because Chandler has been plagued by a left-toe injury and recently underwent surgery.
Okafor was the No. 2 overall pick -- after Orlando took Dwight Howard -- in the 2004 draft. Okafor was the first pick in franchise history and the Bobcats re-signed him to a six-year, $72 million deal before last season.
Okafor, 6-10, averaged 13.2 points and 10.1 rebounds for Charlotte last season. But Coach Larry Brown questioned his passion at the end of the season.
"I tease him that he's got an A in stretching and pilates and yoga. I want him to have an A in basketball," Brown said two days after Charlotte finished 35-47. "It makes older people feel great, but he's got to work on his game.... There's no better guy than him, I just want him to have a passion to play the sport because it ends so quickly."
Chandler is taller, at 7-1, and averaged 8.8 points and 8.3 rebounds in an unsettling season that saw him traded to Oklahoma City, then returned to New Orleans. The deal was rescinded because the Thunder had concerns about the left-toe injury.
Chandler later had a left-ankle injury that kept him out of the Hornets' final playoff game. He underwent surgery on his toe and ankle in May, but Hornets officials said he would be ready for training camp.
The Hornets don't figure to have injury concerns with Okafor, who has played all 82 games in each of the past two seasons.
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