Emeka Okafor may be available

[Bucky O'Hare]

http://www.charlotte.com/507/story/722943.html

As things stand now, Emeka Okafor will be an ex-Charlotte Bobcat by the end of next season, if not sooner.

Negotiations between Okafor and the Bobcats are at an impasse, an informed source told the Observer, with the team offering less now than the $12million-plus annual salary it did a year ago. A restricted free agent, center-forward Okafor now wants a sign-and-trade to another team, the source said, and is not inclined to remain with the Bobcats long-term.

Any interest from the blue & gold? He had an off year, but he's a very nice big man.

[Bucky O'Hare]

I'd throw them some offer, who knows, they might bite. It sounds like it's either do something this offseason, or Okafor ends up walking for nothing.

I'd offer something along the lines of Foster, Quis, Shawne, and our 2009 1st round pick. I'd consider replacing one of the expirings with Hibbert, although I'm not sure Okafor at 12 million would be worth giving up Roy on a rookie salary.

[IndieRuso420]

Pacers won't get him. It's always nice to add a talented young Center, but Indy won't get him.

[Boneman2]

^^^I would give them your package, minus the first rounder. There is a really good chance we'll be drafting pretty high.

[Bucky O'Hare]

If we could land Okafor, I think we could compete with anyone in the East outside of Boston.

Our future starting line up of Ford/Rush/Granger/Okafor/Hibbert could be a defensive juggernaut.

[cdash]

I'd throw them some offer, who knows, they might bite. It sounds like it's either do something this offseason, or Okafor ends up walking for nothing.

I'd offer something along the lines of Foster, Quis, Shawne, and our 2009 1st round pick. I'd consider replacing one of the expirings with Hibbert, although I'm not sure Okafor at 12 million would be worth giving up Roy on a rookie salary.

Actually, thats not a bad package right there. I'd probably give that up for Okafor, with the minor critique of lottery protection or top ten protection on the first round pick. Okafor/Hibbert is a nice frontline to build around if you ask me.

[mizzoupacers]

I'd offer something along the lines of Foster, Quis, Shawne, and our 2009 1st round pick. I'd consider replacing one of the expirings with Hibbert, although I'm not sure Okafor at 12 million would be worth giving up Roy on a rookie salary.

The draft pick + Williams, along with an expiring contract to make the numbers work, is probably the richest offer I'd want to see the Pacers make for Okafor. And only if Okafor could then be signed to a reasonable contract next summer. $12 million is way more than he's worth.

Since I'm skeptical that Okafor would re-sign with the Pacers for reasonable money, I wouldn't want to see the Pacers include Hibbert in the deal.

[count55]

Too expensive.

I'll trade a package of Murphy and Tinsley for him with maybe a sweetener, but I don't want to pay the guy $12+mm any more than Charlotte does, unless he's replacing bad contract we already have.

[Grang33r]

It'd definetly be a dream, i think i'd still prefer Josh Smith but Okafor would be an incredible asset to the team. That being said, i don't think we have a chance to land him or Smith.

[Bucky O'Hare]

I'd give Okafor 12 million per. I think that's fair for a 14/11 2 blocks 25 year old, provided there are no yearly increases. Make it a flate-rate contract.

[MillerTime101]

Okafor would be great in a Pacer uniform, however I dont see a deal unless we add Dunleavy.

Dunleavy + Foster for Okafor + Morrison?

[CableKC]

Okay..fine....I will be the realist here on the board....we have absolutely nothing that we would be willing to part with that we can send to the Bobcats would want in a trade for Okafor.

[Bucky O'Hare]

Okay..fine....I will be the realist here on the board....we have absolutely nothing that we would be willing to part with that we can send to the Bobcats would want in a trade for Okafor.

Maybe, maybe not. My proposal may not be a great deal for Charlotte, but I think it was far from horrible. Either way, with how desolate our power forward position is, we'd be idiots not to at least inquire about Okafor's availability.

[Scoot McGroot]

I'd give Okafor 12 million per. I think that's fair for a 14/11 2 blocks 25 year old, provided there are no yearly increases. Make it a flate-rate contract.

I'm pretty ok with this as well, though it'd be hard to convince Okafor to take a flat $12 million per from Indy if he's not willing to do a contract that starts at $12 million per with raises from Charlotte.

Okay..fine....I will be the realist here on the board....we have absolutely nothing that we would be willing to part with that we can send to the Bobcats would want in a trade for Okafor.

This was the first thing I thought of when I saw the thread title as well. You're not alone in this.

[PR07]

I'd rather have Josh Smith, but I'd be fine with parting Foster+Daniels+Shawne+Future First for Okafor (at around 12 million). 10 million is the going rate these days for any big that can score and defend at a consistent rate at the NBA level. Okafor is a huge defensive presence and can score a little on the side too. The Pacers would instantly become a pretty good defensive team especially when Rush and Jack are in for Dunleavy and Ford.

[joew8302]

How much are you guys willing to pay Okafor? Like scoot said he is wanting in excess of 12 million per year. I say NO FREAKIN WAY to that. If the price was 10 million I would start putting together a mock package, but then again if it was 10 million he would be staying in Charlotte.

[Dcbaseballer52]

I don't know what it would take to get him, but if it was something like Foster, Williams, Graham for him then that would be to my liking. A 1st would be too much because we are still going to have a pick either in the lottery or close to the lottery next year. Remember, we got Granger with a non-lottery pick.

but if we would get him it wou;d be something like

Ford/Jack
Dunleavy/Rush
Granger/Daniels
Okafor/Murphy
Hibbert/Nesterovic

That would make us an all-around good defensive team and would free up granger to be more of a defensive stopper than he can be right now.

[IndyDave02]

I agree with the general consensus that this is a mere dream. However, I would have never thought Marcus Camby was available for a 2nd round pick either.

At least I don't feel as crazy for suggesting this a week ago in a earlier blog.

GO PACERS!

[bravesatl]

i'd offer shawne+foster+daniels+1st for okafor in a heartbeat....CHA would want jack instead of shawne, i wouldnt do it then obviously....

[Bucky O'Hare]

Granger and Ford are the only two I'd consider off-limits in an Okafor trade.

Shawne
Foster
Quis
2 1sts

Decent young prospect, couple of decent vets with about 12-13 million expiring, and 2 1sts. They could probably do better, but I'd give it a shot, stranger things have happened.