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Bobcats, Okafor at contract deadline
CHARLOTTE — In March, Charlotte Bobcats part-owner Michael Jordan established signing a contract extension with forward-center Emeka Okafor as a top priority. Earlier this month, Okafor said he was “positive” a deal would be struck.
And yet, entering today’s deadline for Okafor and other fourth-year players like him to sign contract extensions, no new contract has been signed.
Is Okafor worried?
“You just never know with these things,” Okafor said after Tuesday’s practice session. “You’ve just got to see.
“The only certainty is that I’ve got to play and I plan on being a Bobcat for awhile. The contract thing is just something we’ll have to see how it goes.”
Should the deadline pass without the Bobcats and Okafor reaching an agreement, Okafor would go into the summer of 2008 as a restricted free agent. It means Okafor could negotiate with other teams, but the Bobcats would have the right to match whatever offer he might receive.
If there’s no offer and the Bobcats want to retain his services, Okafor can sign a one-year qualifying offer from the team and become an unrestricted free agent in the summer of 2009.
Already, two of the top five picks in the 2004 NBA draft have signed long-term extensions. Orlando’s Dwight Howard, the No. 1 overall pick, signed a five-year, $85 million extension and Dallas’ Devin Harris, the No. 5 pick, signed a five-year, $42 million extension.
Okafor, the No. 2 pick, and two other top five picks from 2004 enter today’s deadline unsigned. Okafor’s University of Connecticut teammate Ben Gordon of the Chicago Bulls, the No. 3 pick, reportedly is seeking a five-year, $70 million extension. But Tuesday’s editions of the Chicago Sun-Times reported Gordon appeared unlikely to strike a deal with the Bulls.
The No. 4 pick, the Los Angeles Clippers’ Shaun Livingston, likely won’t be offered an extension as he is recovering from a catastrophic dislocated knee injury he suffered last season.
Okafor, a 6-foot-10, 255-pounder, has averaged 14.5 points and 10.9 rebounds in three seasons with the Bobcats. He was the 2005 NBA Rookie of the Year one season after leading UConn to the NCAA Championship as a senior.
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