<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'></p> <div class="bi">No Deal</div> <div> <span style="font-style: italic">Nov 1</span> - Center-forward Emeka Okafor, the No. 2 overall pick of the 2004 draft, will be a restricted free agent in July, after choosing not to sign a contract extension with the Charlotte Bobcats by Wednesday's deadline.</p> </p> Restricted free agent means the Bobcats could match any other NBA team's contract offer for Okafor. Or he could sign a one-year qualifying offer, meaning he would be an unrestricted free agent the summer of 2009. -- <font color="#000000">Charlotte Observer</font></p></div></div>
"I definitely want to be here long-term, and the Bobcats want me to be here long-term," Okafor said after the workout. "It's just the way things go sometimes. Everyone is in a great mood. Everybody is cool." </p> "I don't think it's going to be a distraction for me, the team or for Emeka," insisted Bobcats coach Sam Vincent. "He knows what he has to do." </p> "The Bobcats made a fair offer," Okafor said.</p> Seems to be the trend this year. A lot of contracts aren't being extended and max deals aren't being handed out left and right even to the lottery pick guys. This offseason is going to be a memorable one.</p>
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (GM3)</div><div class='quotemain'></p> Its for the best.</p> Remember the Keith Van Horn and Juwan Howard extensions?</p> </div></p> Yes, but there wasn't a salary cap back then and no luxury taxes to deal with. Maybe they don't view Okafor as a franchise player?</p> </p>
Well he is a Jermaine O'Neal but his peak of injuries has hit because O'Neals did. Okafor is the franchise player but with the Bobcats salary space, you might be able to bring something better in.</p>
Don't blame them all that much. Okafor's been injured way too much...for all we know, it could turn out to be a waste of money. Okafor could turn out to be an injury-riddled player the rest of his life.</p>
