<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'></p> <div class="bi">Okafor Wants To Stay A Bobcat</div> <div> <span style="font-style: italic">Nov 2</span> - The Charlotte Bobcats say they want center-forward Emeka Okafor for the long haul. Okafor says he wants to stay here. But that mutual desire wasn't sufficient to complete a long-term agreement before Wednesday's NBA deadline.</p> </p> "I plan to be here -- I love the city, I love the team, I love the staff. It's just a matter of time for things to work out," he said after the last practice before tonight's season opener against Milwaukee.</p> </p> "The Bobcats were fair and reasonable, but I've always been a goal-driven person. I've always had high expectations for the team and myself. I want to attain that. That's just the way basketball is sometimes."</p> </p> A source familiar with the discussions confirmed the Bobcats offered nearly $13 million a season, which would have made Okafor the highest-paid player in team history. The source said Okafor wanted something approaching the five-year, $85 million maximum contract Dwight Howard signed with the Orlando Magic in July. -- <font color="#000000">Charlotte Observer</font></p></div></div>
