Three more quick thoughts on the Okafor/Chandler trade. First, please note that my displeasure from the trade is largely related to the quality & durability of the two players involved. Strictly from a basketball sense, it just is not an even trade. In my opinion, this holds true even if Tyson Chandler stays healthy for two seasons. I just think Okafor's consistency is more valuable. From a long-term financial standpoint, it does provide tremendous flexibility.
Second, and work with me here: if you're the management team of the Bobcats, how do you come to the conclusion that the same player you signed to an extension last summer is no longer a good fit? Seriously, click on that link and read the release from ESPN.com about the signing, paying special attention to the quotes from Rod Higgins and Larry Brown. Does this trade mean they had their doubts even then about his long-term place in Charlotte? The team just signed him to that ridiculous deal in order to trade him a year later? I doubt it; that would take far too much forward-thinking on behalf of the Charlotte organization. But ok, let's say you signed Okafor to that deal and then, a year later, had buyer's remorse. You decide you made a mistake, that he's not a good fit for this team, that you just don't want to pay him all that money; whatever the reason, you decide he needs to be traded. Ok, fine. But, he's durable and a double-double big man, plus he's never in trouble or bad for team chemistry and the best you can do for him is Tyson Chandler? Samuel Dalembert (2 years, $12.1 million in 2009-2010) from Philly, Chris Kaman (3 years, $10.4 million in 2009-2010) from the LA Clippers, Joel Przybrilla (2 years, $6.8 million in 2009-2010) & an expiring deal from Portland, Jamal Crawford (2 years, $9.36 million in 2009-2010) from Golden State earlier in the summer, or any other number of players might have been had for Okafor. Heck, why not play out a year with Tracy McGrady on the roster (McGrady & Chuck Hayes' expiring deals for Raja Bell, Okafor, and VladRad). Better players, with potentially more offensive skills, expiring contracts, or whatever the team desired were available. You just can't tell me the best offer for Emeka was Tyson Chandler.
And third, if you are going to trade a player of Okafor's ability, why not force a team to take one of those three bad deals off your hands too? Diop's is the worst and the longest, but he's just not getting traded for anything other than a seemingly more useful player with an equally bad contract. Nazi plays the same game as Okafor, just older and not as well, so including him would have been tough. But, what about VladRad? Why not force a team to take him and either get back an expiring deal or a more useful player (hey, anybody for a conventional power forward or a scoring guard)? It wouldn't work in all situations, but I think a bit more exploration might have been prudent.
Oh well, what's done is done. The team has traded the original face of the franchise and there is no turning back now. I have not read anyone (other than Scott Fowler) that approves of the deal for the Bobcats. John Hollinger went as far as to say "What are the Bobcats thinking?". Time will tell on this trade, as it does most. I was very, very critical of the Raja Bell & Boris Diaw for Jason Richardson & Jared Dudley swap initially, but it has been good to this point (fine with trading Richardson, but thought they could have done better for him - much like this trade. Let's see if Diaw can continue to play motivated for three more $9 million years). Forgive me if I don't rush out to buy a new Tyson Chandler jersey though.
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