Bobcats, Okafor Agree To $72 Million Dollar Deal

Tag : slipping agent
Charlotte, NC -- (Sports Network) - The Charlotte Bobcats have agreed to terms with restricted free agent big man Emeka Okafor . The Charlotte Observer reported the deal is for six years and $72 million. Generalmanager Rod Higgins expects the contract to be signed in the next few days. "It was a long time coming -- actually about a year ofnegotiations," Higgins told the newspaper. "Any time you have aplayer like Emeka -- a rebounder, a defender at the rim, it'simperative for a team to keep a guy like that." Okafor, a Connecticut product, averaged 13.8 points and 10.7rebounds last season while playing all 82 games for the first timein his four-year NBA career. The second overall pick in the 2004 draft, the 6-foot-10forward/center has averaged 14.3 points and 10.8 rebounds in 248career NBA games.