Well, well, well. This comes as quite a surprise. The Hornets don't shed salary but add it. And , acquire one of the best young centers in the NBA.
Emeka Okafor is everything the Hornets need: he is durable shot blocker, a solid low post scorer, and last year the second best offensive rebounder in the NBA. The reason this deal happened is Charlotte's economics. Owner Bob Johnson has lost millions and is unloading the last three years of Okafor's contract. The Hornets will be on the hook for those three years at a total of $40.5 million.
The Hornets actually will save salary this season. Chandler is due to earn $11.850 million. Okafor will earn $10.538 million.
The biggest winners in this deal are Okafor, and Chris Paul: Okafor will be the new back end of the Crescent City Connection. His point totals are likely to go as he is set up by the best point guard in the league. And, Paul is a winner, too. He gets one of the 10 best centers in the league, in his prime.
In five weeks, the Hornets will have added Okafor, and drafted Darren Collison and Marcus Thornton.
A Hornets starting five could be: Paul, Rasual Butler, Okafor, David West, and Julian Wright. Of the bench would be Peja, and the two rookie guards, and veteran James Posey.
Is this a lineup good enough to win in the West? It may be.
Ed Daniels