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It’s official: Emeka Okafor is no longer a Bobcat.

Today, the trade with the New Orleans Hornets was finalized, sending Tyson Chandler to Charlotte for Okafor.

I posted yesterday my own opinions on how I felt about this deal, and having spoken today with some fellow Bobcats fans, the consensus is shared. People are not happy with this trade in Charlotte.

Jordan Clary, a 22 year old student at UNC Charlotte, went so far as to invoke the name of George Shinn when referring to how bad a decision this is. Shinn, of course, is the owner of the New Orleans Hornets, formerly the Charlotte Hornets. The franchise left Charlotte in 2002 due to low attendance, caused by, for lack of a better phrase, Shinn’s cheapness. He refused to pay players like Alonzo Mourning the money they deserved for their abilities, and traded such players away.

Fellow Charlottean Adam Stinson shared the sentiment. Not a follower of sports, even he knew the name Okafor and what he means to basketball in this city.

Sure, Chandler gives the Bobcats a few inches in height at the center position, but he isn’t polished. Okafor’s career numbers indicate he’s a better shot blocker and scores more points per game than Chandler, and has stayed healthier over the last few years. Not to mention they’re the same age, down to a difference of a few days.

I’m still trying to wrap my head around this one. It’s more confusing than the Jeff Francoeur for Ryan Church trade. Okafor had just signed a 6 year, 72 million dollar contract extension with the Bobcats. They paid him the money he had coming for the production he already proved he’s capable of. Less than a year later, Chandler’s lower salary makes him a better player? The Bobcats needed help on offense, not defense. Chandler won’t be an improvement over Okafor in that department.

It doesn’t make sense for either side. The Hornets are now stuck with 6 years of salary for a big man instead of 2. They’ve shot themselves in the foot, and won’t have much cap room for next year’s expected free agent frenzy. With the Western Conference as tough as it is, will Okafor really put them over like Chris Bosh could?

In spite of my promise yesterday to stop supporting the Bobcats if this trade went through, I still sent Tyson Chandler a message, wishing him luck playing here in Charlotte. But if management keeps making decisions like this, alienating their fan base by shipping out favorites like they did as the Hornets roughly a decade ago, this team won’t be in Charlotte much longer.

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