Monday, November 16th, 2009 at 9:00 am  |  29 responses

Okafor for Thomas Deal in the Works?

by Marcel Mutoni / @marcel_mutoni

The New Orleans Hornets are reportedly ready to throw in the towel this season. With the head coach looking for new work, and the superstar point guard injured and unhappy, management in N.O. figures it’s time for change.

And by “change”, I mean they want to save themselves a buck by shipping their expensive, and newly acquired power forward out of town for an expiring contract.

The Sacramento Bee reports:

A source with knowledge of the situation says the Kings are discussing a trade with New Orleans that would send Kenny Thomas to the Hornets and bring center Emeka Okafor to Sacramento.

The deal would be ideal for the Hornets, as Thomas’ expiring contract worth $8.7 million is just the kind of contract that would trim their enormous payroll. The question, of course, is whether the Kings see Okafor as a big man solution worth the five years and $62.5 million left on his deal.

As the linked article points out, no deal is imminent. Both sides are just feeling each other out at this point. But for the discussion to even be taking place, makes Hornet management’s outlook crystal clear.

Chris Paul’s nightmare looks to only be getting worse.

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  • ave. joe Posted: Nov.16 at 9:04 am
    KENNY THOMAS??? When I first read this I thought Tyrus…..yowzers….there’s no hope for NO this year :( OH and FIRST!

  • will Posted: Nov.16 at 9:08 am
    Man this is season was over before it started in N.O. Crazy how there was so much positive outlook only a season ago and now it looks like everything needs to be quickly blown up. I hope CP has the patience to stick it through but I would completely understand if he didn’t.

  • skeeter Posted: Nov.16 at 9:22 am
    what the hell? do they want chris paul out of town? who will play center? Julian wright? David West? HIlton Armstrong?…this a dumb move but hey i bet Sean Marks is happy

  • yessir Posted: Nov.16 at 9:35 am
    Derrick Favors/Donatas Motiejunas Welcome to Naw’leans

  • Cheryl Posted: Nov.16 at 9:40 am
    I’ll take a CP3 for Michael Beasley and Quenton Richardson, Monty.

  • dsenyard Posted: Nov.16 at 9:42 am
    Does this mean we can replace all remaining Hornets games with Rockets’ ones?

  • Omnixyience (Philippines) Posted: Nov.16 at 9:44 am
    @skeeter they will never trade cp3 even if his injured or playing with one arm. this article is about Okafur being traded to the Kings for Kenny Thomas, read the full article before you comment. lol

  • tavoris Posted: Nov.16 at 10:01 am
    sux for the Hornets, but Martin+Evans+Garcia+Okafor+Thompson looks like a good nucleus for the future. If only Martin & Garcua get their health in order.

  • Michael Posted: Nov.16 at 10:14 am
    @ Omnixyience, really dude, you didnt understand what skeeter was saying…?

  • niQ Posted: Nov.16 at 10:17 am
    LOL I TOLD Y’ALL OKAFOR WAS NOT A GOOD FIT FOR NEW ORLEANS.HHHAHAH. But on a more serious note, I don’t see Chris Paul staying in the long run..

  • Z Posted: Nov.16 at 10:29 am
    FREE CP3

  • Ghost (of Olden Polynice) Posted: Nov.16 at 10:49 am
    Chris,come to New York

  • tavoris Posted: Nov.16 at 10:52 am
    niQ..it’s about the money-as it’s always been with George Shinn.

  • Holy Baller Posted: Nov.16 at 10:54 am
    @ Omnixyience, learn how to spell and not be a total dumb@ss before you comment.

  • skeeter Posted: Nov.16 at 10:59 am
    @Omnixyience for your info i meant he is already pissed and this isnt going to help him want to be with a team that looks like its headed south i never said anything about trading chris paul..read the comment before you try to sound smart

  • Jacqueline Mitchell Posted: Nov.16 at 11:15 am
    Dang? Already? Gee Whiz they just got him and now New Orleans is ready to dump him like Paris Hilton dumps boyfriends Oh well.

  • Russ Bengtson Posted: Nov.16 at 11:59 am
    Kenny Thomas is still in the NBA? Wow.

  • tavoris Posted: Nov.16 at 12:05 pm
    Russ, it’s that contract…he won’t b in the L next season after it expires

  • Russ Bengtson Posted: Nov.16 at 12:13 pm
    Right. Good signing, there. I too initially thought the headline was referring to Tyrus Thomas, and, as a Bulls fan, I’d do that deal in an arrhythmic Eddy Curry heartbeat.

  • Cizzo Posted: Nov.16 at 12:35 pm
    How E.O. get all that money he aint ish!!!!

  • Jukai Posted: Nov.16 at 12:38 pm
    Wow for NO adding insult to Paul’s injury.

  • TADOne Posted: Nov.16 at 12:47 pm
    They need to trade George Shinn.

  • Allenp Posted: Nov.16 at 12:53 pm
    I thought it was Tyrus Thomas too…That would be an interesting trade.

  • rog123 Posted: Nov.16 at 1:09 pm
    Emeka okafor is a poor mans duncan. But that ain’t too bad is it?

  • rog123 Posted: Nov.16 at 1:13 pm
    I would love to see okafor and duncan team up . That way when duncan leaves, he can pass the torch to ‘meka. Maybe he could learn a few things from the master

  • Dacre Posted: Nov.16 at 5:35 pm
    I didn’t kow you could trade players from one team for staff with another?

  • Dacre Posted: Nov.16 at 5:36 pm
    Emeka Okafor DREAMS of being a poor mans Duncan. On what planet does Tim Duncan and Emeka have any semblance of similarity?

  • BETCATS Posted: Nov.16 at 6:31 pm
    Okafor dunked on Duncan one time. Its my avy on some site called Bobcatsplanet. True story. All i am going to say is we got Tyson Chandler and we’re called idiots because we didnt get enough. They get Kenny Thomas (who hasnt done sh!t in like 30 years) and nothing bad is said? Media favoritism must die.

  • Rich (Chitown) Posted: Nov.20 at 11:47 am
    @ave. joe, I too thought this was for Tyrus Thomas. I clicked everywhere I could to read this. But then I saw Kenny Thomas… what is New Orleans doing?

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