--A sign-and-trade is Emeka Okafor's best chance to change teams this summer. Another team signing him to an offer sheet is less likely than ever, after the Los Angeles Clippers used most of their salary-cap space to trade for Denver's Marcus Camby. The Memphis Grizzlies would have that much cap room, but have indicated they don't plan a significant free-agency move this summer.
--A sign-and-trade involving Emeka Okafor could be complicated by the base-year compensation rule in the NBA's collective bargaining agreement. Since Okafor would be getting a huge raise (from $5.4 million last season to over $10 million this season), the team acquiring his new contract would have to accept far more salary under its cap than that team could send back to the Bobcats. QUOTE TO NOTE: "I told them all we can't teach effort -- they've got to have their motors running when they get here -- we can only teach execution. When I see a kid cares, even when he's screwing up, that's really important." -- New Bobcats coach Larry Brown, after running a practice for the first time in two years.
