Bobcats, Hornets Shuffle Components

On Tuesday, the Charlotte Bobcats traded Emeka Okafor to the New Orleans Hornets. As reciprocation, the Hornets received Tyson Chandler. “Emeka is one of the premier centers in the NBA with All-Star caliber scoring and rebounding averages throughout his career,” said Hornets General Manager Jeff Bower. “His potential to improve is endless once you put him on the court running with Chris Paul.”

During his career, Okafor has recorded 14.0 points and 10.7 rebounds per contest. Conversely, Chandler has registered 8.2 points and 9.0 rebounds per contest. “We looked at this trade as an opportunity to improve our team,” said Bobcats General Manager Rod Higgins. “Tyson brings that unique level of athleticism in a 7-footer that puts us in a position to compete night in and night out with the other quality centers in the league.”

This exchange is intriguing. The exchanged are compliments. They are not superstars. They may not impact rosters. They may not increase victories. For improvement, franchises require alteration. A component reshuffling is insufficient.