According to ESPN.com and various other outlets, The Hornets have agreed in principle to a trade of Tyson Chandler to the Bobcats for Emeka Okafor.  I’m working on a stat-pack post to evaluate the new acquisition, but I wanted to get my first thoughts out there.

To be honest, despite that irritating(or so I’m told) optimism I’ve exuded, this deal comes as a relief.  Tyson Chandler is a top-10 center when healthy, and one that could push the top five.  Emeka Okafor is also a top-10 center (though probably closer to 10 than 5) but he doesn’t have the health risks of Tyson Chandler.  Oh, and Okafor is 26 years old and under contract through 2013-14 when he turns thirty.  Essentially, his prime years, admittedly for a hefty salary.

I’m going to miss Chandler, but given the choice between a trade for Okafor or for Ben Wallace’s retiring contract?  Okafor is infinitely more palatable.  For me, if not for George Shinn’s wallet.

For now, I’m going to go work on my stats post and try to refrain from kicking dirt in the eyes of all those blathering pundits who have talked about how lame the Hornets front office is for a couple weeks now.  Oh wait, I guess I just did kick dirt in their eyes.  Wups.