After signing a six-year, $72 million contract, Emeka Okafor said he never considered playing for any team but the Charlotte Bobcats.

Consider that more good manners than total candor.

Ultimately, Bobcats management and Okafor's representatives came to common ground on what would be a fair, long-term contract for the team's center and original draft pick. However, there were some friction and hurt feelings along the way.

Okafor was offered closer to $10 million per season at the outset of free-agency this summer, a significant reduction from the $12 million average offered a year ago. Okafor turned that down, but eventually got an additional guaranteed season out of the new deal once reaching restricted free-agency.

Okafor's camp was sufficiently ...More