http://0rz.tw/kMDqe It's no longer inconceivable Emeka Okafor could end up in trade talks once his base-year compensation status expires over the summer. The last three games illustrated how difficult it is for him to guard true giants at center. Dwight Howard, Yao Ming and an aging Shaquille O'Neal all dominated him one way or another. Okafor shot 2-of-9 in Phoenix and had nearly as many fouls (five) as rebounds (six). Plus, it was hard to miss coach Larry Brown's sarcasm Friday, when he started praising Howard's tough screens. Brown finished that thought with this aside: "Just imagine if our center set screens.'' Both for better and worse, you know precisely what Okafor offers. He's one of a handful of NBA players who've finished each of the past four seasons averaging a double-double. Despite some early injury problems, he's durable, having played 148 consecutive games. He's smart and mature. Then there's the downside. He's 6-10 and not a great leaper, but he has to play center based on his limitations away from the basket. He gets his shot blocked often because he plays mostly below the rim. And he's a liability as a foul-shooter. I'm not saying Okafor will be traded or even that it's likely. I'm saying with conviction he's no longer untouchable, despite a contract that averages about $12 million per season. Base-year compensation is a salary-cap restriction that makes it difficult to trade a player the first season after he signs a new contract with a huge raise. That's over for Okafor this summer. Trading Okafor would be tough both because of his sizeable contract and the difficulty replacing what he does as a rebounder and post defender. But the past 10 months have illustrated what a spirit of change has enveloped the Bobcats. They're down to five players from last season. One of those, Sean May, doesn't figure to be back without a huge pay cut and another, Nazr Mohammed, would already be gone if the Bobcats could find a taker for his contract. If Okafor ever was an untouchable, he's not anymore. -- ╭──╮╭──╮╭──╮┌──╮╭─╮╮╭──╮╭──╮╭─╮╮╭──╮ │ ││ ││ ││ ││ │││ │╰╮╭╯│ │││ │ │ ─ ││ ─┤│ ├╮│ ─┤│ ◆││ │ ││ │ ││ ─ │ │╭╮││╭╭╯│ ││ ─┤││ │╰╮╭╯╭╯╰╮││ ││╭╮│nycten ╰╯╰╯╰╯╰ ╰──╯└──┘╰╯─╯ ╰╯ ╰──╯╰╯─╯╰╯╰╯ voy --

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