Anticipating an "unbelievable offer'' from another team, the Charlotte Bobcats took power forward Tyrus Thomas off the market Friday with a five-year, $40 million deal. Thomas' agent, Brian Elfus, confirmed to the Observer he has an agreement in principle with the Bobcats. Elfus declined to discuss terms, but other NBA sources relayed the five-year, $40 million parameters. The Bobcats appeared in imminent danger of either losing restricted free agent Thomas or having to match another team's offer sheet. The New Jersey Nets, among others with large cap room, wanted Thomas, a 6-9 forward entering his fifth NBA season. Bobcats owner Michael Jordan acknowledged the stakes Friday morning in a brief interview with Observer columnist Scott Fowler. "Our biggest task now is Tyrus Thomas,'' Jordan said, "because we know some team's going to come in there and make him an unbelievable offer now.'' By heading off that offer, the Bobcats avoided a front-loaded salary structure that could have forced them to pay the NBA's luxury tax. Any team paying more than $69.9 million in player payroll next season will pay a dollar-for-dollar tax on the overage. Losing Thomas would have been a setback, in part because the Bobcats dealt a future first-round pick to the Chicago Bulls to acquire him. The fourth overall pick in 2006, Thomas was out of favor with the Bulls, but seemed to thrive in three months as a Bobcat. Playing off the bench behind Boris Diaw, he averaged about 10 points, six rebounds and 1½ blocks in 25 regular-season games. Thomas established a quick bond with Bobcats coach Larry Brown, who said after the season if Thomas doesn't develop, "it's on me.'' "From the first day he's been with us, he just wanted to be coached,'' Brown said last month. "Is he a finished product? No, not yet. He needs to get a better post game, he needs to be better with the ball. But he's so athletic and so quick.'' Elfus said Brown's presence played a role in Thomas' decision: "Tyson really enjoys playing for Larry. At the start of this process, he made it really clear where he preferred to be. Tyrus loves Charlotte.'' Thomas' deal adds to an already expensive Bobcats frontcourt. Diaw and three centers – Tyson Chandler, Nazr Mohammed and Gana Diop – combine to make nearly $35 million next season. That makes it all the less likely the Bobcats will retain free-agent point guard Raymond Felton, a target of the New York Knicks. There's a remote possibility the Bobcats could arrange a sign-and-trade with the Knicks, but most likely they'll lose Felton without compensation. The Bobcats have to do something to replace Felton, at least providing a backup to last season's backup, D.J. Augustin. Jordan confirmed Friday morning they're investigating numerous trade possibilities, possibly to reduce payroll. In a lesser roster move, the Bobcats have agreed to sign former Sacramento Kings and Washington Wizards forward Dominic McGuire. A former second-round pick, McGuire just completed his third NBA season, averaging 2.4 points and 3.2 rebounds for his career. Read more: http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2010/07/09/1553786/jordan-bobcats-go-proactive-lock.html#ixzz0tESUaN1L --

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