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Bobcats Team Report (Yahoo! Sports)

Just maybe, Emeka Okafor gained some leverage as a restricted free agent this week.

First, Elton Brand chose to leave the Los Angeles Clippers for the Philadelphia 76ers, leaving a hole at power forward and an abundance of salary-cap space behind for his former team. Then it was reported Milwaukee Bucks center Andrew Bogut will sign a five-year, $72.5 million extension with his current team.

The offer Okafor turned down last summer—more than $12 million a season—looked generous on the Bobcats' part. However, Bogut's average annual salary—$14.5 million—trumps what looked like a fair price for Okafor and they look like comparable big men. (About $60 million of Bogut's contract is guaranteed.)

The Bobcats still have great control because...

The 10-man rotation, starring LeBron's little buddy (Yahoo! Sports)

A look around the league and the web that covers it. It's also important to note that the rotation order and...

Bobcats still building from bottom up (Yahoo! Sports)

Larry Brown is latest coach to try to guide Bobcats to first playoff appearance.

Injury-marred May determined to be ready for camp (AP)

Sean May has seemingly spent the past three years on crutches and the target of fat jokes. He's undergone three knee surgeries, ballooned to nearly 300 pounds and has played in only 58 of the Charlotte Bobcats' 246 games. And after undergoing a risky microfracture procedure in October, there were questions whether the 13th pick in the 2005 draft would ever play again.

Augustin's play impresses Bobcats coach Brown (AP)

The superlatives kept streaming out of Larry Brown's mouth: Terrific. Attentive. Real good. Great kid. Despite his well-earned reputation of being brutally tough on rookies and point guards, the new Charlotte Bobcats coach couldn't stop saying nice things about D.J. Augustin -- his rookie point guard. "He just does what you ask him to do, without exception," Brown said after a minicamp practice this...

Summer school for Mayo, Love (Yahoo! Sports)

Mayo, Love top Vegas crop this summer.

Brown hoping Bobcats sign free-agent Okafor soon (AP)

Larry Brown has big plans for Emeka Okafor. The new Charlotte Bobcats coach is hoping he'll get to work with him. With contract talks involving the restricted free agent moving slowly, Brown made it clear Thursday it's important the Bobcats keep their starting big man. "I hope that it works out because I was with him a little while and he's a terrific kid," said Brown, who coached Okafor on the 2004...

New-look Morrison happy to return to the court (AP)

Adam Morrison still has the shaggy, long hair, but it's wrapped in a ponytail. He still has the signature thin mustache, but now it's connected to a scraggly goatee. Yet after major knee surgery, Morrison was most proud of his wardrobe change Tuesday. He finally shed the blazers he wore while sitting at the end of the bench last season for shorts and a jersey for the start of the Charlotte Bobcats'...

Bobcats sign 1st-round picks (AP)

The Charlotte Bobcats signed first-round draft picks D.J. Augustin and Alexis Ajinca on Tuesday. Under the NBA's rookie scale, Augustin will make about $1.8 million next season and nearly $2 million the next. Ajinca will make about $1 million next year, then $1.1 million in year two. The Bobcats hold team options for their third and fourth seasons.

Brown ready to get to work leading Bobcats (AP)

Many NBA head coaches let their assistants run the summer rookie and free agent minicamp. Not Larry Brown. Brown will continue his active offseason since taking over his record ninth NBA team when the Charlotte Bobcats open a four-day summer camp here Tuesday ahead of the team's participation in the Las Vegas summer league.

Bobcats coach Larry Brown hires brother Herb (AP)

Charlotte Bobcats coach Larry Brown hired his brother to round out his coaching staff. Herb Brown will join Jeff Capel, Phil Ford and Dave Hanners as assistants. The move Monday came a day before the Bobcats open a rookie and free agent minicamp in Las Vegas. It'll be the third time the 72-year-old Brown will work for his younger brother, who is beginning his record ninth NBA head coaching job.

Bobcats add Herb Brown to coaching staff (PA SportsTicker)

CHARLOTTE, North Carolina (Ticker) -- Larry Brown will have his brother as an assistant yet again.

A most unusual and irreverent NBA mock draft (SportingNews.com)

At the NBA draft, millions of dollars are involved, jobs are hanging in the balance, and the future of the league is at stake. This is business, serious business -- but that doesn't mean there can't be a mock draft with a sense of humor.

Mantras all the new draftees should learn (SportingNews.com)

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Grading the draft: Bulls among the As, Sonics fail (SportingNews.com)

Sam Smith gives his opinion on every team's draft haul.

NBA mock draft: Real drama starts at No. 3 (SportingNews.com)

Again, like in 2007, the big question going into Thursday's NBA draft is, "What is Kevin going to do?" Though...

Mock draft: Does Pat Riley have eyes for O.J. Mayo? (SportingNews.com)

That the Chicago Bulls will take Derrick Rose with the No. 1 pick in the NBA draft seems to be a foregone conclusion. Sam Smith breaks down how the rest of the first round will shake out.

Sonics leave Seattle drenched, but in better shape (Yahoo! Sports)

Nearly everyone involved in the Sonics-Seattle case looks foolish. But the bizarre limbo dance is over and the franchise can move on.

Bobcats, injury-riddled Harrington part ways (AP)

The Charlotte Bobcats have declined to pick up a team option on the contract of forward Othella Harrington, making him an unrestricted free agent. The move Tuesday was no surprise after Harrington missed 71 games in two seasons with the Bobcats due to two surgeries on his left knee. The 34-year-old Harrington played in only 22 games last season and averaged 2.1 points and 1.9 rebounds.

Bobcats make offers to Okafor, Hollins (PA SportsTicker)

CHARLOTTE, North Carolina (Ticker) -- The Charlotte Bobcats have extended qualifying offers to forward-center Emeka Okafor and center Ryan Hollins, the team announced Tuesday.

Bobcats, Okafor prepare to begin negotiations (AP)

The Charlotte Bobcats vs. Emeka Okafor. Part II. For the second straight summer, the Bobcats will try to lock up the first draft pick in team history to a long-term contract. This time, however, the sense of urgency is greater because Okafor becomes a restricted free agent Tuesday. While the Bobcats can match any offer another team makes -- and few teams have the salary cap space to offer the power...

Team-by-team draft grades (Yahoo! Sports)

Teams receive report cards for their performance in the 2008 draft.

Bobcats need to get a point guard (Yahoo! Sports)

The Charlotte Bobcats have a tough assignment Thursday night. They have to become relevant.

Draft-day buzz: Ibaka letter, Hibbert to Charlotte (Yahoo! Sports)

Charlotte wants Roy Hibbert, Joe Alexander to Bucks, Serge Ibaka demands second round and other draft buzz.

Bobcats obtain 20th pick from Nuggets (AP)

The Charlotte Bobcats wanted to load up on draft picks. The Denver Nuggets were happy to sit out the entire draft. The Nuggets traded the 20th pick to the Bobcats on Wednesday in exchange for a future, protected first-round pick. The Bobcats, who also hold the ninth pick on Thursday, may now get a chance to address needs at center and point guard.