OAKLAND, Calif. – Less than a week before the start of the season, the New Orleans Hornets still don’t know what to make of new center Emeka Okafor(notes). He has yet to play or even practice with them, and his prolonged absence has some team members privately shaking their heads.

Okafor has missed all seven of the Hornets’ preseason games because of a strained toe on his right foot. He isn’t expected to play in Friday’s preseason finale against the Los Angeles Clippers and his status for Wednesday’s season opener against the San Antonio Spurs remains in doubt.

An NBA source told Yahoo! Sports that Okafor was cleared to play by the Hornets’ medical staff two weeks ago and by his own doctor a week later. Most of Okafor’s teammates know he has been cleared and are eager to see whether he works out with them for the first time over the weekend.

“He better practice Sunday or he could lose some guys,” one Hornet said.

Prior to the Hornets’ shootaround on Thursday morning, Okafor acknowledged he has been medically cleared to play “based on how I feel.” He said he hopes to practice on Sunday.

“He might have been cleared medically, but from a mental standpoint he is not cleared,” New Orleans coach Byron Scott said. “In his mind, he says he’s not ready. When you have a guy that says he is not ready, the worst thing you can do is force him to get out there.”

The Hornets made Okafor their big offseason acquisition after acquiring him from the Charlotte Bobcats in a trade for oft-injured center Tyson Chandler(notes). Okafor injured his toe just before training camp began and said the initial plan was for him to play his first preseason game last Saturday. But after the toe was still sore when he tested it on Oct. 12, he said he needed to take a more cautious approach with the injury.

So far, Okafor hasn’t participated in anything with his teammates aside from walking through the Hornets’ offense during one practice. Point guard Chris Paul(notes) coaxed him to participate in the walk-through, one team source said.

“We have to find a way to get him integrated into what we are trying to do,” Hornets forward David West(notes) said.

the league is filled with juwanna men...my goodness...

Sounds like they just picked up an Eddy Curry!

Watch it. BRIGGS is reading this.

Posted by Bonn1997:

Sounds like they just picked up an Eddy Curry!

Are leg fingers also a human body artefacts?

Posted by Nalod:

No wonder Larry got him jettisoned!

His "yoga" crack was great.

I guess OK4 is not quite old school!

YEA, I mean these guys sign these big deals and they just check out.... Okafor seems to be no different from the rest of the lazy bums..

I tease him that he's got an A in stretching and pilates and yoga. I want him to have an A in basketball," Brown said two days after Charlotte finished ...

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/basketball/nba/2009-07-27-bobcats-hornets-trade_N.htm

In his defense, Oka4 has been playing a lot more the last two seasons and most likley taking care of his body. He game is based on being "athletic" and is doing the right things to protect his body and career.

Lets see what kind of season he does have and how good the thunder get with him playing big minutes. Sure its easy to say he is soft now and then watch them make a run for the playoffs later!

RIght

I think Okafor will be fine. Ask Trevor Ariza about Larry Brown's opinion.