Hornets general manager Jeff Bower expects Emeka Okafor to be better offensively alongside point guard Chris Paul.

Okafor has averaged a double-double in each of his first five NBA seasons, and Bower expects the center's low-post skills to attract attention from opposing defenses.

New Orleans acquired Okafor from Charlotte on Tuesday in exchange for Tyson Chandler.

"This has been a bit of a slow-moving process. We have been in discussions with (the Bobcats) for a while. We've been in a lot of discussions with various teams and remain in them. This is a step forward for us. It gives us another element to our front line," Bower told the Times-Picayune.

New Orleans also expects their defense to improve with Okafor, and that the former Connecticut star will be able to help Chris Paul start the fast break with his rebounding and passing.

Tyson Chandler, who was traded to the Bobcats earlier this week, says that he feels great physically.

"I feel a lot better than I did on the court last year," the center told the Charlotte Observer. "At the end of the (season), my ankle was hurting pretty bad. So I went in for an operation and we decided we might as well clean everything up. For the first time in a couple of years, I've got good movement in my toe."

Bobcats coach Larry Brown says that Chandler possesses the skill set the team is looking for in a center.

"We want a center who's out on the break, rebounding the ball and bringing it up with a couple of dribbles. Tyson has those skills," Brown said.

Emeka Okafor was dealt to the Hornets for Tyson Chandler on Tuesday.

"We looked at this trade as an opportunity to improve our team," Bobcats general manager Rod Higgins said. "Tyson brings that unique level of athleticism in a 7-footer that puts us in a position to compete night in and night out with the other quality centers in the league."

The New Orleans Hornets have agreed in principle to a trade that will send center Tyson Chandler to the Charlotte Bobcats for Emeka Okafor.

NBA front-office sources told ESPN.com that the deal was nearly consummated Friday and that talks had advanced to the point that the swap is on course to be submitted to the league office for approval Tuesday, barring any unforeseen snags.

Sources indicate that Okafor and Chandler will be the only players involved.

The Charlotte Bobcats are finalizing a trade that would send Emeka Okafor to the New Orleans Hornets for Tyson Chandler, two people familiar with the deal told The Associated Press on Monday.

Both centers are 26-years-old and were number two overall picks.

While Okafor has a longer contract, the players make about the same each year, making it an easier deal to fit under the salary cap. Chandler is owed $11.8 million in the 2009-10 season, and he could exercise his option for the 2010-11 season to increase that to $12.7 million.

The Hornets and Bobcats are in advanced discussions on a trade that would send center Tyson Chandler to Charlotte in exchange for Emeka Okafor, according to NBA front-office sources.

The trade could have more components in its finished form.

Sources close to the process said talks featuring Chandler and Okafor have been ongoing since late last week.

The AP reports that the trade could be completed Monday.

Argentinian Walter Herrmann, who played in the NBA with the Detroit Pistons and Charlotte Bobcats, has signed a two year contract with Euroleague powerhouse Tau Ceramica, according to a report by euroleague.net.

Herrmann has signed a two year contract.

Raymond Felton's agent Kevin Bradbury left a meeting with Charlotte general manager Rod Higgins disappointed and far apart in negotiations.

"We're definitely not close as far as what we're discussing and what we think fair market (value) is for Raymond," Bradbury said Wednesday, a day after the meeting.

While Bradbury declined to discuss numbers, he indicated there was a surprisingly significant difference in the deals he and Higgins proposed for the restricted free agent point guard.

Bradbury said both sides remain interested in a lengthy contract.

"At this point I'm not as encouraged as I was a day ago or even a week ago, but that doesn't mean that it can't get done," Bradbury said. "We just have to keep talking."

Sean May told the Charlotte Observer on Monday night that he has plans to work out for four teams in Las Vegas this week.

May became an unrestricted free agent after the Bobcats opted not to extend him a $3.6 million qualifying offer.

He told the Observer that he would work out for the Blazers and Kings on Tuesday, Cavaliers on Wednesday and Clippers on Thursday.

The Bobcats haven't completely ruled out re-signing him either.

The Charlotte Observer has reported that free agent forward Brandon Bass might have a five-year, $25 million offer on the table.

The Observer's Rick Bonnell contacted agent Tony Dutt on Saturday, and while the Bobcats are interested in Bass, they aren't believed to be the club that offered the $25 million deal.