Okafor

Though he logged little playing time, there's something to be said for getting a one-month tutorial from Tim Duncan, both on the practice court and in the locker room. Okafor just celebrated his 22nd birthday in late September, but will soon be counted on to lead his team to respectability.

It's hard to imagine leadership being more than a speed bump for the first-team Academic All-America, who graduated in May despite bypassing his senior season of eligibility.

Besides, how's this for leadership? In April, he carried the University of Connecticut to an NCAA Championship on an injured back. That concluded a season in which he was named co-National College Player of the Year after averaging 17.8 points, 11.5 rebounds and 4.1 blocks per game in his final season at UConn.

Orlando had the first choice in the draft, sparing the Bobcats a decision between Okafor and Dwight Howard. It might be the best choice they never had to make.

Wallace

Their predecessors in Charlotte suffered through four seasons averaging 24 wins before the Men of Teal broke through in 1992-93, so let's go out on a limb and say the 2004-05 Bobcats aren't going to win a lot of games.

The Bobcats biggest victory occurred when they drafted a 6-10 defensive force named Chukwuemeka Noubuisi Okafor. Emeka, as he is better known, is a rare player with the intellect to match his athletic gifts. It's not a stretch to say he could be to the city of Charlotte what David Robinson was to San Antonio.

The rest of the roster offers plenty of promise, but little proof, with the exception of Steve Smith. A 13-year veteran and consummate pro, the 35-year-old might make his biggest impact in the locker room.

Amazingly, given the timetable that an expansion team has to nurture young talent, the youngest player on the roster is center Jamal Sampson, 21. Like many of his teammates, most of Sampson's NBA minutes have been logged in the fourth quarter of games well out of reach.

The team did find some experience at point guard in Brevin Knight and Jason Hart, both of whom have shown the ability to run an offense, but are limited offensively.

In the expansion draft, the Bobcats hope to find a keeper or two among Sampson (LA Lakers), long-range shooter Jason Kapono (Cleveland), 6-8 swingman Tamar Slay (New Jersey), athletic forward Gerald Wallace (Sacaramento) and 260-pound bruiser Brandon Hunter (Boston).

The seven expansion teams since 1980 have averaged only 18 victories, so Charlotte fans would be wise to cherish each one with the knowledge that better days lie ahead.