Report: Okafor to be traded to New Orleans

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.

The swap of 26-year-old centers wasn't expected to be completed until today and was unlikely to include other players, the sources said on condition of anonymity because an official announcement has not been made. The deal would be another roster change for the Bobcats since Larry Brown took over as coach last season, and seemingly is a gamble because Chandler has been bothered by a toe injury and had surgery in May.

Okafor was the second player taken in the 2004 draft, after Orlando made Dwight Howard the No. 1 pick. Okafor signed a six-year, $72 million contract before last season and averaged 13.2 points and 10.1 rebounds. Chandler averaged 8.8 points and 8.7 rebounds.

Thunder, Minnesota make a deal

OKLAHOMA CITY — The Minnesota Timberwolves picked up 34-year-old point guard Chucky Atkins from Oklahoma City in exchange for center Etan Thomas, 31, and two second-round draft picks next year.

Minnesota also got Oklahoma City swingman Damien Wilkins, a former Sonic who is 29, in the deal. David Kahn, Timberwolves president of basketball operations, has been busy reshaping the roster he inherited from Kevin McHale. Kahn said the trade gives the team flexibility.

Gooden says he is Dallas-bound

DALLAS — A source close to the negotiations said the Dallas Mavericks have reached an agreement with 6-foot-10 Drew Gooden, a free agent.

Gooden said on his Twitter page that he had three deciding factors in his decision to join the Mavericks: winning, playing time and money.

Gooden, 27, averaged 9.8 points and 4.4 rebounds last season for San Antonio.

Notes

• Point guard Tony Parker, 27, of the San Antonio Spurs has a sprained ankle and injured thigh. He was playing for France in a game Friday and collided with Stjepan Stazic of Austria.

• Miami Heat guard Dwyane Wade is embroiled in a multimillion-dollar legal battle with former business partners.

A deal to open a restaurant chain — D. Wade's Place — which Wade and a friend, Marcus Andrews, hoped would go nationwide barely got off the ground. Former business associates claim Wade, 27, walked away from a binding contract.

• Phoenix guard Steve Nash, who recently agreed to a two-year, $22 million contract extension though the 2011-2012 season, explored the market before making his decision.

"I definitely was weighing all my options," said the 35-year-old Nash, a two-time league most valuable player. "I definitely looked out there to see what possibilities there were — becoming a free agent next year, asking to be traded."