NEW YORK (Reuters) - Centers Tyson Chandler and Emeka Okafor will be switching jerseys as the Charlotte Bobcats and New Orleans Hornets agreed a trade on Tuesday.

The 7-foot-1 Chandler, second overall pick in the 2001 NBA Draft, averaged 8.8 points, 8.7 rebounds and 1.2 blocks over 45 games last season for New Orleans after missing time with left ankle injuries.

Okafor, the second-overall pick in the 2004 draft who also swings over to play forward, averaged 13.2 points, 10.1 rebounds and 1.7 blocks in 2008-09, playing in all 82 games for the second consecutive season.

New Orleans (49-33 last season) takes on considerably more salary in obtaining the 6-foot-10 Okafor, who signed a six-year, $72 million contract last year with Charlotte.

Chandler, who like Okafur is 26, is owed $12 million per season for the next two seasons with the Bobcats (35-47), according to NBA website nba.com.

(Reporting by Larry Fine, Editing by Justin Palmer)