The Charlotte Bobcats and coach Larry Brown continued to tinker with their roster Friday, acquiring 7-foot defensive specialist DeSagana Diop from the Dallas Mavericks for guard Matt Carroll and center Ryan Hollins.

The Bobcats' second trade in just over a month wasn't nearly as big as the deal that sent top scorer Jason Richardson to Phoenix. But the move helps in Brown's quest to get bigger up front and better defensively, while the Mavericks get a much-needed 3-point specialist in Carroll.

The 26-year-old Diop has limited offensive skills and wasn't part of the Mavericks rotation of late, averaging just 1.6 points and 3.5 rebounds.

"I think I needed to go somewhere to get a lot more minutes," Diop said. "I wanted to play. It was very frustrating."

It was the second time in a year the Mavericks traded Diop. He was sent to New Jersey in the Jason Kidd trade last February. The Bobcats pursued Diop in free agency last summer, but he re-signed with Dallas.

Diop gives the Bobcats another rebounder and shot blocker and will perhaps allow undersized center Emeka Okafor to play more power forward.

"He's going to create some flexibility for us," Bobcats general manager Rod Higgins said. "Just having another 7-footer is always good."

Carroll's departure alleviates a logjam of wing shooters on Charlotte's roster, an area where the Mavericks lacked depth beyond Dirk Nowitzki and Jason Terry.

Carroll had seen limited minutes this season and was averaging 4.1 points sharing playing time with Adam Morrison. But the 6-foot-6 Carroll is a career 40 percent 3-point shooter.

The 7-foot Hollins played limited minutes for Charlotte and was included in the deal to get the salaries to match. The Bobcats will be taking on Diop's contract, which runs through 2011-12 season and averages more than $6 million a year.

Carroll is in the third season of a six-year, $27 million deal.

"When we started the season we had six players at the shooting guard and the small forward," Higgins said. "We made a couple of trades and we've moved our roster around. We'll see how this goes. We also have flexibility of another roster spot."

Higgins said the Bobcats are still talking to other teams about possible deals. Guard Raymond Felton, a restricted free agent this summer, has been mentioned as a candidate to change teams before the Feb. 19 trade deadline.

The Bobcats, who host Portland Saturday, are 8-6 in the past 14 games and have played well since getting power forward Boris Diaw and shooting guard Raja Bell from the Suns in the Richardson trade.

Diop is scheduled to arrive in Charlotte late Saturday and will not play against the Trail Blazers.
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http://www.nba.com/2009/news/01/16/mavs.bobcats.trade.ap/index.html


Who will benefit from this more - Charlotte or Dallas?

I really think this will benefit the Dallas Mavericks and Matt Carroll, Carroll didn't get enough time on the court this year and wasn't given as much opportunities that he wanted. I really rate this guy especially at his 3 point shooting, the Bobcats are trading 2 bench players for another bench player.

The Bobcats imo need to trade Nazr Mohammed or Felton for a good point Guard or use D. J. Augustin as their first PG and look for a good Shooting Guard to back up Raja Bell.

yes it's just a normal trade for both!

mavs have too many guards now!

rjt wrote:

yes it's just a normal trade for both!

mavs have too many guards now!

Yeah but do u think it will benifit the bobcats? I think they are lossing to much depth for my liking. They should just of done no trades.

It would have a better benefit on the Mavs for sure!

Nope, I think even if this trade will not make big deal or anything, Charlotte gets best.

sk22allstars wrote:

Nope, I think even if this trade will not make big deal or anything, Charlotte gets best.

I have to disagree as I think Diop wont make the Bobcats stronger at all they will just get some more back up in the Centres area, Diop wont get a lot minutes behind Okafor. The Mavericks are getting a way better deal as they are gaining some good scoring players as I have stated before Matt Carroll and center Ryan Hollins didn't get much of a chance to get some minutes for the Charlotte side. If Matt Carroll and Ryan Hollins get some handy minutes for the Mavericks I am sure they will get the chance to show their full potential.

The Bobcats team is very well spread out in potential and skills but I think they need to think and possibly get a big named player. This could include signing a player in the off-season or trading Morrison, Felton or May in any combination.

Ohhhh. Your prediction was right, Adam Morrison was traded, to the Lakers.

I think they need to trade Felton for sure. For a player near the levels of Devin Harris.

sk22allstars wrote:

Ohhhh. Your prediction was right, Adam Morrison was traded, to the Lakers.

I think they need to trade Felton for sure. For a player near the levels of Devin Harris.

Dont think they will be able to trade felton to the nets for harris lol. Possibly to get rid of Felton and Okafor and 1st round pick for Carter and Harris? But dont see the Bobcats getting rid of Okafor in any rush maybe Gerald Wallace could be instead and a 1st round draft pick

With Felton + Okafor/Wallace, they can trade for more than Harris or Carter. They might be able to trade for a guy like Odom, Williams (CAVS), Chalmers (Witrh another player, etc.