Logo

DALLAS (Reuters) – The Charlotte Bobcats have acquired center DeSagana Diop from the Dallas Mavericks in exchange for guard Matt Carroll and Ryan Hollins, the NBA teams announced on Friday.

Diop was averaging just 1.7 points and 3.5 rebounds in 35 games for the Mavericks this season but the seven-foot Senegalese defensive specialist is expected to add some toughness to the Bobcats line-up.

"DeSagana is the type of player that has a natural athletic ability to block shots, rebound and defend," Bobcats general manager Rod Higgins said on the team website (www.nba.com/bobcats).

"This is a nice complement to our roster and someone we feel will add size, depth and experience to our power positions."

Taken with the eighth overall selection by the Cleveland Cavaliers in the 2001 draft, Diop has appeared in 486 career games averaging of 2.1 points, 3.9 rebounds and 1.1 blocks.

Diop also had 28 postseason games, 22 coming during the Mavericks' run to the 2006 NBA Finals.

The Mavericks obtained a pair of role players in Carroll and Hollins.

Carroll, a three-point specialist, was averaging 4.1 points and 1.6 rebounds in 34 games for the Bobcats this season while Hollins averaged 3.6 points and 2.0 rebounds.