Le Basketbawl

I realize that Charlotte Bobcats head coach Larry Brown is an excellent teacher as a coach, I also am well aware of the old bromide you “Can’t teach height.” However even taking both those factors into consideration, I still think that the Charlotte Bobcats weakened their team Friday, as according to the “Associated Press“ they traded guard Matt Carroll and center Ryan Hollins to the Dallas Mavericks for center DeSagana Diop.

When the Charlotte Bobcats traded Jason Richardson to the Phoenix Suns for Boris Diaw and Raja Bell, I thought that Phoenix was getting the better of the deal, but I could understand the rationale of the deal from the Bobcats point of view. Although Richardson is an impact player, they needed size which they got in Diaw, and two steady players in the pair. Charlotte through Thursday night had gone 8-6 in the their last 14 contests, a sign that the trade had impacted the team positively. But if either Brown or Bobcats General Manager Rod Higgins thinks this deal improved their team, I think they will soon be realizing they made a big mistake.

I have known Diop his entire NBA career, having covered him after he was drafted by the Cleveland Cavaliers with the number eight pick in the 2001 NBA Draft. DeSagana is one of the truly nice people, I have had the pleasure meeting during my years covering professional sports, a big friendly bear of a man. He is also one of the least skilled players that I have ever seen playing in the Association.

Diop is a soccer player who has tried to adapt to playing basketball since high school, and still does not find it natural. Diop is one of the few centers in the league less talented than Kwame Brown. He has averaged 2.1 points, 3.9 rebounds, 1.2 blocks, and 0.4 assists, in 7-plus seasons in the NBA. He is referred to as a defensive specialist. In this long time NBA observers opinion, there is nothing too special about career averages of 3.9 rebounds, and 1.2 blocks per game.

Matt Carroll, and Ryan Hollins will not be missed by the Bobcats, however the team is now on the hook for Diop’s contract, which is in effect until the end of the 2011-2012 campaign. He reportedly will be paid $6 million per year. Larry Brown has always been acclaimed for being one of the better teachers among coaches  in the NBA through out his career. However, unless Brown can accomplish what has shown to be an impossible act so far, this deal will hamstring the team for years.