Bobcats send Chandler to Dallas in five-player deal

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) -- The Charlotte Bobcats completed a wild 24 hours of trade discussions with a deal on Tuesday that does include center Tyson Chandler after all.

He's just not heading to the team he thought a day earlier.

After a potential trade with Toronto fell apart, the Bobcats sent Chandler and fellow center Alexis Ajinca to the Dallas Mavericks for center Erick Dampier, forward Eduardo Najera, shooting guard Matt Carroll and cash considerations.

The 7-foot-1 Chandler, acquired from New Orleans for Emeka Okafor last season, spent one injury-riddled season in Charlotte.

"We could not be more excited to add Tyson Chandler," said Mavericks general manager Donnie Nelson. "He is one of the most versatile big men in the league today. He gives our front line a defensive, shot-blocking, athletic punch we haven't had here in awhile. Alexis Ajinca is a fine young center with significant upside."

It's possible the trade is simply a salary dump for Charlotte. Dampier's $13 million salary for next season is not guaranteed and he could be waived. Chandler is due $12.7 million next season.

The Bobcats were only about $3 million shy of the reaching the luxury tax threshold, a payroll figure owner Michael Jordan said they wouldn't exceed.

"Our main goal this offseason was finding a way to reshape this roster and continue the momentum we have established," Bobcats general manager Rod Higgins said in a statement. "While it's always difficult to give up key pieces of your team, we believe this deal will give financial flexibility and the ability to improve our team at the same time."

The Bobcats had been closing in on a deal that would've sent Chandler and Boris Diaw to Toronto for Jose Calderon and Reggie Evans. Chandler was told he was being sent to the Raptors by his agent, but the deal dissolved.

It marked the second time in less than two years Chandler had an apparent trade stopped. Oklahoma City rescinded a deal with the Hornets in 2009 when Chandler failed a physical.

It leaves the Bobcats still searching for a point guard to replace departed free agent Raymond Felton, but more financial flexibility if Dampier doesn't end up in Charlotte.

It marks Carroll's second stint in Charlotte, and he'll face stiff competition for playing time behind Stephen Jackson and Gerald Henderson.

Game 11: Mavs vs. Bobcats

Dallas is 3-7 as they head to Charlotte to play the 3-6 Bobcats. The Mavericks stopped the bleeding in a losing streak with a win over the Knicks. It was a game defined by "NO DEFENSE" that ended with a score of 124-114 with the Mavericks on top.

Charlotte has dropped three of their last four. All of Charlotte's wins came at home. All of the Mavericks wins have come on the road.

Jason Richardson, the Bobcats leading scoring should be out for this game due to an Arthroscopic surgery on his right knee. Devean George is out with bone chips in his right hand, but he probably won't affect the game quite like Richardson being out.

Bobcats to Watch:

• Gerald Wallace: 16.2 PPG; 8.6 RPG
• Raymond Felton: 13 PPG; 5.1 APG
• Emeka Okafor: 9.4 PPG; 9.4 RPG

And that is it, folks. Not much to watch in the way of the Bobcats.

Mavericks to Watch:

• Dirk Nowitzki: 24 PPG; 7.8 RPG
• Josh Howard: 20.3 PPG; 8.8 RPG
• Jason Terry: 17.3 PPG
• Jason Kidd: 10.4 PPG; 8.2 APG; 7.1 RPG; 2.8 steals

Much more entertaining than the Bobcats. Three players average more points than the current leader of the Bobcats.

Forecast: The Mavericks win their fourth game on the road with a stomping of the Bobcats. Score: 102-81.

Home Plate

Mavs and Bobcats

Mavs (45-12) vs. Bobcats (16-43)
One team stinks and the other doesn’t… I think I said this yesterday and the team who was supposed to win didn’t… although that was with Hockey. Bobcats have clinched a losing season and the Mavs have clinched a winning season. Bobcats are thinking lottery, Mavs are thinking playoff home-field advantage. And honestly, if I was the coach of a lottery team, I would say “stink it up the rest of the way to position for the best pick possible.” And really, with the lottery system, the worst you can do is nab fourth… and that’s not bad. Football, if start to stink it up, you can land the #1 if you put your worst effort into it. Worked for the Cowboys way back when… and I always wonder if teams through games simply for the pick of the future, you know? Anyway, this game shouldn’t be a hard one to call… Charlotte’s top scorer averages a whopping 14.8 points a game. They did win against Utah, so I guess you could say they are hot right now (and seriously, I am laughing right now…). Also, the is the final game of a road trip for them, which they are 2-3… they could be itching for a 500 road trip, but come on, it’s the Mavs, who are coming off a surprising loss in San Antonio (surprising, at least for me, anyway). And I can’t see AJ letting a two game skid happen for the next twenty years… and definitely not against a team who is already 27 games under. Beating Utah (now 27-30) is one thing… beating the Mavs at the AAC is something else entirely. Dallas is 45-12 at home, Charlotte is 6-25 away from home. The last time the Mavs lost back to back was 11/29 against Milwaukee (113 to 111 in overtime – a heartbreaking loss) and then to San Antonio on December 1st (92-90). Since then, the Mavs have lost only seven times, posting a 35-7 record. So, every time they loose, they win another 5 times… not bad numbers… I’ll take the Mavs over Bobcats (116-87).