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 Oklahoma City rescinded a deal with the Hornets in 2009 when Chandler failed a physical.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.

Rumours of Nash's Demise Greatly Exaggerated

By Michael Grange

Like a lot of folks of a certain age, Steve Nash has been having trouble with his hip.

But a little rest in the dry desert heat can do wonders for a point guard of his vintage, apparently.

Nash proved that rumours of his playoff demise - stemming as much from his limpy outing in the Phoenix Suns' ouster of the injury depleted Portland Trail Blazers in the first round as from the Suns' second-round meeting with the San Antonio Spurs, the team that has eliminated Nash and the Suns in three of their last four postseason appearances - have been greatly exaggerated.

With three days of rest between series, Nash looked like a floppy-haired pup as he bounded through the Spurs' defence to post 33 points and 10 assists in leading Phoenix to a 111-102 win and a 1-0 lead in their second-round series on Monday night, with Game 2 set for Wednesday night in Phoenix.

"I was fortunate to get some opportunities early to be aggressive and try to put some life into the building," Nash said. "You never know what the game is going to present."

The only thing basketball was supposed to be presenting Nash at this stage was a gold watch and an armchair.

Even his believers doubted Nash would be dictating the flow of a playoff game at age 36. In a league full of players badly overpaid based on what they might achieve, Nash has always been paid as if he had an expiration date.

Game 24: Mavericks vs. Raptors

The Raptors are 10-14 coming into this game... it is in Toronto... something to think about. The Mavericks have lost to the Spurs and Nuggets recently, both quality teams, so they still have that hurdle to overcome to prove to themselves and everyone else that they are playoff worthy.

Dallas Mavericks Player Stats 08-09

Name	Dirk Nowitzki	Josh Howard	Jason Terry	Jason Kidd
Points Per Game	26.4	19.0	20.7	9.4
Rebounds Per Game	9.2	7.6	2.7	6.6
Assists Per Game	2.5	1.6	3.7	8.4
Blocks Per Game	0.9	0.6	0.3	0.6

Howard is back, at least in uniform. I await his return to the boards and to the scoreboard. He will be a threat again, just how quickly will he return to that form is really the question.

Toronto Raptors Player Stats 08-09

Name	Chris Bosh	Jose Calderon	Jermaine O'Neal	Andrea Bargnani
Points Per Game	24.1	13.3	12.6	10.3
Rebounds Per Game	9.8	3.1	7.5	4.7
Assists Per Game	2.6	9.0	1.7	1.0
Blocks Per Game	0.9	0.1	1.7	1.6

The Raptors are good at distributing the points throughout the lineup. But right now it isn't adding up to the wins total they had hoped for...

Forecast: Well... first things first, the intangibles: Howard is back to be playing his second game... the game is in Toronto and the Mavs are 6-4 on the road and the Raptors are 5-7 at home. Toronto is also ranked 12th out of 15 in the Eastern Conference. The Mavs are ranked 9th in their conference. I like the Mavericks in this one. Score: 99-91, Mavericks.

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