Desagana Diop back to the Mavs...

[Now_Im_Not_Banned]

Diop’s return will shore up Mavs’ middle

By JEFF CAPLAN
jcaplan@star-telegram.com

DeSagana Diop, traded by the Dallas Mavericks to the New Jersey Nets in February, is returning to his former team and sporting quite a hefty pay raise.

The 7-foot center agreed to a five-year contract with the Mavs on Wednesday, and he is expected to sign July 9 for the entire mid-level exception, expected to be around $5.5 million or more for the first season.

The fifth year is a player-option. Diop, who said Wednesday by phone that he had three other offers, made about $2.2 million last season.

"My heart has always been here," Diop said. "This is where I wanted to be."

Diop headlined a shallow crop of free-agent centers, and he took advantage of the timing and the fact that the Mavs needed to shore up their interior defense.

Diop, 26, becomes the Mavs’ second free-agent pickup. The team agreed to a one-year deal with unproven, yet intriguing fourth-year guard/forward Gerald Green on Tuesday. Green, a former high school star at Gulf Shores Academy in Houston, was a former 18th pick by the Boston Celtics.

He was part of the trade that sent Kevin Garnett to Boston. Green, 22, played 29 games for the Timberwolves before they shipped the slender 6-8 wing to the Houston Rockets. He played only one game for Houston before being released.

The Mavs will work to develop Green’s raw, explosive ability in hopes he can have a breakout season much like Brandon Bass last season.

Mavs officials are prohibited from commenting on any free agents until July 9, the first day free agents can officially sign contracts.

Diop said he spoke to new coach Rick Carlisle on the phone Monday and that the extended conversation solidified his already strong desire to come back.

Diop will reunite with center Erick Dampier, giving the Mavs the same center tandem they’ve employed most of the past three seasons. Chris Paul and Tyson Chandler of the Hornets exploited the Mavs’ thin interior defense in the first round of the playoffs.

Diop seemed to fall out of favor with former coach Avery Johnson early in the season and then was traded to the Nets. Diop, a jovial, hard-working player and highly regarded in the locker room, said he never took the trade personally.

In 52 games with the Mavs last season, Diop averaged 3.0 points, 5.2 rebounds and 1.2 blocks in 17.2 minutes a game.

"I feel like [Carlisle] is going to give me a fair chance," Diop said. "That’s all I want."

The Mavs continue to sound as if they want to re-sign Devean George and Antoine Wright as well as J.J. Barea. George’s agent, Mark Bartelstein, said George is drawing interest from other teams and that the Mavs remain in play.

Bartelstein said the Mavs have shown some interest in Dan Dickau to fill the backup point guard spot. Keith McCloud, on the Mavs’ summer league roster, will be auditioning for that position.

As far as signing other unrestricted free agents, the Mavs will be searching for more minimum-salary help since the club is already stretched beyond the salary cap.

Harris leaving

Del Harris, with the Mavs since 2000 as an assistant coach under Don Nelson and Avery Johnson, and a consultant last season, is leaving to join first-time head coach Vinny Del Negro with the Bulls.

[Lunatic]

good move

[3rd Coast]

mark need to look up dennis the menace asap.. and get em back in the league...whatever plex them 2 have they need to squash that chatter..if mark really want a title..

when dallas had em..the 1st time..they had a trash ass squad...

all dallas needs is a a-1 rebounder...and somebody with nuts...

dennis still can come in get 10-20 boards a night...come 4th quarter get t'd up..throw his shirt in the crowd n call it a nite...

shep...

[7even]

Damn, the full MLE is a lot for this guy. But we really needed a big.

[Chamillitary Click]

Diop is a BEAST at crashin the boards. good move by the mavs.

[Turf Hitta]

mark need to look up dennis the menace asap.. and get em back in the league...whatever plex them 2 have they need to squash that chatter..if mark really want a title..

when dallas had em..the 1st time..they had a trash ass squad...

all dallas needs is a a-1 rebounder...and somebody with nuts...

dennis still can come in get 10-20 boards a night...come 4th quarter get t'd up..throw his shirt in the crowd n call it a nite...

shep...

lol nah yall need Devin the PG back!!!

[Now_Im_Not_Banned]

Damn, the full MLE is a lot for this guy. But we really needed a big.

Exactly...you guys might as well have taken Kwame.

[Antonio]

That's a nice move by the Mavs. I mean the dude probably isn't worth the full MLE, and he isn't starting material for an elite team, BUT Dallas was in desperate need of a big guy, expecially a defensive specialist. And Diop was probably their top pick. Oh, and talking about Kwame Brown.. i'm starting to believe Lakers should really sign him. I mean we lack bigs who can defend one on one against players like Duncan, KG, etc.. and Kwame, if used as a role player coming off the bench, can do this job. Expecially since i don't see a lot of players available as free agents who can do the job better than him.

["THE" MoSav]

Lornezen Wrights a free agent! hes a hog! .7 ppg and .8rpg lol

[Now_Im_Not_Banned]

That's a nice move by the Mavs. I mean the dude probably isn't worth the full MLE, and he isn't starting material for an elite team, BUT Dallas was in desperate need of a big guy, expecially a defensive specialist. And Diop was probably their top pick. Oh, and talking about Kwame Brown.. i'm starting to believe Lakers should really sign him. I mean we lack bigs who can defend one on one against players like Duncan, KG, etc.. and Kwame, if used as a role player coming off the bench, can do this job. Expecially since i don't see a lot of players available as free agents who can do the job better than him.

A lot of people believe we're gunna sign Kwame to a minimum deal...I said we should do it as soon as we traded him.

[Johnny B]

lol Diop is a joke. his height is the only talent he has.

[Antonio]

That's a nice move by the Mavs. I mean the dude probably isn't worth the full MLE, and he isn't starting material for an elite team, BUT Dallas was in desperate need of a big guy, expecially a defensive specialist. And Diop was probably their top pick. Oh, and talking about Kwame Brown.. i'm starting to believe Lakers should really sign him. I mean we lack bigs who can defend one on one against players like Duncan, KG, etc.. and Kwame, if used as a role player coming off the bench, can do this job. Expecially since i don't see a lot of players available as free agents who can do the job better than him.

A lot of people believe we're gunna sign Kwame to a minimum deal...I said we should do it as soon as we traded him.

Damn if we can sign him for the minimum let's do it, Jesus!