Boris Diaw News & Rumors: Pro Sports Daily

January 5

Charlotte Observer

"For the Charlotte Bobcats, this represented a well-worn pattern: Center Boris Diaw vanishes and his team suffers...Coach Paul Silas calls out Diaw, reminding him he's so much better than that...Diaw responds with an "I'll show you!'' performance, exactly what Silas was eliciting. Diaw was terrible Tuesday against the Cleveland Cavaliers, going scoreless and committing five fouls. He was brilliant Wednesday, with 27 points and six assists in a shocking 118-110 road victory over the New York Knicks."

Diaw is Bobcats' incredibly shrinking power forward

March 13

Charlotte Observer

"There's the concept in nuclear science called a "half-life." It's the idea that radioactive material will become half as potent ... then half as potent ... then half as potent over time. Boris Diaw has a kind of half-life as an NBA power forward. He's been traded twice during his NBA career. Each time he has a great start and a deteriorating finish at his new stop. It's clear we're in the second half of Diaw's half-life as a Charlotte Bobcat. Not sure how this will turn out, but I suspect what we will see is less than what we have seen. Diaw is the guy who had a triple-double in Philadelphia in mid-January. He's also the guy who played all of four minutes in the second half (and none in"

Diaw not bothered by things he can't control

January 16

Charlotte Observer

columnist Rick Bonnell

"The other day, some of us media types were chatting up the players about what makes Boris Diaw distinctive. Here's what came out of Nazr Mohammed, the Charlotte Bobcat who has known Diaw the longest from their joint history in Atlanta. "Every single day it makes me laugh when he comes around the corner on that Segway," Mohammed said. "I thought it was one of those novelty things he'd have fun with for a while. "No. He's committed." Some of you think he should be committed. Or traded or at least lose his spot as a starter to Tyrus Thomas. It riles some Bobcats fans that Diaw isn't Type-A enough to smash a water cooler or pick a fight. We can live with Steve Smith punching teammates, so long"

Bobcat at home in urban habitat

January 4

Charlotte Observer

"When Boris Diaw emerges from Time Warner Cable Arena into the cold bundled in a navy peacoat, a wool cap, grey sweats and casual black sneakers, he appears to be nearly 7 1/2 feet tall. He's only 6-foot-8, but the platform of the Segway x2 Diaw is piloting adds 9.5 inches. This would seem to be an odd sight: the Charlotte Bobcats starter leaning slightly forward on his two-wheeled electric vehicle as he shoots up the Fifth Street sidewalk. In fact, several lunch-bound bankers cock their heads in surprise. But the truth is there's nothing terribly unusual about this at all. Since being traded from the Phoenix Suns to the Bobcats two years ago, Diaw has lived just blocks from work, walking"

Charlotte Bobcats beat Hornets with Boris Diaw at point guard

October 21

Charlotte Observer

"Boris Diaw laughed and rolled his eyes Wednesday, as teammate Stephen Jackson kept calling him "Magic Johnson.'' "I tried to organize the chaos,'' Diaw said of his power forward-to-point guard-to-center transition in the Charlotte Bobcats' 105-98 preseason victory over the New Orleans Hornets. Diaw played about half of his 39 ½ minutes at the point, finishing with 15 points, seven assists and two turnovers. This was more than a preseason experiment. With Shaun Livingston and rookie Sherron Collins currently too injured to play effectively, Diaw and Jackson might play some point in the regular season. "Stephen Jackson and Boris have the makings to play point guard. But it's hard for them to"

Raptors pursuing Bobcats forward Diaw

October 1

SportingNews.com

"After a four-team deal that would've sent Boris Diaw to Utah collapsed, the Toronto Raptors are trying to acquire the veteran forward, according to the New York Daily News. Earlier this summer the Raptors and Bobcats nearly struck a deal that would've sent Diaw to Toronto and point guard Jose Calderon back to Charlotte. Michael Jordan reportedly stopped the deal at the last minute. The Daily News also reports the Raptors have no interest in joining with the Nets in a deal that would help New Jersey acquire Carmelo Anthony because they would prefer that the elite forward not land in their division."

Raptors working to get Boris Diaw from Bobcats, won't help Nets in deal for Denver's Carmelo Anthony

September 30

New York Daily News

"With the Nets' deal for Carmelo Anthony dead, at least for now, the Toronto Raptors are again trying to land Charlotte forward Boris Diaw, one of the key players in the proposed Anthony blockbuster. The Raptors thought they had finalized a deal for Diaw over the summer, but Charlotte owner Michael Jordan reportedly nixed it at the 11th hour. If Diaw ends up going to Toronto, that means the Nets would have to find another team in a revised multi-team deal for Anthony."

Bobcats forward Diaw not limited by labels

September 29

Charlotte Observer

"Labels are constricting: Boris Diaw is a power forward? Not exclusively. Boris Diaw is passionless? Not necessarily. If you want to see passion in Charlotte Bobcats veteran Diaw, suggest he should give up playing summers for the French national team. He'd be downright strident. "I know some (NBA) teams don't want their players going to the national team. I'd say, 'I'm going. If you don't want me because of that, don't take me,'?" Diaw said Monday. "I've got two teams; my team during the (season) and the national team in the summer.'' See, he's not always nonchalant. If you're looking for that guy who smashes a water cooler after a loss, Diaw isn't him. But he's smart and as skilled as any"

Nets moving closer to deal for Anthony

September 24

Yahoo! Sports

"The New Jersey Nets are working feverishly to acquire All-Star Carmelo Anthony and are in the construction stage of a complicated, multi-team trade, league sources told Yahoo! Sports. Nothing is imminent in the next 24 hours, but Denver and New Jersey are having ongoing discussions centered on No. 3 overall pick Derrick Favors and future first-round picks going back to the Nuggets. The proposed trade also would involve the Utah Jazz and Charlotte Bobcats. Under the proposal, league sources said the Nets would also send point guard Devin Harris to the Bobcats, who would move forward Boris Diaw to the Jazz, who send forward Andrei Kirilenko to the Nuggets to complete what one front-office"

Sources: Anthony part of four-team trade talks

September 24

ESPN.com

"The Denver Nuggets are having serious discussions about a four-way trade that would land Carmelo Anthony with the New Jersey Nets, according to sources with knowledge of the negotiations. The proposed deal, sources said, also would involve the Utah Jazz and the Charlotte Bobcats. It would deliver Nets rookie forward Derrick Favors, Jazz veteran Andrei Kirilenko and multiple first-round picks to Denver in exchange for their franchise player, potentially bringing a resolution to Anthony's uncertain future before the Nuggets hold their first practice of the new season. Sources told ESPN.com that the deal, which has yet to be finalized, also would send former All-Star point guard Devin Harris"

Diaw is an asset; figure it out

July 21

Charlotte Observer

columnist Rick Bonnell

"So what to do with Boris Diaw? I know what follows in the comments: "Trade him for anything!'' "Boot him outta town!' "Sit him now!'' Trouble is, that's not living in the real world and it's sure not making the best use of resources, particularly on a team with limited options. So let's talk the art of the possible. Much of the fan base was frustrated with Diaw last season. Appropriately so. His nonchallance -- the guy will never be confused with Ray Lewis -- showed through more than you'd wish. That highlighted something many of you tolerated in the past; that Diaw is a reluctant shooter, to the point that he's passing up good shots in an unrealistic attempt to create great shots for"

Bobcats trade for Calderon might be dead

July 13

Charlotte Observer

"A proposed trade that would have brought Toronto Raptors point guard Jose Calderon to the Charlotte Bobcats is on hold and might be dead, according to a source connected to one of the three teams involved. The Bobcats have expressed reservations about going through with the deal that also involves the Phoenix Suns. That is despite them informing players of the possibility they would be traded. Bobcats center Tyson Chandler had already expressed to Yahoo! Sports that in his mind he was already a Raptor."

To trade or not to trade?

July 13

Charlotte Observer

columnist Scott Fowler

"For the Bobcats, "To Trade or not to Trade" is the current question. The answer, of course, is that they will trade, because that is what they do. Which is fine -- Charlotte is a lot better than trading (for Stephen Jackson, most notably) than they are at drafting (Adam Morrison, Sean May, etc.) I talked to Michael Jordan Friday mainly for this story about the way he is starting to find his niche -- and show up a lot more in public -- in Charlotte. But late in the conversation I also asked him a couple of basketball questions regarding the spate of early free-agent signings and the way the Bobcats had only stood pat so far. "We're not done," Jordan said. "We're just getting started." He"

Colangelo finds taker for Turkoglu, but Bobcats might pull out of Calderon angle of deal

July 13

Toronto Sun

"Say this for Bryan Colangelo, he might make a mess, but he cleans up very well. The Raptors president/general manager is not shy about making bold moves. Some turn out to be successes, others, dismal failures. When they don't work out, he moves quickly to try to turn things around. To that end, Colangelo is now on the verge of removing his two ugliest contracts from the books, though nothing is yet official and the bulk of the deal now appears to be in jeopardy. The Arizona Republic first reported Sunday that Hedo Turkoglu — who inked a five-year, $52-million-US deal with the club last summer — would be heading to Phoenix in exchange for guard Leandro Barbosa and that Charlotte forward"

Sources: Michael Jordan holding up Raptors trade

July 13

Yahoo! Sports

"The sudden reluctance of Charlotte owner Michael Jordan has thrust the proposed Toronto-Charlotte trade into jeopardy, multiple league sources told Yahoo! Sports on Monday night. "Right now, Michael is having second thoughts," a source with knowledge of the talks told Yahoo! Sports. The Bobcats had agreed to trade center Tyson Chandler and forward Boris Diaw to the Raptors for guard Jose Calderon and forward Reggie Evans. Players had been contacted earlier in the day and told they were traded. Yet now, everyone has been put into a holding pattern. Jordan, sources said, has been hesitant to trade Chandler."

Bobcats close to trading Diaw, Chandler, aquiring Calderon

July 12

Charlotte Observer

"The Charlotte Bobcats are close to sending Boris Diaw and possibly Tyson Chandler to the Toronto Raptors in a three-way deal including the Phoenix Suns that would acquire point guard Jose Calderon and at least one other player, a source from one of the three teams involved confirmed. Acquiring Calderon would address the gaping hole at point guard after Raymond Felton agreed to terms with the New York Knicks."

Report says Raps working on trades with Suns and Bobcats for Barbosa and Diaw

July 12

Toronto Sun

"Hedo Turkoglu's days in Toronto might be over. Paul Coro of the Arizona Republic reported late Sunday night that the Raptors and Phoenix Suns were working on a deal that would send Turkoglu to Phoenix in exchange for guard Leandro Barbosa and Dwyane Jones. The Suns are also expected to swing a sign-and-trade deal with the Atlanta Hawks for swingman Josh Childress, who spent last season in Greece. According to the Republic, Turkoglu is represented by player agent Lon Babby, a candidate to take over as GM in Phoenix for Steve Kerr. Coro also reported that the Raptors would send part of their $14 million US trade exception to the Charlotte Bobcats, along with Jones, for versatile forward"

How will the Charlotte Bobcats play free agency?

July 1

Charlotte Observer

"Observer NBA writer Rick Bonnell addresses five questions on the Charlotte Bobcats and free agency (which starts today, although players can't sign before July 8). 1. Any way restricted free-agent power forward Tyrus Thomas plays elsewhere next season? The short answer: He's likely to stay because the Bobcats want him and he wants to be here. The coaching bond between Larry Brown and Thomas is real. The long answer: If a team with a lot of salary-cap room wants him that much, you might make the Bobcats blink with a front-loaded contract. The point of an offer sheet is to assemble something diabolical to exploit the other team's troubles. The Bobcats have overpaid for certain players (Gana"

Would you do Turkoglu for Diaw?

June 1

Charlotte Observer

"Based on what my buddy in Toronto, Doug Smith, is writing it sounds like Hedo Turkoglu and the Raptors might be headed for a quickie divorce. Makes me wonder: Would Turkoglu-for-Boris Diaw be a good swap for the Raptors and Bobcats? The salaries are fairly close so you could do a deal without too much trouble. The upside and downside for each team: The Bobcats would likely improve offensively, and the playoffs demonstrated they need that. Like Diaw, Turk gives you an extra ballhandler at the forward position. Unlike Diaw, Turk can be a consistent scoring threat. That's the upside. The downside is the Bobcats would be worse defensively for this swap .Diaw can guard all five positions and"

Versatile Diaw, Jackson can fill in blanks for Bobcats

January 20

Charlotte Observer

"Stephen Jackson might have forced his way out of Golden State, but he got something with the Warriors that could be extremely valuable to the Charlotte Bobcats right now: Time-tested versatility. Warriors coach Don Nelson used Jackson at every position. That makes two Bobcats - Boris Diaw being the other - you can plug in to all five spots. With Gerald Wallace hurting, they might need just that."

Bobcats want offense to run through Diaw more

December 19

Charlotte Observer

"When Charlotte Bobcats coach Larry Brown said, "he's never going to change,'' regarding forward Boris Diaw, he did so with a tone of endearment. Diaw is a sophisticated and unselfish player and an unconventional NBA power forward. Given a choice between taking a good shot or looking to find a teammate a great one, Diaw will pass before he'll shoot. Perhaps this season that's a problem. "Ah, no problem,'' Diaw deflected Friday. Certainly something has changed. Diaw has the occasional big game (28 points versus Philadelphia two weeks ago), but his impact is muted. Against Indiana Wednesday, he had eight points, one assist and no rebounds in 36 minutes. Against Dallas last Saturday, he had"

Diaw losing time to Jackson, Brown says could be due to nagging injuries

November 26

Charlotte Observer

"Larry Brown said post-game that he didn't know previous to this trade how wide Stephen Jackson's skill set is. I've had the same reaction: We all knew Jackson was a scorer and a marvelous athlete. What's harder to detect, until you see him night-after-night, is what a strong defender and playmaker Jackson is. Brown said he has to start devising ways to better exploit Jackson's passing and decision-making with the ball in his hands. Don't misconstrue this: Jackson isn't a great player (and that's no knock). But he's a very good player, night in/night out. He has no obvious holes in his game. I don't know whether he'll be worth $28 million over the next three seasons, but I do know he's a"

Chandler and Diaw will start preseason by sitting

October 1

Charlotte Observer

"Charlotte Bobcats coach Larry Brown said Wednesday he doesn't anticipate using center Tyson Chandler or power forward Boris Diaw in any of the first four preseason exhibitions. Chandler is coming back from off-season ankle and toe surgery, performed before the trade to the Bobcats. Diaw sprained an ankle while playing for the French national team earlier this month. Neither injury is considered serious. In fact, Chandler says he feels better than he anticipated, after participating in a few drills in the first two days of training camp. But Brown will take the conservative approach with two projected starters. "They won't probably be playing until we go to L.A. (in mid-October) - that's"

Brown: Diaw ankle sprain not severe

September 21

Charlotte Observer

"Charlotte Bobcats forward Boris Diaw did sprain an ankle while playing for the French national team over the weekend. But after speaking with Diaw, coach Larry Brown doesn't sound particularly concerned about the injury. Diaw told Brown he planned to get an MRI as a precaution, but that he didn't think it was severe. Brown said he kidded Diaw that this was a plot to get out of training camp."

Bobcats have to remind Diaw: Shoot, Boris, shoot

March 3

Charlotte Observer

"Boris Diaw always prioritizes making teammates happy. On this team, the best way to do that might be to shoot a little more and pass a little less. As a Phoenix Sun, Diaw was surrounded by closers, a half-dozen guys who made big shots. As a Charlotte Bobcat, his options are more limited. So Diaw has been coaxed lately to look more for his own shot. Not coincidentally, the Bobcats came off a Western trip on a three-game winning streak. They hope to maintain that momentum tonight, at home against the Chicago Bulls. The numbers tell the tale. In the past four games (three wins and a competitive loss to the Suns), the Bobcats averaged 103 points, 10.2 better than their league-low average this"

Diaw to play more small forward

January 30

Charlotte Observer

"Boris Diaw is a classic hybrid forward, somewhat in the mold of Antawn Jamison. He's a bit small for a power forward, but he can out-quick most of them. He's not as quick as most small forwards, but he can physically overpower most of them. So now that Bobcats coach Larry Brown needs Diaw to play more small forward in Gerald Wallace's absence, Brown will tweak the offense a bit."

Diaw's passing bolsters Bobcats

December 23

Charlotte Observer

"You know that TV commercial where your problem gets fixed by pushing a big, red Easy Button? Boris Diaw is becoming the Charlotte Bobcats' Easy Button. The problem all season has been scoring; they're last in the NBA in that category by a wide margin. But in the five games Diaw has played here, the Bobcats average about eight more points and shoot 3.5percentage points better. It's not just what Diaw does (post scoring, 3-point shooting and creative passing), it's what he represents: His willingness to pass seems infectious, and addressed the Bobcats' greatest need. Coach Larry Brown never saw his team's scoring limitations as a lack of scorers. Rather, he felt the ball-movement was so"

Suns trade Bell, Diaw for Richardson

December 10

Arizona Republic

"The Suns acquired dynamic shooting guard Jason Richardson today in a trade with the Charlotte Bobcats that will also bring second-year forward Jared Dudley and a 2010 second-round draft choice to the Suns in exchange for shooting guard Raja Bell, forward Boris Diaw and rookie point guard Sean Singletary. The deal, pending players passing physicals, brings a new dimension to the Suns' shooting guard position with Richardson, who can hit 3-pointers and be an athletic fit into an uptempo system like he starred in during five seasons with Golden State. The trade call was completed at about 3:45 p.m. Phoenix time today. "He's athletic and gives us a really potent offensive player," Suns General"

Diaw racking up off-court assists

August 22

Arizona Republic

"Boris Diaw was born and raised in France. He now lives in the Valley nearly year-round, staying in town for a month after his Suns season ends and returning in August. But his philanthropic passion lies on the Western coast of Africa. Diaw's father was a Senegalese high jump champion and now is a lawyer there. Half of Diaw's family lives in Senegal. His middle name, Babacar, and surname tie him to Senegal. But until Diaw entered the NBA in 2003, he had spent only a week in Senegal, for a vacation at age 7. Diaw often is criticized for being unselfish to a fault on the court, but nobody in Senegal considers that giving trait a problem. Assisting people in a country where he has never lived"

Ford rumours heat up

June 24

Toronto Sun

"Most of the talk revolves around point guard T.J. Ford. Depending on who you believe Ford is going to be a member of the Phoenix Suns, Indiana Pacers or possibly the New York Knicks by week's end. Obviously not even Ford could manage to juggle the kind of workload playing for three different teams would represent, so someone is just wrong here. ESPN has the former Texas Longhorns standout headed to Phoenix along with the Raptors' first-round pick (No. 17) for forward Boris Diaw. The Indianapolis Star, meanwhile, is suggesting Ford, centre Rasho Nesterovic, possibly that No. 17 pick and another unnamed player will be joining the Pacers later this week in exchange for forward"

Is Ford bound for Indiana?

June 24

Toronto Star

"The stakes in the T.J. Ford stakes have been raised considerably. The Raptors, according to league sources, have had discussions with the Indiana Pacers about a trade for veteran centre Jermaine O'Neal, adding a major name and major salary obligation to potential transactions ahead of Thursday's NBA draft. The deal would include Ford, Rasho Nesterovic, another player to satisfy salary cap needs and, perhaps, Toronto's 17th pick in the draft for O'Neal, a 29-year-old centre with two years and almost $44 million (all figures U.S.) left on his contract...According to sources, the Raptors are still talking to the Phoenix Suns about a deal centred around Ford and Boris Diaw and there are"