Boris Diaw might have played his last game as a Bobcat. If so, then Tuesday's 100-84 victory over the Magic was anything but a fond farewell.
Diaw did not play by coach's decision, breaking a streak of 384 consecutive game appearances. That pre-dated Diaw being traded from Phoenix to the Bobcats three years ago.
The Bobcats are in a youth movement, which means playing D.J. White and Tyrus Thomas at power forward. More directly, Diaw isn't giving coach Paul Silas the consistent effort Silas expects.
Diaw's contract expires at the end of this season, and team president of basketball operations Rod Higgins told the Charlotte Observer he was approached by Diaw's agent recently about a buyout, should the Bobcats not trade Diaw and his $9 million salary by the Mar. 15 deadline.
Trading Diaw would be difficult in that it's unlikely another team would absorb his salary without sending a comparable salary to the Bobcats. Charlotte is conserving salary-cap space for the upcoming off-season, and would be reluctant to take on much salary that extends beyond the current season.
The Bobcats play the Jazz at home Wednesday.
NOTES, QUOTES
-Coach Paul Silas was ejected for the second time this season, in the first half against the Magic after Charlotte had fallen behind by 20. Silas now has six technical fouls, the most for an NBA coach this season.
-The Bobcats might have beaten the team that most owned them of late. The Magic had won 13 of 14 previous meetings, including a 4-0 sweep in Charlotte's only playoff appearance two seasons ago. This was the Bobcats' first Southeast Division victory in nine tries.
QUOTE TO NOTE
"Anything is possible when you work hard." -- Bobcats rookie center Bismack Biyombo, after assembling a near-triple-double of 10 points, 15 rebounds and seven blocks.
