DeSagana Diop (knee) has been ruled out of the Bobcats game on Friday night against the Pistons.

Diop has never had any real fantasy value. The bigger news here is that it opens up even more minutes for newly minted starting C B.J. Mullens to shine.

DeSagana Diop is dealing with a knee injury but will be available to play in Thursday's game against the Hawks.

Byron Mullens is starting and should see about 20-30 minutes in this one depending on how he does. Diop is a relic and will only serve as a nuisance to owners of the rest of the Bobcats frontcourt.

DeSagana Diop started at center on Monday against the Knicks, scoring two points on 1-of-2 shooting with five rebounds, two assists, and a block in 20 minutes.

Diop will do more to limit the value of Byron Mullens than he will to hold any value himself.

DeSagana Diop will start for the Bobcats again on Monday, as coach Paul Silas wants to give him more than a few games to earn the starting center job.

Current backup B.J. Mullens is clearly the more appealing fantasy option, and despite Diop's improving conditioning (he says he's lost 15 lbs. since training camp) we're optimistic that Mullens will overtake him.

DeSagana Diop started at center for Charlotte on Saturday, but had only four points and one rebound in 17 minutes.

Diop's starting job may be short-lived, as he's been routinely outplayed by B.J. Mullens. Even if he continues to start, he's not a fantasy asset.

DeSagana Diop (Achilles) played in Monday's preseason opener against the Hawks.

Diop played 18 minutes, which qualifies as a surprise given his history, age, and current weight issues. He couldn't be in a better situation given the Bobcats' frontcourt woes, but he'll still have no fantasy value.

DeSagana Diop said that he is 25 lbs overweight.

Diop was listed at 280 lbs last season, so that would put him at a whopping 305 right now. This is not what the Bobcats wanted following his Achilles rupture last season, and Paul Silas has already said he cannot contribute with consistent minutes in his current shape.

DeSagana Diop (ruptured Achilles) has started to do some running.

Diop suffered the devastating injury back in January. The Bobcats will be lucky if he can give them anything at any point during the 2011-12 season. Unfortunately for them, he's on the books for $6.9 million either way.

DeSagana Diop (Achilles) could miss as much as a full year.

Diop ruptured his rich Achilles tendon, one of the more severe injuries a basketball player can have. He won't be able to contribute to the Bobcats until well into next season.

DeSagana Diop is out for the season after suffering a ruptured achilles tendon on Friday.

That will clear up a few more minutes per game for Nazr Mohammed and Kwame Brown.

DeSagana Diop (Achilles) is scheduled to see a foot specialist on Monday.

Prior to the injury, Diop had started to see a bump in minutes. It could be a while until you see Diop back on the floor.

DeSagana Diop left Friday's game with an apparent right ankle injury.

He was helped into the locker room and hopefully it's nothing worse than a sprain. Nazr Mohammed checked into the game to replace him, and should be the primary beneficiary if Diop misses any games.

DeSagana Diop had four points, four rebounds, a block and a steal in 20 minutes Wednesday and coach Larry Brown liked what he saw.

Brown said he did a good job of guarding the basket, and even called out to him during the game. "Gana, great job, son!" Brown is usually yelling at Diop in a different way. "With the work I put in this summer, I feel I can play. I played very hard tonight," Diop said. Nazr Mohammed is the starter for now, but Diop is worth keeping an eye on.

DeSagana Diop lost 15 pounds this summer in an effort to get back in the rotation.

With Kwame Brown (ankle) out, Diop is going to get a chance behind Nazr Mohammed. We're not expecting much. Diop has never averaged more than 3.0 points per game for a season.