Mavs lasso veteran guard Christie

Christie was waived by the Orlando Magic last week as part of the NBA’s luxury-tax amnesty term. According to a report in the Dallas Morning News last Friday, Christie’s deal for one year worth $3 million.

Christie, who is known more for his defensive prowess, was dealt from Sacramento to Orlando in exchange for Cuttino Mobley and Michael Bradley in January.

In 52 games with the Kings and Magic this past season, the 35-year-old averaged 6.6 points, 3.8 assists and 3.4 rebounds per contest. A product out of Pepperdine, Christie is a natural swingman who can also play the point.

For his career Christie has averaged 11.4 ppg and 4.1 rpg to go along with 3.7 assists with the Lakers, Knicks, Toronto, Sacramento and the Magic. He has been named to the NBA’s All-Defensive Team four times, including the first- team squad in 2002-03.

His best offensive season came with the Raptors during the 1997-98 campaign, when he posted a career-best 16.5 ppg.

In other team news, the Mavericks signed free agent center DeSagana Diop. Terms of his deal were also not disclosed. The seven-footer spent the previous four seasons with the Cleveland Cavaliers, who selected him with the eighth overall pick in 2000 NBA Draft.

Diop, who starred at Oak Hill Academy High School in Virginia, owns career averages of 1.6 points, 2.6 rebounds and 0.9 blocks in 193 games.