Bobcats Re-Sign Carroll, Add Burleson

Carroll

Burleson

The Bobcats roster continues to take shape heading into its second season with the re-signing of guard Matt Carroll and the addition of free-agent guard Kevin Burleson.

"We are excited that Matt chose to return to Charlotte and continue to build upon last year’s start," said Bobcats General Manager and Head Coach Bernie Bickerstaff. "Matt added several dimensions to our team with his long-range shooting, toughness, strong work ethic, rebounding and ability to get to the free throw line. Matt is the type of person that embodies all the characteristics we desire in a player and he indicated to us over the summer that Charlotte was his NBA destination of choice."

Carroll appeared in 25 games and averaged 9.0 points and 2.4 assists in 17.2 minutes after his call-up from Roanoke of the National Basketball Association Development League (D-League) on February 23, 2005. He scored a career-high 22 points at Washington on April 17 and played a career-high 27 minutes at Chicago on April 2.

The 6-6, 212-pound guard posted 12 double-figure scoring games off the bench, including six consecutive from April 5-16, with a 20-point effort at Chicago on April 2.

Carroll was named 2004-05 D-League Most Valuable Player, averaging 20.1 points in 24 games, including a season-high 43 points against Florida on February 9, prior to his call-up to Charlotte.

Burleson, a 6-3, 190-pound guard appeared in six games with the Bobcats summer league team during the 2005 Rocky Mountain Revue in Utah, averaging 3.8 points in 12.2 minutes.

"Kevin is a big guard who can defend both positions on the perimeter," said Bickerstaff. "We liked the effort he put forth during summer league play and wanted to take a second look at him."

Brother of Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Nate Burleson, he played the 2004-05 season in Germany for the Walter Tigers, averaging 14.6 points, 3.8 rebounds and 1.9 assists in 30 games. He posted six 20-plus points games, including a season-high 27 points against the Giessen 46ers on March 5, 2005.