April 26, 2012; Chicago, IL, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers power forward Antawn Jamison (4) is defended by Chicago Bulls forward Taj Gibson (22) during the second half at the United Center. The Bulls beat the Cavaliers 107-75. Mandatory Credit: Rob Grabowski-US PRESSWIRE

As Roberto Gato pointed out last night, Antawn Jamison has reportedly decided to play for the Los Angeles Lakers instead of the Charlotte Bobcats next season.

Bobcats beat writer Rick Bonnell, who was the first person I saw to tweet Jamison’s decision, wrote a great story for the Charlotte Observer about the dynamic developing between Kemba Walker and Mike Dunlap:

“Most everything concerning the Bobcats’ revamped offense involves early-possession efforts to attack the rim. That was Walker’s forte when he led the Huskies to the national championship in 2011.”

Michael Jordan told ESPN.com that last season was the hardest he ever went through:

“‘Obviously, I’m a competitor, and I never want to be in the record books for failure,’ said the six-time NBA champion and Hall of Famer.

He vows that better times are ahead for the Bobcats.”

Bonnell wrote another great story about the Charlotte Bobcats, and how they’re going to use some zone defense next season:

“The NBA loosened up its illegal defense rules a while back, freeing teams to play more zone principles. Most teams use some zone, none more than the Dallas Mavericks did in their championship run two years ago.”

The Bobcats play their thrid Summer League game tonight around 10:30pm, and Michael Kidd-Gilchrist is expected to play after fully participating in practices yesterday.

Apr 8, 2012; Newark, NJ, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers forward Antawn Jamison (4) argues a referee

A source told Charlotte Bobcats beat writer Rick Bonnell that veteran power forward Antawn Jamison will sign with the Lakers. Legion Sports (@MySportsLegion) also tweeted a source said Jamison has reached a deal with LA.

The Bobcats were banking on Jamison choosing to play at home rather than with a title contender and they didn’t put in a serious bid for Elton Brand (winning bid just over $2 million), and either didn’t want to take on Luis Scola for three years or didn’t want to pay him as much as the Phoenix Suns. Phoenix won Scola with a bid of $13.5  million over three years (according to SI.com)

I’ve seen nothing credible to suggest the Bobcats are in a strong pursuit for the only reasonable free agent power forward left on the market, Carl Landry.

Roberto Gato will have more on this story as it develops/becomes official, but right now it looks like some combination of Bismack Biyombo (would rather have him as a backup center), Byron Mullens (would rather have him as a stretch big off the bench) and (God forbid) Tyrus thomas will start at power forward for the Bobcats next season.

April 21, 2012; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Rockets power forward Luis Scola (4) drives the baseline against Golden State Warriors forward Jeremy Tyler (3) during the second quarter at the Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Thomas Campbell-US PRESSWIRE

Kris Humphries and the Nets are close to agreeing on a new contract, Elton Brand was picked up by the Mavericks off waivers and JJ Hickson was signed by Portland. The Charlotte Bobcats still don’t have a proven power forward on their roster.

There are still two options available for the Bobcats (although I think Humphries was the best long-ish term option) in Antwan Jamison and Luis Scola.

Jamison is an unrestricted free agent being pursued by his hometown Bobcats, the Lakers, Nets and a few others. Scola was waived by Houston, a team trying to clear enough space to take on Dwight Howard and essentially the rest of his Magic teammates.

Brand was picked up off waivers for just $2.1 million. The Bobcats are in position to bid significantly more than that on Scola, if they really want him.

If they don’t, the ‘Cats will rely on Jamison choosing to play at home over playing for a title.

I’d go for the sure thing and make an unbeatable bid on Scola, who is a skilled big guy. He scored 15.5 points, dished two assists and grabbed 6.5 rebounds per game last season for the Rockets.

Jamison would be great, but Charlotte shouldn’t wait on him and risk being forced to start Byron Mullens, Bismack Biyombo or, God forbid, Tyrus Thomas at power forward next year.

May 18, 2012; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers point guard Ramon Sessions (7) celebrates after scoring a basket against the Oklahoma City Thunder during the first half of game three of the Western Conference semifinals of the 2012 NBA Playoffs at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-US PRESSWIRE

The Charlotte Bobcats have finally made some moves in free agency.

Former Myrtle Beach High School star Ramon Sessions signed a two year deal with the Bobcats, probably worth around $4.4 million (the qualifying offer Charlotte rescinded from D.J. Augustin).  In 19 starts for the Los Angeles Lakers last season, Sessions scored 12.7 points, dished out 6.7 assists and grabbed 3.4 rebounds per game.

Augustin scored 11.1 points, dished 6.4 assists and grabbed 2.3 rebounds a game for Charlotte last year.

As a replacement, Sessions does have the better numbers, but it’s somewhat shocking the Bobcats didn’t try to work a sign and trade with a team that really needed a point guard. The Indiana Pacers nabbed Augustin off the market just one hour after he became an unrestricted free agent. Surely Charlotte could’ve got something back for him.

The Bobcats are still in desperate need of a proven player at the power forward spot and anyone who can play (true) center.

Charlotte’s number one option at center is Brendon Haywood who could be picked up off the waiver wire. The Mavs amnestied Haywoood, taking his remaining $35 million off their books (they still have to pay the remainder of that minus whatever the team that picks him up off the wire pays him). Teams under the cap have first dibs at amnestied players, and the Bobcats are expected to put in a serious bid for him.

Another amnestied player could be the guy Charlotte is looking for at PF. Elton Brand won’t be with the 76ers next season, because they’re going to use the one-time amnesty clause on him to clear cap space. The Bobcats will have serious competition with the Dallas Mavericks on this bid; The Mavs have had one of the worst off seasons of any team this year, and they’re in desperate need of proven players to surround Dirk Nowitzki.

The three other players the Bobcats are interested in at power forward are Antwan Jamison (who is deciding between signing for not so much money with a contender, taking more money to be part of a sign and trade that would send him to New Jersey, or taking the most money to play in his home town, Charlotte) and Kris Humphries (who’s probably going to end up in Brooklyn; The nets have reportedly offered Humphries a 3-year, $23 million deal while the Bobcats only offered a 3-year $22 million deal. The Nets are better, and offering more money… kind of a no-brainer).

The most likely PF candidate to end up in Charlotte is Jamison, but don’t count out his desire to get a ring when penciling him in as the Bobcats starting 4 next season. He’s seriously considering playing for the Lakers in 2013.

There could always be more wrinkles, twists, and turns thrown into this off season, but right now, those are the moves Charlotte is pushing.

May 23, 2012; Philadelphia, PA USA; Philadelphia 76ers power forward Elton Brand (42) reaches for rebound against Boston Celtics power forward Kevin Garnett (5) during the second quarter of game six of the Eastern Conference semifinals of the 2012 NBA Playoffs at the Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-US PRESSWIRE

A new free agent-ish PF has entered the mix for the Charlotte Bobcats. Elton Brand will be amnestied by the Philadelphia 76ers and people who follow the Bobcats and basketball for a living think they’ll bid on his services.

Source confirms Philly to use the amnesty clause on the final year of Elton Brand’s contract worth $18.1 million. Comes off the cap July 11.

— Sam Amick (@sam_amick) July 6, 2012

Bobcats will be one of those teams. RT @WojYahooNBA There will be significant interest with NBA teams to claim Brand off the amnesty wire.

— Spencer Percy (@QCsportscrave) July 6, 2012

A secondary waiver claim on Elton Brand (pay part of his guarantee) would be a bold move by the #Bobcats.

— Rick Bonnell (@rick_bonnell) July 6, 2012

A secondary waiver claim would be a bold move indeed, and, teams like the Bobcats who are under the salary cap, have first dibs on amnestied players.

Those teams will bid on Brand and he’ll go to the team with the highest bid… Unless he goes unclaimed, in which case he’ll become a free agent. I fully expect the Bobcats and Houston Rockets, among other teams, to be bidders, though.

The other guy who is 100 percent on the Bobcats wish list, free agent Antwan Jamison, is also in the mix for Golden State:

Jamison is intrigued by veteran role with Bobcats, but he works out in off-season with @StephenCurry30 and loves @warriors improving roster.

— Marc J. Spears (@SpearsNBAYahoo) July 6, 2012

Jamison is 36 and he put up some good numbers in Cleveland last season. He scored 17 points, grabbed 6.3 rebounds and dished out two assists per game.

Brand is 33 and he scored 11 points, grabbed 7.2 rebounds and blocked 1.6 shots per game last season with the 76ers. Brand was far and away the better defender of the two. He put up a defensive rating of 96 last season (10 points per 100 possessions better than Jamison).

No player can be claimed/signed until July 11, but Jamison and the Bobcats could reach an agreement before that time. No team is allowed to amnesty a player before the 11th, so no team can bid on a player before that time, either.

April 21, 2012; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Rockets point guard Goran Dragic (3) lays in a shot against the Golden State Warriors during the second quarter at the Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Thomas Campbell-US PRESSWIRE

The Charlotte Bobcats lost out on signing free agent point guard Goran Dragic, who will land in the now Steve-Nash-less Phoenix desert.

It was a surprise to many that Charlotte even got in the discussion for Dragic, but it was an even bigger surprise that they offered him as much as they did. Some reports had the deal Charlotte offered Dragic at 4-years, $9 million per season.

Now, assuming JJ Hickson does what everyone thinks he’ll do and sign with Golden State, the Bobcats will likely turn their attention to value-contracts and anyone who can help them in the front court.

Antwan Jamison will most likely be the first free agent to land in the Queen City. Charlotte is going after him hard, and they will offer him more money than any contender who’s interested in him can offer.

Other guys I still think Charlotte has on their shopping list include Aaron Gray and Ivan Johnson (although he will be hard to pry away from Atlanta with all their new-found cap space.

Apr 8, 2012; Newark, NJ, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers forward Antwan Jamison (4) puts up a layup during the first half against the New Jersey Nets at the Prudential Center. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-US PRESSWIRE

One of the surprise teams on restricted free agent Eric Gordon’s list of possible destinations was the Charlotte Bobcats.

Now it seems like that list is down to just one team; The Phoenix Suns.

BUT…Gordon going hard with public comments that he’d rather be in Phoenix than NO, says in a statement given to … sulia.com/my_thoughts/03…

— Sam Amick (@sam_amick) July 4, 2012

New Orleans is reportedly going to match the Suns max offer, and Gordon would be forced to play in New Orleans again next season.

The first player with a legitimate chance to sign with the Charlotte Bobcats is going to have dinner with team officials according to a tweet from beat writer, Rick Bonnell.

A source close to the situation confirms Antawn Jamison will have dinner with #Bobcats execs in Charlotte Thursday.

— Rick Bonnell (@rick_bonnell) July 3, 2012

Jamison isn’t the guy fans wanted to see Charlotte target at power forward, but he is someone the Bobcats feel comfortable with giving a short deal to. Charlotte management has expressed their desire to sign a veteran guy that can still play this off season, and Jamison fits that description, and helps fill a gaping hole in the paint at Time Warner Cable Arena.

Outside of the world of free agency, Charlotte has apparently interviewed UNLV assistant (and former Charlotte Hornet) Stacey Augmon for the Bobcats assistant coach vacancy.

Other than that, the Charlotte Bobcats have been one of the more quite teams in the early days of this free agent frenzy, despite the amount of money they have to spend.

Still, once some of the bigger peices start to fall (Williams, Nash, Illyasova, etc), expect Charlotte to get right in the thick of things.