What the hell's goin on here! We got who? What? No Dwight? Mo' Dwight?. Mandatory Credit: Howard Smith-US PRESSWIRE

After saying he couldn’t see himself in a Lakers jersey, Steve Nash is now their point guard.

After saying they’d match any offer for Jeremy Lin up to “$1 billion”, the Knicks will probably let Linsanity flow out of Houston.

It is “highly doubtful” NY will match Jeremy Lin’s offer sheet with HOU, source tells Y! Sports. NY likely to wait 3 days before declining.

— Marc J. Spears (@SpearsNBAYahoo) July 15, 2012

Dwight Howard trades to LA, Houston and Brooklyn have been “imminent” a dozen times, Ray Allen is on the Heat and Landry Fields got $20 million to play in Toronto.

With Nets out of the Dwight Howard sweepstakes, Rockets have emerged as the front runners.

— Legion Sports (@MySportsLegion) July 12, 2012

The 76ers waived Elton Brand and let Lou Williams walk to Atlanta. Speaking of the Hawks, they did the unthinkable and managed to find a team willing to take on Joe Johnson’s contract; The Nets.

The Charlotte Bobcats got a first round draft pick AND Ben Gordon out of Corey Maggette from the Pistons.

Eric Gordon spoke glowingly about Phoenix after receiving a max contract from the Suns only to have New Orleans match it.

Eric Gordon: “There is always a business element to the NBA when dealing with contracts but I never lost my appreciation for the NOLA fans.”

— Doug Mouton (@DMoutonWWL) July 14, 2012

Kyrie Irving broke his hand slapping a wall (and called out Kobe Byrant) and Blake Griffin hurt his knee with team USA.

Cavs’ Kyrie Irving breaks hand slapping wall padding. espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id…

— Arash Markazi (@ArashMarkazi) July 15, 2012

And that’s not everything that went down.

Holy crap.

This summer has been far from slow for the NBA, after last summer ceased to exist.

It has to be a given that the upcoming season will be just as wild, right?

I think that shot was an airball. Mandatory Credit: Debby Wong-US PRESSWIRE

The biggest winner in the New York Knicks and Toronto Raptors battle to land Steve Nash will no doubt be Landry Fields.

Fields and the Raptors have reportedly reached a verbal agreement on a 3-year, $20 million deal… That’s just under $7 million a year for a shooting guard who scored 8.8 points per game and shot 26 percent from behind the arc last season.

The boys in charge North of the Border are basically making this move to assure the Knicks won’t have any leverage to work a sign and trade with Phoenix for Steve Nash. There had been rumblings of such a deal as recently as Monday.

And, while this deal almost certainly takes the Knicks out of the running for Nash, it will probably take the Raptors out of the running for the playoffs over the next few years; If they do end up signing Nash, that will leave 56 million dollars tied up between two players for three seasons. Nash certainly makes that team better, but the addition of Fields won’t really mean much in the win/loss column.

There’s still a chance Nash ends up in New York. Phoenix apparently really likes Iman Shumpert, and if the Knicks were to offer him in a sign and trade situation, the Suns would think long and hard about it.

For now though, it looks like Nash is going to finish out his career on a middling team. At least he’ll be going home, and you can’t knock a guy for wanting to do that.

Mar 21, 2012; Philadelphia, PA, USA; New York Knicks guard Jeremy Lin (17) is defended by Philadelphia 76ers guard Jrue Holiday (11) during the second quarter at the Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Howard Smith-US PRESSWIRE

I just saw a tweet that said the Charlotte Bobcats, Golden State Warriors and Brooklyn Nets are interested in signing free agent power forward J.J. Hickson.

Hickson, who’s been in the league for four years, had a weird 2011/12 season.

He was signed by the Kings in the off season, played so poorly that Sacramento waved him, got picked up by the Trail Blazers, and averaged 15 points and eight rebounds over the last 19 games of the season.

He made less than three million dollars last season, and my guess is he’ll sign with the team that gives him the best deal.

Other free agent news on this great Monday morning includes… well not too much news.

The Nets are trying to swing so many deals that Chris Brousard’s head must be ready to burst. They’re willing to take on Joe Johnson and his horrifying salary, but they won’t give up Marshon Brooks. They also want to trade for Dwight Howard, sign Steve Nash and if they don’t get any of those guys, they’re likely to match any offer Brook Lopez receives.

The Houston Rockets and Omer Asik have reportedly agreed to a 3-year deal worth over $25 million, and while the Bulls say resigning him is a priority, 72 percent of Bulls fans don’t want their team to match that offer.

Finally, Knicks fans might need to worry about losing Jeremy Lin if the Raptors don’t sign Steve Nash.

According to SI [which cited Chris Brousard (who spoke hypothetically)]:

“While both Lin and the Knicks are hoping for a reunion, sources say that if any clubs offer Lin, a restricted free agent, a backloaded contract that pays him an eight-figure salary in the third and fourth years, the Knicks could be given pause about matching the offer.”

Don’t expect New York to let Lin walk, though. GM Glen Grunwald is going to wait to see what other teams offer his point guard, because he can match any deal.

Jun 21, 2012; Miami, FL, USA; Miami Heat small forward LeBron James (6) celebrates with the Bill Russell mvp trophy after winning the NBA championship in game five of the 2012 NBA Finals at the American Airlines Arena. The Heat defeated the Oklahoma City Thunder 121-106. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-US PRESSWIRE

“It’s about damn time.” That’s what LeBron James said after winning his first title Thursday night.

Well, now it’s about damn time to take a look at how the web reacted to it.

For a look at how the Finals were won, check out this blog from Time Magazine:

There’s real joy in James’ game. Sure, you can still hold the “Decision” against him, and dock James points for not winning that first title in Cleveland. But give him credit: LeBron James loves sharing the basketball. The Heat finished with 14 three-point shots on Thursday, tying a Finals record, and Miami’s downtown barrage all starts with LeBron. He draws the attention, then throws perfect pitches to his open teammates. Jordan and Kobe Bryant are cold-blooded scorers: they passed when they had to.

For a look at how the Thunder felt after the Finals were lost, check out USA Today:

“If you’re going to feel sorry for yourself, you might as well not come to the game tonight,” Thunder coach Scott Brooks said of the Western Conference champions after his team’s morning shoot-around. “There’s no reason to hide from this moment.”

The New York sports media couldn’t keep the Knicks out of the conversation, even though the Heat knocked them out a month ago (via the New York Daily News):

The Knicks aren’t going to beat the Heat the way the Knicks of the 1990s couldn’t beat Michael Jordan… That is the fact of the NBA season that just ended as much as the fact of what James and Wade and Bosh and their supporting cast did to Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook, the beatdown they gave them in Game 5.

And then there was twitter.

Via Dan Gilbert (Cavs owner, James hater):

Great NBA season. Enjoyedplayoffs. Congratulations to Miami & OKC for an exciting Finals. Back to work on next weeks promising Cavs draft.

— Dan Gilbert (@cavsdan) June 22, 2012

Notice anything missing from that tweet?

The season that almost wasn’t is now over, but with the draft less than a week away keep you Internet dial tuned into RobertoGato.com for all the prospect, free agent, and trade news you can handle.

May 8, 2011; Dallas, TX, USA; Los Angeles Lakers head coach Phil Jackson leaves the court at the end of game four against the Dallas Mavericks for the second round of the 2011 NBA playoffs at American Airlines Center. The Mavs beat the Lakers 122-86. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-US PRESSWIRE

Apparently there “might be” a job that could lure Phil Jackson out of retirement.

At least that’s what the future Hall of Fame coach told HBO’s real sports in an interview that will air Tuesday night.

Jackson says the Knicks job didn’t appeal to him, because New York’s roster is “clumsy”.

He says Amare Stoudemire has “to play in a certain system and a way,” and that “Carmelo (Anthony) has to be a better passer. The ball can’t stop every time it hits his hands.”

He said the Knicks didn’t contact him before making Mike Woodson their full-time head coach.

Orlando didn’t appeal to him because it’s too far away from his home in Montana.

I wonder if Miami would be too far, if say, Erik Spoelstra bows out of the NBA Finals for a second straight year without a title.

Honestly, there probably aren’t that many jobs Jackson would take. He’s not up for a rebuilding job like Charlotte or Portland, and there aren’t many competitors ready to let go of their head coach right now.

Jackson will probably stay out of the league for another year or two, until the PERFECT situation arises.

We know you can still ball, MJ. Mandatory Credit: Sam Sharpe-US PRESSWIRE

Call it a publicity stunt, call it crazy, call it what ever you want.

Michael Jordan should suit up for the Charlotte Bobcats in their final game of the year against the New York Knicks.

The worst record in NBA history is on the line, and Jordan has come under fire lately for not appearing to care all that much.

Larry Brown also went on the Dan Patrick Show Wednesday morning to take a few shots at MJ, questioning the people he surrounds himself with.

What better way to stick it to all the “haters” (and to rip the hearts out of New York Knicks fans one more time) than to come back in the final game of the year, drop 25 points and keep the Bobcats out of the NBA’s historical basement.

In his final two seasons with the Wizards, Jordan averaged more than 20 points, five rebounds and four assists per game. He’d probably be the best player on the Bobcats roster, and he could still do this a few years ago:

Carmelo Anthony is already out for the game, Tyson Chandler will play limited minutes, and the Bobcats are just awful. Somehow the NBA made this their prime time match-up on TNT.

The game needs something to draw eyes off the NFL draft, and MJ’s return would do that.

Between a 22 game losing streak, an extremely real chance at the worst record ever, and the fact that Charlotte fans really need something to cheer for, why shouldn’t he come back?

Alright guys, here's the plan... Don't lose. Mandatory Credit: Sam Sharpe-US PRESSWIRE

Well, it’s finally here.

That point in the season where a team lays everything on the line, leaves it all on the court, and heads into the locker room after the final buzzer with their heads high, knowing they did their best.

…Unless that team is the Charlotte Bobcats and after the final buzzer tonight they’ve become the worst team in NBA history.

48 minutes. That’s all the ‘Cats have left to avoid that dubious title.

They had their chances against Orlando on Wednesday, but in the end they were just bad enough to let JJ Redick drop 30+ on them and lost the game by seven.

Because of that loss, the opposing Knicks have no shot at the sixth seed, and need either a win tonight or a 76ers loss to clinch the seventh spot. A loss would push them down to eighth.

Even if they cared about staying at seven and playing the Heat (instead of the Bulls if they fall to eighth), the ‘Bockers probably won’t play their starters for more than a half. Baron Davis certainly needs the rest, Carmelo Anthony could use some time off to ice his shoulders (he put da team on his back, all Greg-Jennings-like the past few weeks), and the Knicks bench is just better than the Bobcats starting lineup.

The keys to winning against the Knicks are almost the same as they were for beating the Magic. Bismack Biyombo has to stay out of foul trouble and have a very good game against Tyson Chandler (who gets my vote for defensive player of the year), the ‘Cats have to finish close to even in the rebound battle, and for God’s sake, will someone tell Byron Mullens that he’s probably going to be matched up with Steve Novak for most of the game? Because Novak is dreadful on defense and not much better on the boards. If seven-feet-of-smooth comes away with just one rebound tonight, I might just spontaneously combust.

No need for speeches, trophies or any other motivational mumbo-jumbo… If Charlotte doesn’t win, it will go down as the worst team in the history of the NBA.

Michael Jordan might not be able to come up with a 12 foot trophy in time for the final two games of the season (it’d be great if he even bothers to show up to either game), but it doesn’t matter.

The Bobcats are playing these final two games against the Magic and Knicks for something much larger; If they can’t pull out a win before the season is over, they will go down as the worst team in the history of the NBA.

Charlotte already beat their two remaining opponents, but that probably doesn’t matter, because the only team that has more than one loss to the Bobcats this year is Toronto.

The last time they faced Orlando, the Bobcats won by 16 on 29 points from the oft-injured Corey Maggette and a near triple-double from Bismack Biyombo, who outplayed Dwight Howard.

Maggette and Howard are done for the year, but Biyombo is healthy. He’ll have to bring his A+++ game if Charlotte is going to win this one.

Orlando has lost three in a row, and without Howard, they’re vulnerable inside and on the boards.

In its last game against Denver, the Magic got outscored 64-24 in the paint and lost the rebounding battle by 10.

The Bobcats aren’t very good in either of those statistics, but they should be starting points in their game plan tonight.

If the Charlotte wins tonight and the Magic lose on Thursday at Memphis,  the Knicks could move up to the sixth spot in the Eastern Conference by winning their final two games vs the Clippers and at the Bobcats.

With so much at stake in the Bobcats final two games (avoiding the “worst team ever” moniker and holding the first round match-up fate of two teams in the collective palm of their hand) it shouldn’t take much for Charlotte to get pumped up these next two nights.

If they still need some motivation, though, maybe a trophy isn’t that bad of an idea.

Because if Charlotte can’t win one of their last two games, “in the anals of history, people are going to be talking about three things: The discovery of fire, invention of the submarine” and how horrible the Bobcats were this year.

 Credit: Paul Abell-US PRESSWIRE

With three games left in the regular season, Charlotte has the opportunity to effect the Eastern Conference playoffs in a significant way.

After their match-up with the Washington Wizards tonight, the Bobcats play two teams fighting to stay out of a first round series with the Heat.

If the New York Knicks win out, and the Orlando Magic lose out, the ‘Bockers will get the sixth seed and push the Dwight Howard-less Magic into a dreaded first round slot against Miami.

All the Magic need to do to avoid that fate is win one of their final two games verses the Bobcats or at the Memphis Grizzlies (I think the game they’ve circled is obvious).

The Knicks also get the Bobcats; On the last day of the season, on TNT, while Orlando simultaneously battles Memphis. Should the Knicks beat the Clippers and the Bobcats knock off Orlando on Wednesday, that Thursday night game could be one of the most important contests of the waning NBA season… And Charlotte would be a part of it.

For what it’s worth, the ‘Cats have already defeated both Orlando and New York, by 16 in March and eight in January respectively.

If the Bobcats manage to beat either of them again this week, they would assure themselves of not becoming the worst team in NBA history. Also, they still have a chance to go on a winning streak this year, and as impossible as it sounds, they can still finish the season with double digit wins.

Modest goals, I know, but in a season as putrid as Charlotte’s, any goal reached is a positive one.

It all starts tonight, though, when Charlotte tries to shake itself of this disgusting 20 game losing streak. The last time the ‘Cats and DC met up, Washington obliterated the Bobcats, 113-85.