Apr 07, 2012; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Orlando Magic center Dwight Howard (12) during the fourth quarter against the Philadelphia 76ers at the Wells Fargo Center. The Magic defeated the Sixers 88-82. Mandatory Credit: Howard Smith-US PRESSWIRE

Let me get this straight: The NBA (David Stern) disallowed New Orleans’ Chris Paul deal that would’ve netted the Hornets Lamar Odom (at the time looked like a nice pick up), Kevin Martin, GORAN DRAGIC, Luis Scola and a first round pick from the Houston Rockets.

I know the league had the authority to veto that trade, because it owned New Orleans at the time, but let me get this straight as well:

 The league isn’t going to do anything about the trade that just happened where a future Hall of Fame center was traded to a team that already had three on it for a huge steaming pile of hippo crap?

Sure. Technically they can’t do anything, but give me a break. The league does still have to “give its stamp of approval” as so many pundits have put it this morning.

The Lakers just got Dwight Howard. PHILLADELPHIA GOT ANDREW BYNUM. Denver got Andre Iguodala. The Magic? They got three late round (LA, Philly, Denver=playoffs) draft picks, Arron Afflalo and Moe Harkless.

I know that last paragraph doesn’t make any damn sense, so here’s a simpler one.

The Orlando Magic traded Dwight Howard, and they got nothing back in return.

To tie this story into what most people come to this blog to read about, The Orlando Magic will be last year’s Charlotte Bobcats for the foreseeable future.

Maybe that’s what they wanted. Maybe they traded Dwight Howard for the ability to be a pathetically awful team for the next three years and draft their future.

The Thunder did it. The Bobcats are doing it.

Three out of the four teams in this trade won. The team that had the most leverage, somehow, lost.

New Jersey offered a better deal. Houston offered a WAY better deal.

I don’t get it, but somehow the Lakers, Nuggets and Sixers just robbed Orlando blind and the Magic don’t seem to give a shit.

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.

Dec 29, 2010; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Utah Jazz coach Jerry Sloan during the game against the Los Angeles Clippers at the Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee/Image of Sport-US PRESSWIRE

ESPN and the Charlotte Observer reported earlier that the Charlotte Bobcats have slimmed their coaching search down to three candidates: Jerry Sloan, Brian Shaw and Quin Snyder.

Shaw, currently an assistant with Indiana (formerly with the Lakers) and Snyder, currently an assistant with the Lakers (formerly head coach of Missouri and in the D-League) will be interviewed for a second time, so they have a chance to interract with Michael Jordan. Sloan already had that opportunity, because Jordan was part of a Bobcats team that interviewed him in Salt Lake City, Utah when he was first interviewed.

Bobcats beat writer Rick Bonnell did a solid job explaining what Shaw and Snyder would bring to the table:

“If Shaw gets the job, he’d likely install the Triangle offense he learned while playing and coaching for Phil Jackson… Snyder… is a bit of a wild card in this process, as he’s not currently lead assistant with the Lakers. However, he’s a high-intellect guy who’s known to be an innovator offensively.”

If Sloan is willing to commit for more than a few years, he’s got to be the guy Charlotte goes with here. He’ll bring instant credibility to a franchise which basically has none right now. He worked with one of the greatest point guards ever and one of the best big men ever in John Stockton and Karl Malone, and before he left the Jazz, he was the longest tenured coach in the NBA.

With Shaw and Snyder getting a second round of interviews, I think it’s their job to win Sloan’s to lose.