Charlotte Bobcats played the worst season in NBA history

The Charlotte Bobcats couldn’t even beat a Knicks team resting most of its starters, finishing with the worst winning percentage in NBA history after a 104-84 loss on Thursday night.

J.R. Smith scored 22 points for the Knicks, who pulled away in the second half to clinch the Eastern Conference’s No. 7 seed and a first-round playoff matchup against No. 2 Miami beginning Saturday.

Gerald Henderson had 21 points for the Bobcats, whose 23rd consecutive loss left them with a winning percentage of .106 (7-59) in the lockout-shortened season. The record was set 39 years ago, when the 1972-73 Philadelphia 76ers finished 9-73 (.110) in a full regular season.

The Knicks held out Carmelo Anthony, Tyson Chandler and Baron Davis, while Amare Stoudemire had 21 points over two quarters.

— Reported by the Associated Press

Eric Musselman named D-League coach of year

Los Angeles D-Fenders head coach Eric Musselman was today named the winner of the Dennis Johnson Coach of the Year award, as voted by his fellow NBA Development League head coaches.

Musselman helmed a Los Angeles team that recorded an NBA D-League record 38 victories during the 2011-12 regular season en route to a Western Conference Championship and the first overall seed in the 2012 NBA D-League Playoffs presented by BBVA.

Musselman’s D-Fenders are undefeated in postseason play, and have a chance to secure the 2012 NBA D-League Championship over the Austin Toros tonight in the second game of the best-of-three NBA D-League Finals presented by BBVA.  Tip-off is set for 10:00 p.m. ET.

During his first year with the team, Musselman oversaw the development of six top NBA D-League prospects who earned a total of eight GATORADE Call-Ups to the NBA this season, including the 2012 NBA D-League All-Star MVP Gerald Green, now of the New Jersey Nets and Houston Rockets guard Courtney Fortson, who both signed contracts for the remainder of the season with their NBA teams.

Musselman’s D-Fenders led the League in rebounding percentage (.572) and held their opponents to a League-low 44 percent from the field, while its 48 percent from the field was good for second best in the League.

“Eric’s deep knowledge of the game and his unparalleled passion have been evident every step of the way for the D-Fenders this season,” said Chris Alpert, Vice President of Basketball Operations and Player Personnel for the NBA D-League.  “Not only was Eric able to achieve a level of on-court success our League has never seen before, he was able to do it while developing top NBA D-League prospects into current NBA contributors.  I offer my hearty congratulations to him on a season well done.”

The award is named in honor of the late Dennis Johnson, NBA Legend and former Austin Toros head coach who was enshrined in the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in August 2010. In his playing career, Johnson won three NBA titles with the Boston Celtics and Seattle SuperSonics, played in five NBA All-Star games and was named to the All-Defensive First Team six times. He served as interim head coach of the Los Angeles Clippers in 2002, and was in his third season coaching in the NBA D-League when he passed away.

Antawn Jamison probably leaving Cavs this summer

Antawn Jamison likely played his final home game for Cleveland. The 35-year-old will be a free agent this summer and said it’s improbable he’ll sign with the Cavs.

”I definitely have a great feeling this is probably my last home game and tomorrow will be my last game as a Cav,” said Jamison, acquired in a 2010 deadline trade to help the Cavs win a title. ”I wish the rest of these guys great luck. I definitely think this organization is going in the right direction as far as getting some great talent and slowly but surely putting a championship caliber team together.

”With this coaching staff, some good prospects in this draft, Cleveland can get back to what it once used to be.”

— Reported by the Associated Press

J.J. Redick scores 31, Bobcats lose 22nd straight game

J.J. Redick had six 3-pointers and scored a career-high 31 points as the Orlando Magic held off Charlotte 102-95 on Wednesday night, the Bobcats’ 22nd consecutive loss.

Ryan Anderson added 24 points and 13 rebounds for the Magic, who snapped a three-game losing streak and secured the sixth seed in the Eastern Conference but lost forward Glen Davis to a sprained right ankle. He is the latest injury to strike the Magic’s roster and drain an already shallow pool of Orlando big men following Dwight Howard’s season-ending back surgery.

D.J. Augustin led the Bobcats with 23 points, while Gerald Henderson had 17 and Derrick Brown 16.

— Reported by the Associated Press

Stephen Curry should be ready for Warriors in 3-4 months

Arthroscopic surgery on Stephen Curry’s troublesome right ankle Wednesday ”revealed a stable ankle with no structural damage.” The Warriors said the operation performed by Dr. Richard Ferkel in Southern California ”consisted of cleaning out loose debris and scar tissue” and deemed the operation ”successful.”

Curry is expected to resume basketball activities in three to four months. Golden State hopes its franchise point guard can avoid another more serious surgery for the second straight summer and be ready for fall’s training camp.

”The surgery went about as well as we could have hoped for entering the procedure,” Ferkel said in a statement. ”We were pleased that the surgery was limited to simply a cleaning out procedure and I anticipate that he’ll be ready before for the start of training camp.”

— Reported by the Associated Press

David Lee to have surgery on torn ab muscle

Another starter for the Golden State Warriors is heading to the operating table.

The team said David Lee will have surgery Thursday to repair a torn abdominal muscle. The procedure will be performed by Dr. William Meyers in Philadelphia. Lee’s recovery time to resume basketball activities will be determined following surgery.

— Reported by the Associated Press

Lakers recall Christian Eyenga from D-League

The Los Angeles Lakers have recalled guard/forward Christian Eyenga from the Los Angeles D-Fenders of the NBA Development League, it was announced today by General Manager Mitch Kupchak.

Acquired from the Cleveland Cavaliers on March 15 along with Ramon Sessions in exchange for Luke Walton and Jason Kapono, Eyenga has yet to play for the Lakers this season. In six regular season games with the D-Fenders, Eyenga averaged 12.2 points, 5.0 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 1.3 blocks and 33.0 minutes, before helping the D-Fenders reach the D-League finals, where they currently hold a 1-0 lead over the Austin Toros.

The 30 th overall pick by Cleveland in the 2009 NBA Draft, Eyenga played in six games for the Cavaliers this season averaging 1.5 points and 2.0 rebounds in 13.8 minutes. Eyenga also played in 12 games for the Canton Charge this season, where he averaged 10.0 points, 4.3 rebounds and 1.2 assists in 26.2 minutes.

San Antonio Spurs sign Derrick Byars

The San Antonio Spurs today announced they have signed Derrick Byars from the Bakersfield Jam of the NBA Development League for the remainder of the 2011-12 season.

A 6-7, 220-pound guard/forward, Byars appeared in 25 games (22 starts) for the Jam this season, averaging 15.2 points, 5.2 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.00 steals in 32.2 minutes. He helped lead Bakersfield to the D-League playoffs where he appeared in four games, averaging 13.5 points, 3.8 rebounds and 1.50 steals in 31.0 minutes

Byars, a 2009 D-League All-Star, has played in 104 D-League games, averaging 17.1 points, 5.1 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 1.00 steals in 35.3 minutes.

This season, Byars appeared in two preseason contests with the Miami Heat averaging 7.5 points and 1.0 rebounds in 9.0 minutes. Byars has also participated in NBA training camps with the Chicago Bulls, Oklahoma City Thunder and Philadelphia 76ers. He has also played professionally in Greece, France and Germany.

Byars split his collegiate career between the University of Virginia (2002-04) and Vanderbilt University (2005-07). As a senior he was named SEC Player of the Year after averaging 17.0 points, 4.9 rebounds and 3.4 assists in 34 games for the Commodores.

Kevin Love wants Timberwolves roster changes

Kevin Love

The Wolves could add Love’s new $13 million salary and still clear more than $12 million for free agency if they let go Beasley, Randolph, Milicic, Webster and retiring Brad Miller. But they still would have to fill out those roster spots, and as many as six NBA teams could have $20 million or more to spend this summer when the Wolves’ best options are difficult-to-sign restricted free agents — O.J. Mayo, Eric Gordon, Nicolas Batum — or perhaps overpaying unrestricted free agents Ray Allen or Landry Fields.

More likely is a trade for a player such as Kevin Martin, who played for Adelman twice and whose $13 million salary Houston wants to shed.

Love said he will lobby management to be “aggressive” in adding veterans. “I think we just need to make some moves,” he said.

Adelman said he believes the team’s young, vibrant nucleus will attract free agents.

“When you look at Kevin and you look at Ricky and the style that we’re going to play, it’s going to be good,” Adelman said.

— Reported by Jerry Zgoda of the Minneapolis Star Tribune