Nate the Great Shipped

A deal that would send Nate Robinson to Boston is close to be finalized and could be announced Wednesday afternoon, according to multiple league sources. The Daily News first reported on its Web site Tuesday night that the Knicks were on the verge of sending the back up guard to the Celtics. Eddie House, who played for Mike D'Antoni in Phoenix and has an expiring contract, is expected to be sent to the Knicks. Robinson vetoed a trade to Memphis last December but was willing to accept a deal to the playoff-bound Celtics. Robinson will earn $5 million this year, bonus included, and will get a chance to play for a championship contender. He will become the first guard off Boston's bench. Sounds like a win-win situation for Nate Robinson & the NYK. The Knicks, who yet again, clear up cap space for this summer's huge free agent market. They will have enough money to get the whole East All-Star team at the rate they going.

Worse Dunk Contest

Nate Robinson is the NBA's first three-time slam dunk champion, and that's enough for him. Robinson barely won another title, garnering 51 percent of the fan vote to hold off Toronto rookie DeMar DeRozan. This was not the dunk contest I was looking forward to with all four contestants. Charlotte's Gerald Wallace and Shannon Brown of the Los Angeles Lakers were eliminated after the first round. They should have been eliminated from even participating. Gerald Wallace does that weak dunk for his first attempt and Shannon Brown (who hops are CrAzY) does nothing spectacular. I did not expect this to be a joke. Creativity for these guys were just not there. You would think people would give them ideas to do. Then again the rule of not using props hinder them too. All the Lakers made sure we knew that Shannon was going to bring it. Wallace should not even got the 70sumthing that he received. Reggie Miller stated best that maybe there should be a website “DontLetShannonDunk.com”. If this contest did not include either Shannon or Wallace, we may not be talking today about how it was the worst dunk contest of all time. I could not agree anymore. But congrats to Nate.

Lebron Says NO

Well I get from class and I get disappointing news. Lebron James is not one of the contestants for the dunk contest. I am sure that there has to be a misunderstanding somewhere as Lebron assured us all he would be in the 2010 dunk contest. Looks like that it will be a "dream" of mine (MLK Day pun intended). But the dunk contest must go on even without the King. Defending champion Nate Robinson will return to the slam dunk contest, trying to become the first three-time winner. He will be joined by Gerald Wallace and Shannon Brown (who has been calling out Lebron). The fourth contestant will be determined by a dunk-off during halftime of the rookie game between the Clippers’ Eric Gordon and Toronto rookie DeMar DeRozan. Personally I hope DeMar gets it but they all better bring something fresh to the table come Feb. 13.

No Deal

Since their failed bid to acquire Travis Outlaw from the Blazers, the Griz failed at signing free-agent guard Von Wafer. The former Houston Rocket reached a buyout with a Greek team last month but then failed his physical with the Grizzlies. That development led Memphis to negotiations with the New York Knicks about guard Nate Robinson. Team insiders confirmed a recent New York Newsday report that the Griz and Knicks agreed in principle to exchange Robinson for guard Marcus Williams and a draft pick. But the deal died because of Robinson's veto. Robinson is in the last year of a qualifying offer with the Knicks therefore he has to approve any trade, according to league rules. I know the Griz are hating that but Nate is smarter than that. Memphis has three first-round picks in the 2010 NBA draft and is peddling its two late-round selections in an attempt to add scoring off the bench. The Griz will not take a player whose deal extends beyond this season if they indeed consummate a deal.

You Get Both or None

Nate Robinson told Fanhouse.com he's willing to defend his dunk title during All-Star Weekend in February under one condition: LeBron James has to be competing. James has previously expressed interest in entering the contest for the first time this year. "If LeBron is in it, I am,'' the 5-foot-9 Robinson said. "If he's in it, I'm in it. But if he's not in it, I might not be in it.'' James has never participated in the dunk contest. However, last February, he hinted this might be the year he finally competes. Robinson hopes it's true. "Like I said, if LeBron is in, it's going to be that much better," he said. "If I'm in it and make it to the finals, (I'll) beat him. That's something I can always tell my kids." Shannon Brown, a former Cavs guard now playing for the Lakers, wants to take on James in this year's dunk contest on Feb. 13. Brown has recorded many spectacular dunks and is a worthy candidate. He might have beaten James in the 2003 McDonald's All-American dunk contest if not for twice missing a windmill attempt that ruined his total score. "I promise you, if I'm able to get in the dunk contest, it's going to be something special," Brown said.

Greek God

Olympiakos may consider a run at Knicks guard Nate Robinson. the Greek team is hoping to sign Robinson as another ticket-seller, who would easily be a bigger star there.European teams can sign restricted free agents from the NBA with no compensation. But the NBA team does maintain the player's rights. Robinson has been in Europe making appearances at basketball camps. He is an immensely-popular NBA player who might be the type to strike it rich in Europe as a fan attraction. But he is also the type that would likely prefer to remain in the NBA.