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The Effects of a Jamison to Cavaliers Trade

January 11, 2010 – R.S. De France

R.S. De France is a College and University instructor of English Composition. He has a B.A. in English and an M.A. in Rhetoric, Composition, and Writing. One of his life-long pursuits has been writing and covering anything related to sports, specifically the NBA. Recently, De France, his wife, and another colleague started an internationally read magazine at Shwibly.com.

Beyond the possible gun charges for Gilbert “Doc Holiday” Arenas and, now, Javaris Crittenton, the Washington Wizards will be most affected by this whole gun incident. Due to Arenas’ behavior Basketball Commissioner David Stern has suspended him indefinitely, and this will likely lead to the Wizards trying to terminate his $111 million dollars contract that has $78 million remaining. Under a morals clause, this might be possible.

That is only the beginning. This incident has sped up a process that seemed inevitably anyway. Currently, the Wizards’ record is 12-23. Last year, they finished 19-63 So, it only seemed like a matter of time before they (sorry Wizards fans) blew the team up. They had/have Arenas, Caron Butler, and Antawn Jamison—3 all-star level players. Now, we do not know what Arenas’ future holds, so now they really only have 2. According to recent rumors, the Wizards are shopping Butler and Jamison.

What seems to be the most exciting potential trade is the Jamison might end up playing for the Wizards’ rivals the Cleveland Cavaliers. In a payroll dump by the Wizards, they would exchange Jamison for Zyldrunas Ilguaskas.

Mainly, this helps the Wizards in the future, and helps the Cavaliers now. With Ilguaskas about to retire, this opens the Wizards up financially as early as next season. This season, however, this trade could enhance the already powerful Cavaliers. The Boston Celtics, Los Angeles Lakers, and the Cavaliers, with the Orlando Magic and the Dallas Mavericks right behind them, are all vying for the top record in the league. Could this move make the Cavs the best team in the league? Maybe. I think it puts the Lakers, Celtics, and Cavaliers in almost a dead-heat.

After this potential trade, the Wizards would be diminished:
C Zydrunas Ilguakas
PF Brendan Haywood
SF Caron Butler (but for how long?)
SG Mike Miller
PG Randy Foye

After this potential trade, the Cavaliers would be much improved:
C Shaquille O’Neil
PF Anderson Varejao
SF Antawn Jamison
SG Lebron James
PG Mo Williams

Think about how Jamison could help the Cavs. For his career, he averages 20 ppg and 8 rpg. This season he is having another great season averaging 21.6 ppg and 8.3 rpg. In addition, Jamison is shooting better this season. This season he is averaging his best field goal percentage in six years; he’s also averaging his best 3-point percentage in four years. Although Jamison’s last three years have not been his personal best, these 3 years have been his best consistent effort of his career, including a career high 10.2 in rebounds.

Here’s a good highlight mix featuring Jamison’s inside/outside game:

Their options are numerous: they could add him to their starting lineup. Or, they could have him come off the bench, which would give the Cavs as potent a leader off the bench as Manu Ginobli in San Antonio, Rasheed Wallace in Boston and Lamar Odom in Los Angeles. If they want to compete with the Lakers and Celtics, they might want to use Jamison as a sixth man in order to enhance their bench-play.

The downside is that Jamison is 33 yrs old. He’s a healthy 33, though, having only played less than 79 games in 1 season since 2005. Also, he is averaging the most turnovers since 2004-2005. The other downside is that Jamison has never been a great defender. For his career, he averages 1.0 spg, 0.4 bpg.

Despite his downside, Jamison would make the Cavs a much better team, just scary enough to frighten the other teams at the top.

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Comments

  • http://www.thetruthinsportsbymrj.com Mike James

    I don’t understand why the pundits think the Cavs need to do something else to compete. They seem to be competing just fine as a matter of fact I think they have beat both LA and Orlando with no problem on their home courts.

    If Cleveland does nothing else they will still win it all. The only team that will give Cleveland a 7 game series is Boston everyone else is a 5 or 6 game Cleveland trounce.

  • timmy fliger

    i think this is an amazing trade and would make cleveland great getting it done would be the best thing for cavs, jamison and lb on the same team would equal title in my book.

  • Rick_Mahorn

    @timmy I think I have to agree with Mike on this one. The Cavs don’t need to make this trade to compete for the title. As good as Jamison is, they need Big Z to win the title. They will surely play the Lakers in the Finals and they will need the Twin Tower approach with Shaq and Big Z to be able to compete against the Bynum/Gasol combo.

  • Daniel

    Lebron at SG? Not even. Varejao would remain as sixth man and Jamison would start at PF.

  • Joe

    Varejao doesn’t start now. Do you think the trade would make him start too? I don’t see a vast improvement with the Cavs dropping Z. It’s a great option to have both Z and Shaq in the game at the same time. I would like him to be a part of the team that wins the championship. He deserves it.

    I think Wizard fans can’t see what’s obvious…the Wizards don’t have 3 potential all stars but 3 slightly above average players at best, or should I say 2?

    The Cavs still don’t get the respect they deserve beating the “elite” teams on the road this year with no problem. Hopefully this will change once they win it all this year.

  • Scott

    I think you guys are forgetting one important aspect of this potential trade. The reason Cle did not pull the trigger on SJax is because they couldnt get the other team to agree to release Z after he was signed, essentially leaving the Wizards one roster spot short but also saving them instantly like 25+ mil… they arent looking to build around Z, they’re looking to save $$$/cut payroll…

    So a far more likely scenario is we make the trade for Jamison, contingent upon Wash. releasing Z, who we then resign. I do not believe we’ll trade Z away without that in place. Its something they’ll fix in the next few years, but as of now its a legal loophole that is perfectly acceptable to do. NOW- Can you imagine the current Cavs team w the only change being that we ADDED a high caliber, high character player like Jamison? Make it happen Ferry.

    Oh, and for what its worth, the other name I’ve seen tossed around was Z and hickson for Jamison or Z/Hickson/draft pick for Jamison and Caron Butler. I love Hickson and think hes developing nicely but fact is, if its offered, youve gotta make that trade.

  • Rick_Mahorn

    @scott – completely agree. Bang on the money. Go Cavs!

  • Kurt

    Scott, I like your post with the exception of one thing. I don’t think so much of Hickson. Maybe it’s just me. I think he’s undersized and the game still seems to be moving a little fast for him. I don’t think he’s the answer.

    I hadn’t heard the possibility of getting both Jamison AND Caron Butler. That’s a lot of fire power to get for giving up Hickson and Z. I would definitely do that trade if we could get Z back upon release.

  • Anil

    I’m not sure Wizards would accept just Z for Jamison, they’d be even worse, if I was the Wizards I wouldn’t even do the deal. If it were to happen, the Cavs should offer Z, Powe or Hickson (Powe sounds more acceptable) and a future pick, unlikely to happen but we’ll see.

  • Mike

    Jawad Williams! He’s doing the things that Cleveland wants in a PF. He’s definitly finding a role with them so I don’t understand why they want to go out and get Jamison. To look good by getting another well known player? With the team they have, it’s enough to get them a championship.