The Cleveland Cavaliers have found that stretch four they have been looking for since the beginning of the season.
A source with knowledge of the situation has told But The Game Is On that the Washington Wizards have traded veteran forward Antawn Jamison to the Cavaliers as part of a three-team deal involving the Wizards and the Los Angeles Clippers.
Here’s how the whole deal shapes out:
Cleveland gets Jamison from Washington and Sebastian Telfair from the Clippers.
Washington gets Žydrūnas Ilgauskas and a first round pick from Cleveland and Al Thorton and Brian Skinner from the Clippers.
Los Angeles gets Drew Gooden from Washington (Gooden was acquired over the All-Star Break from Dallas as a part of the Caron Butler deal).
Jamison should bring quite a bit of production for the Cavs whether it be as a starter or as the sixth man, though it doesn’t seem likely that Cleveland would start J.J. Hickson over Jamison as that operation was seen more as a showcase for his trade stock. Now that the Cavs have made their move, I expect the Cavs to start Jamison.
In a hostile Washington environment, Jamison averaged 21 points and nine rebounds in 41 games. Jamison missed a chunk of games to begin the season with a shoulder issue but appears to be back in playing shape. Antawn will be relied on for three-point shooting and some nitty-gritty play downlow. Jamison is shooting 35% from three on the season.
***
Other trade notes
-A source confirms reports of a Nate Robinson to the Boston Celtics deal, adding that J.R. Giddens will also be apart of that trade. The Knicks are expected to receive Eddie House in return for their three-time slam dunk champion. The Celtics now have the most dysfunctional locker room in the league. Thing about the personalities on that team: Rasheed Wallace (thought the Celts were a 70-win team), Rajon Rondo (thinks he’s better than CP3), Paul Pierce (thinks he is one of the greatest shooters in the world, Nate Robinson (thinks he’s six-foot-four), and Kevin Garnett (the league’s biggest trash talker). Ray Allen is the only normal guy on that team … and he might be traded.
-The Knicks and Timberwolves have completed a small deal based mostly on cap space. Darko Milicic to the Timberwolves for Brian Cardinal.
Now, think about this tweet from Chad Ford of ESPN:
What if Danny Ferry just made the deal that gives the Clipps enough room to steal LeBron?
Spooky stuff.
Steal for the Cavs.
Don’t worry about what Chad Ford says… he’s been right exactly 0 times in the past month.
@generic: I definitely agree that the amount of talent Jamison had for what the Cavs gave up makes this a mega steal. Not to the extent that Amare would have been, but close.
However, not to beat a dead horse, I don’t think that this move helps LeBron’s future in Cleveland. If he doesn’t win it this year, the Chicago and L.A. (Clips) scenario’s seem more appealing.