NBA Trade Deadline: Your Weekly “The Cavs Really Should Go Get Jamison” Post
It’s been well documented that the Cavaliers’ infatuation with Antawn Jamison has been rekindled. What’s been underplayed is the reason behind it: LeBron James is the one driving the team’s pursuit of Jamison, according to a source, and Cavs GM Danny Ferry – as usual – is trying to appease the King. A couple of problems: The Wizards want a young asset in return, and Zydrunas Ilgauskas – while a fit salary-wise – doesn’t fit that description. The sensible piece to include in the deal would be J.J. Hickson, whom the Cavs are reluctant to give up. But if the Cavs got Jamison, what value would Hickson be to them as their fifth big man? One scenario that is believed to be under discussion would have the Cavs hoping the Wizards bought out Ilgauskas after the trade, using some cash added to the deal by Cleveland. That way, the Cavs could sign Ilgauskas back on a minimum deal, giving them the player James covets (Jamison) and a 7-foot-4 insurance policy for Shaquille O’Neal. The Wizards would have to ask themselves if getting out from under Jamison’s contract and adding Hickson is enough to justify a deal that would get them under the tax next summer, but not under the cap.
• If the Cavs can’t get Jamison, Indiana’s Troy Murphy is Plan B. And yes, there’s a Plan C — Andre Iguodala. Whereas the Cavs’ front office believes Jamison could help them win a championship this year, Iguodala would be more of a long-term solution. And he better be, with four years and $56 million left on his deal.
via Weekly Post-Ups – CBSSports.com.
This is going to get complicated if the Rockets are pursuing Butler (or anyone else is). The Wizards should dump all of the big three. Scrap this, start it over. That won’t be happening, though, so if Butler goes, Jamison stays and vice versa. I also can’t see the Wizards being willing to just be a clearing house for the Cavs. Hickson, though, looks to be a pretty solid player and would be a good asset. If the Cavs had any young guards they could spare, that would be ideal, but of course, they don’t, though I suppose you could toss Green in there for good measure.
That James is pushing for this should be no surprise. It’s this terrible miscommunication act that’s seemed to have gone on for years. LeBron wants a star, a guaranteed star to put next to him because he knows that will put them over the top and into unquestionable elite status. Essentially, “if Kobe can do what he’s doing with Pau, what can I do with a real sidekick?” But instead, Ferry has perpetually given him supporting casts. It’s like instead of going out and signing Seth Rogen for Funny People, the director decided to cast the entire Broken Lizard comedy troupe. Don’t get me wrong, I’ll watch Beerfest and Supertroopers all day long. But you need one guy to help carry the film. And don’t bring Shaq in here. He was a discount superstar, like finding a used Corvette. Sure it’s got a ton of miles on it and the paint job’s questionable, but it’s still a Corvette. That doesn’t mean it’s the best vehicle available.
Clevelanders should also be welcoming James’ insistence. If he’s asking for Jamison, that means he wants a long-term component to help him win multiple titles in Cleveland. It makes no sense to ask the Cavs to sacrifice if he’s just going to be leaving them stranded. At the same time, asking him to make a commitment to Cleveland for the next six years is going to be difficult if you don’t show him you’ll do whatever it takes to help him win a title. The importance of this decision, in the most important season in Cleveland Cavaliers’ history, cannot be overstated.
Oster-Tags: Antawn Jamison, cleveland cavaliers, dannyferryhastradeconstipation, lebron james, washington wizards
