NBA Trade Deadline: Where Will Antawn Jamison End The Season?
In January of 2010, current Cleveland Cavalier, Antawn Jamison was a Washington Wizard, and just like every one of the past 8 or 9 years he was anticipating the upcoming trade deadline while wondering what his future would hold. A few weeks later, on February 17, he learned his fate as he was traded from the cellar dwelling Wizards to the best team in the league, where he would play next to the two time MVP LeBron James. The 6'9" 235 pound stretch forward could not wait to get to C-Town and be part of the team he hoped would lead him to his first NBA championship.
Fast forward one year, and Jamison is once again the best player on a bad team. The MVP is gone and so are the hopes of a title. Jamison is averaging 17.1 points and 6.2 rebounds per game on the 8-34 Cavaliers, and is now once again getting that familiar feeling as the trade deadline draws near.
Jamison has one more season left on his contract after this season at a value of $15 million, so a deal may not come easy, and the Cavs may have to give him away. However, he has produced at every one of his stops throughout his career and I am sure a contender would take a stab at him if the right deal presents itself.
With that being said here are the five spots Jamison may land this season.
5. Portland Trailblazers
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The Portland Trailblazers have lost leading scorer Brandon Roy for the season. If they are looking for scoring and looking to add a large contract then I could see Jamison being a fit here. If they made the move, a lineup of Andre Miller, Wes Matthews, Rudy Fernandez, LaMarcus Aldridge, and Jamison would be a very potent scoring machine.
The likelihood of this deal going down would be a bout 15%. I say that for a number of reasons, mainly in order for the trade to work between only the Cavs and Blazers, Portland would have to give up injured former number one overall pick Greg Oden, and Joel Przybilla, which I believe the Cavs would jump on, but I just cannot see the Blazers giving up all their size, and a young center, for an aging stretch forward.
4. Charlotte Bobcats
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Since firing Larry Brown the Bobcats have been playing much better basketball. The team is still in the hunt for one of the lower playoff seeds in the east and if they decide to make a run for the playoffs Jamison could be a player who would help them reach that goal. In fact if the acquired Jamison they may also bring some fans back to the arena with the return of the former North Carolina Tarheel.
The likelihood of this deal going down is about 20-25%. I do not see Michael Jordan and the Bobcats taking on this much salary without it giving them a chance at a title. However, in the chance that I am wrong, expect to see the expiring contract of PF Boris Diaw, SG Matt Carrol, and a lottery protected draft pick heading to the Cavaliers.
3. Philadelphia 76ers
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The Philadelphia 76ers are a team that could be on the rise. They have a very good young nucleus of Thaddeus Young, Jrue Holiday, and number two overall pick Evan Turner, and it seems that small forward Andre Iguodala is no longer part of their plans, and with 3 years and almost $40 million left on his contract he no longer fits the financial needs of the team as well.
Combined with the Cavaliers huge void at the SF position, and the 76ers youth movement I could see the teams trading Iguodala for Jamison straight up with a likelihood of about 35%. Now I know that the 76ers are not going anywhere this year, and I do believe that if the Cavs trade their star forward it will be to a contender, but Jamison would fill a need with Philadelphia in the short term, and be a great trade chip for the young rising team this off season with his expiring deal.
2. Dallas Mavericks
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The Dallas Mavericks looked like a team that would contend for the title this year before they lost starting small forward Caron Butler for the year due to injury. They are still a very, very, good team but they are no longer elite, and if they want to get back to being a true contender then they will have to make a deal to acquire another scoring presence.
If Jamison is dealt then this is the most likely spot for him to land. The likelihood of this deal happening is about 40%, mainly because the Mavs and owner Mark Cuban are never shy about adding money so the $19 million left on Jamisons deal will not scare them away.
Jamison would walk to Dallas from Cleveland for the opportunity to return to Dallas, where he experienced some of his best seasons.
The deal would work well for both teams with the Cavaliers sending Jamison and center Ryan Hollins to the Mavs for center Brendan Haywood, the expiring contract of DeShawn Stevenson, and possibly a draft pick.
1. Cleveland Cavaliers
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The likelihood of Jamison remaining with the Cavs is almost 60%. Antawn is a very good player, however he is 34 years old, has creaky knees, and is owed almost $20 million on his contract over the next year and a half, and if you throw in the uncertainty of the collective bargaining agreement, then it is even more likely that Jamison will remain in Cleveland well after the trade deadline.
It may also be in the Cavs best interest to retain the former all-start for the remainder of the season due to the teams inability to score, win, or do much of anything at this point in the season.
If Jamison does finish the season as a Cavaliers, he more than likely will not begin the 2011-12 NBA season as a member of the Cavaliers. The team will push his expiring deal during the off season in hopes of receiving a draft pick or young player in return as they build towards the future and move away from their past.
