Hello World!
I am starting this NBA-themed blog because I am tired of having to limit my NBA and LeBron James related thoughts to the tyrannical character limits of Twitter (@boches). Not that my NBA-related thoughts are world changing, but I think I have something to say - a new voice that can only be found on this blog! That's silly, of course. And this is partly to satiate my own desire to just get my thoughts, feelings, interpretations, and reactions to my favorite sport and league out there somewhere, outside my own head. So with out further ado, my introductory post, why the Cleveland Cavaliers need to trade for Antawn Jamison:
For the sake of Basketball (capital B), the Cavaliers need to buck up and make this trade, whatever it takes. Clearly Zydrunas Ilgauskas will be a casualty in this deal (which is why hopefully the Wizards can put the "rivalry" of a couple years ago behind them and agree to an intra-conference trade - and then waive Big Z so he can return to the Cavs). If the Cavs have to give up JJ Hickson, so be it. I love how Hickson has evolved this season, but when an unpolished 21-year-old who can't make a shot outside 10 feet is your starting power forward, how deep can you really get in the Playoffs?
(Full disclosure: I am a Cavaliers fan; however, I was born in Maine (Celtics country), and raised as a Knicks fan. I'll discuss my conversion in a later post. Point being: I love LeBron James. It's probably a little unhealthy how much time I devote to thinking about LeBron, talking about LeBron, tweeting about LeBron, wishing I had a blog so I could write about LeBron. Since I truly started following the NBA (January 2004 - same month I got NBA League Pass not coincidentally) I have followed LeBron almost religously; it's not hyperbole to say he alone saved me from NBA-apathy. In early 2005, my girlfriend at the time told me that she feels bad for the woman I eventually marry, because she will have to understand that she will always be #2 to LeBron.)
So clearly I have a vested interest in the Cavaliers pulling off a trade for Jamison. But as a Basketball fan, I also have a vested interest. Don't we all, at the end of the day, want to enjoy this sport played at the highest level possible? In the same way that the Pau Gasol to the Lakers trade was good for Basketball (meaning it pushed a great team to elite team status, as well as raising Kobe Bryant's overall level of play), Jamison would push this Cavaliers team into a whole 'nother stratosphere. Yes, it is a case of the rich getting richer, and it could be argued that it throws off the competitive balance the NBA works hard to create. But look how quickly teams turn around in today's NBA: Memphis sucked from 1995-2003, then made the Playoffs three straight years (04-06), then won 68 games combined (22, 22, and 24) in the next three seasons, and this year already have won 26 games and are competing for a playoff spot in a ridiculously stacked conference. Same goes for the Former Sonics (I share most people's disgust with how the whole Seattle/OKC move went down - plus the Thunder is the blandest nickname this side of the Minnesota Wild): from several playoff berth at the beginning of the Aughts to bottoming out in 07-08 to fighting for a playoff spot with the best young nucleus in the Association. Point being, yes a Jamison to Cleveland deal makes the rich (the Cavs) richer and the poor (the Wizards) poorer, but maybe the Wizards need to bottom out before they can start ascending again - and in the weak East it shouldn't be too hard to pull oneself up by the bootstraps.
Focusing on the Cavs, this deal would give LeBron the stretch 4 he has been yearning for since 2003, and his first legitimate All-Star teammate (sorry Mo Williams, I love what you've done for the Cavs and I hope you continue to play with LeBron for the next 10 years, but you're not even the best point guard named Williams in the league). Jamison is averaging 20.9 points and 8.8 boards on .456 FG% for the 16-win Wizards. Clearly Jamison's points would go down in Cleveland, as I can't imagine he would be taking the 17+ shots he's averaging right now. But that's fine - the Cavaliers would probably expect about 16-18 PPG from him.
The way I see it, Jamison provides the two things most lacking from last year's team (I know I'm not breaking new ground here, but bear with me): the ability to defend the pick-and-roll, and a big who can shoot/create his own shot. LeBron has never played with a stretch 4 before, settling for Carlos Boozer (his rookie year), the combo of Drew Gooden and Anderson Varejao (and next few seaons), Ben Wallace and Andy (last year), and now Hickson and Andy. Not a single player there who can create his own shot (not that a team with a playmaker like LeBron needs bigs who can create space). Jamison is extremely offensively gifted, and would fit seamlessly into the Cavs offense.
As for defense, three of other main contenders for the title this year have athletic 4s that could give the Cavaliers problems in the playoffs: the Magic (Rashard Lewis), the Hawks (Josh Smith), and the Lakers (Lamar Odom). I know Jamison isn't the best defender in the world (his Defensive Rating of 109 this year is good for 4th on the Wizards, but would be last on the Cavs), but this athleticism provides a better chance to defend and contain the 4s that have hurt the Cavs in the past.
Beyond his effect on the court, Jamison would be an awesome locker room influence (I don't buy into the "chemistry is the most important thing" crap that stopped the Cavaliers from pulling a similar deal last year, when they had Wally Szczerbiak's expiring contract at their disposal). By all accounts, Jamison is a great guy and all his teammates love him. He has been able to connect with the Washington fans, and has apparently kept a volatile Wizards locker room from completely imploding. Plus, the Cavaliers need a little more veteran leadership. Right now, only Z (34), Anthony Parker (34) and Shaq (37) are older and more experienced than Jamison (33). Despite being in his 7th season (at age 25), LeBron still has some growing up to do (see: last year's Magic series with the handshake stuff).
Anywho, let's look at fun stuff, like potential lineups the Cavs could trot out if they grow a pair of testicles and pull of a trade for Jamison (and convince the Wizards to waive Z - I know I said I don't buy the chemistry stuff, but I can't imagine going for a title without Z in the middle).
In my dream, the Cavs playoff roster looks like this:
Starters: Mo Williams, Anthony Parker, LeBron James, Antawn Jamison, Shaquille O'Neal
Bench: Delonte West, Boobie Gibson, Jamario Moon, Jawad Williams, Leon Powe, Anderson Varejao, Zydrunas Ilgauskas. (Apologies to Danny Green and Darnell Jackson - in the future, guys.)
Killer roster, right? Hell and yes it is. Here are my favorite combos with this group:
Small ball: Mo, Delonte, AP, LeBron, Andy
Really small ball: Mo, Delonte, AP, Moon, LeBron
Deadeye shooters: Mo, Boobie, AP, LeBron, Jamison
Runners: Mo, Delonte, Moon, LeBron, Powe
Lockdown D: Delonte, AP, LeBron, Andy, Shaq
Big: Mo, LeBron, Jamison, Andy, Shaq (or Z)
Really Big: Mo, LeBron, Jamison, Shaq, Z
Really, Really Big: Mo, LeBron, Andy, Shaq, Z (ok that one is ridiculous)
Over 6'8": LeBron, Moon, Jamison, Jawad, Andy
I mean, that is sick. I hesitate to say unstoppable, but I think the Cavaliers would be the most well balanced team (the Lakers bench is weaker than people realize, I think, and the Hawks have the best top 6, but after that it's a crap shoot). Clearly having the most talented player on the planet helps.
So, Danny Ferry (or anyone working for the Cavaliers), if you stumble upon my humble blog, please please read this and consider the benefits of a Jamison deal not just for the Cavaliers and the city of Cleveland, but for Basketball.
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