This was the right deal all along for the Cavs.
They didn’t have to give up J.J. Hickson(notes). They’ll likely get Ilgauskas back. And they get a forward who can space the floor for LeBron and Shaq. Amar’e Stoudemire(notes) is the better talent; he’s younger, longer, more athletic. But he wasn’t the better trade. All season long, the Cavs have been looking for a forward with deep range, and Jamison ranks among the best. He’ll be 34 in June and he has $28 million coming to him over the next two seasons. Some people call that “cost certainty.” Others have a different name for it: “bad contract.” Still, Cavs owner Dan Gilbert is willing to pay whatever it takes to bring a winner to Cleveland and convince LeBron to re-sign. The problem? It’s been said LeBron, at least initially, preferred a trade for Stoudemire. So if Jamison doesn’t work out, if the Cavs fall short of the NBA Finals, LeBron can always wag his finger, say “I told you so,” and hop a jet to New York. The Wizards, as with their other two trades, were in cost-cutting mode, something they should have considered before they handed $111 million to the goofball guard coming off two knee surgeries.
Thanx to Johnny Ludden
