Jamison’s Wizards Career Now Over

By Jesse Jones

Antawn Jamison came to Washington from Dallas in 2004 as a key player in the Wizards’ future plans.  Six years later, with a team in need of major changes, he has been traded to Cleveland.

Jamison was the most reliable player on the Wizards.  He was a double-double machine and averaged 20+ points in each of the last 3 seasons.  He was co-captain with Caron Butler, and did so much for the fans/city of DC.  His final words to the fans, “I love them more than they love me.”

However, Jamison is now getting into the back part of his career, and was looking to be able play on a contender.  Now he’s on the team with the best record in the league, the Cavaliers.

Not only did the team lose Jamison, but they traded recently acquired Drew Gooden to the Los Angeles Clippers as well.  Here’s how the trade shapes up:

Wizards Get:

1. Zydrunas Ilgauskas
2. Al Thornton
3. Cleveland’s first round pick

Cavaliers Get:

1. Antawn Jamison
2. Sebastian Telfair

Clippers Get:

1. Drew Gooden

The Wizards are now under the luxury tax, and with many expiring contracts to deal with (or not deal with) in the offseason, the team will have many options to weigh.

The sad part about this all, is even though the team is only 8 games out of the playoffs with 32 games left in the season, including tonight’s game against the Timberwolves, everybody knows the offseason has begun.

Wizards Update

By Jesse Jones

Just one day after Gilbert Arenas was suspended for the season without pay, new information leaked from the Arenas-Crittenton incident.  People who were inside the locker room said that Crittenton threw one of the guns Arenas put infront of his locker, and said he didn’t need any of his guns because he had his own.  Crittenton then proceeded to take out his own gun, load it, and cock it.  Well, if Arenas got suspended for putting unloaded guns infront of a locker, what should Javaris Crittenton get?  Maybe a ban from the league?  I think so.  Crittenton is denying the reports, and eventually David Stern will have the ultimate decision in this situation.

Back to the on-the-court action.

Last night the Washington Wizards played their first game without Arenas against the division leaders Orlando Magic.  Before the game, captain Antawn Jamison took the mic and apologized to the fans, asked for their support, and said that they would improve their play, especially at home.  That’s exactly what they did.  The Wizards pulled the upset, winning 104-97, getting their 12th win of the season.  Yes, 12th… Jamison scored 28 points and added 11 boards, Caron Butler added 23, Foye put up 20, and Haywood scored 18 to go along with 15 rebounds.  The team is now 12-22.

In other news, Mike Miller cut off all of his hair.

Personally, I liked his long hair.

Wizards Miss Great Opportunity On West Coast

Golden State Was The Only Team The Wizards Beat On A Four Game West Coast Trip

By Jesse Jones

The Washington Wizards just returned from a four game West Coast road trip.  The team only played one team with a winning record.  Good right? Wrong.  They went 1-3 on the trip, with their only win coming at Golden State.  In that game, Arenas dropped 45 points and 13 assists, Caron dropped 28 and 10 rebounds, and the team all together put in a very good performance.

The rest of the of the trip was a heartbreaker.  They lost two games in the final seconds (at Clippers, at Kings) and got blown out in Phoenix.  After a small stretch where the team went 4-1 and things looked like they were back to how they should be, the Wizards have dropped several close games and now sit at 8-17.

Something is wrong.

Arenas is getting out of his slump, but for some reason his free throw shooting in the clutch has been off par.  Caron hasn’t been the same playmaker we’ve seen the past two years, and the bench has been struggling to keep any momentum the starters have when they enter the game.

The two bright spots for the Wizards have been the play of Antawn Jamison and Brendan Haywood.

It’s hard to say if the team needs a change (a trade) or just better coaching.  However, it’s easy to say it needs to come soon or Washington is in for another unexpected, long season.

The Big Three Back in D.C.

By Ben Linton

Here’s a stat for you: The last time Gilbert Arenas, Antawn Jamison, and Caron Butler were all on the floor at the same time was April 1, 2007. Last night the Wizards’ big three made a statement that they can get it done by beating the Cavaliers 108-91 at Verizon Center. Only proving the point that if this team can stay healthy, they can be dangerous and return to their winning ways. The keyword is if.

In his first game this season, Antawn Jamison had a double-double with 31 points and 10 rebounds, as the Wizards (3-7) ended a six-game losing streak. He was truly missed when he didn’t play, and the Wizards looked like a completely different (and better) team on the floor with him in the game.

The return of Jamison helps everyone, but it mainly will help Arenas. This is one more person to take the pressure of Agent Zero, and it gives him one more person to pass to. Look for his assists and points to increase.

The Wizards are healthy and ready to go as they travel to Oklahoma City tomorrow to play the Thunder, a surprise team so far in the West.

Jamison Out 3-5 Weeks

By Jesse Jones

Suffering from a shoulder injury, Antawn Jamison will miss 3-5 weeks, about 8 games, which is consistent with the original diagnosis.  Jamison has a subluxation in his right shoulder, after an injury in a preseason contest against the Cavaliers, October 14.

The Wizards ended their preseason last night with a loss to Chicago.  They kick off the regular season next Tuesday at Dallas, followed by a visit to Atlanta October 30, and then opening the home season on Halloween against the Nets.

Scary News For the Wiz

By Jesse Jones

The other night in Cleveland, the Wizards and Antawn Jamison were met with some scary news.  Jamison has suffered a subluxation of his right shoulder.  In other words, he has sprained/dislocated a joint in his shoulder.  This is going to keep him out for the rest of the preseason, which is fine with me, and Jamison will be evaluated again next week.  Hopefully Jamison doesn’t miss too much of the regular season.