The Cleveland Cavaliers’ interest in Wizards forward Antawn Jamison is hardly a secret. It’s been rumored for months now, even going back to last season.
However, it’s been unclear who within the Cavaliers brass is pushing for acquiring Jamison. Now, via CBS Sportsline’s Ken Berger, we find out that it’s none other than LeBron James.
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.
Well, that makes sense. LeBron basically runs that team anyway, so this shouldn’t be a surprise. If you’re Danny Ferry, you basically have no leverage here. If you don’t do what LeBron wants, he’ll just go to New York, Miami or anywhere else in the offseason. LeBron knows this, so he’s exerting pressure on his GM to make a move that will help now, but might hurt later.
The Wizards want more than just salary relief for Jamison, which makes sense because Jamison is an all-star caliber player, but the Cavaliers are reluctant to trade J.J. Hickson. To that, I say, really? Really, Danny Ferry? You have the league’s best player, who could walk after the season, begging for help, and you’re not going to give it to him because of J.J. Hickson? No disrespect to Hickson, but when a guy like Jamison becomes available, you have to pull that trigger.