by Marcel Mutoni / @marcel_mutoni
Goodbye, Big Z; hello, Antawn! A five-player trade between Washington, Cleveland and the LA Clippers has been finalized.
When everyone had assumed that Amar’e Stoudemire was headed to Ohio, Danny Ferry nabbed Antawn Jamison instead from the rapidly decomposing Washington Wizards. And in the process, perhaps turned Cleveland into the favorite to win the title this season.
The trade has been confirmed on Twitter (where else?) by many, many, many, many, many media members: Zydrunas Ilgauskas, Al Thorton, plus a first round draft pick to Washington; Sebastian Telfair and Antawn to Cleveland; Drew Gooden to the Clippers (who will reportedly waive him.)
The total destruction of the team that used to be known as the Washington Wizards is nearly complete. The Pollins have traded away almost all of the core pieces of the team that went to the Playoffs four times in the last six years. Only Gilbert Arenas remains in DC, and no one expects him to be there much longer.
Cleveland not only landed Jamison — one of the best forwards in the L (averaging 20.5 ppg, 8.8 rpg) — but also keeps the ever improving JJ Hickson. Hats off to you, Danny Ferry.
OK, LeBron. You now have all the horses you need to win a championship. No more excuses.
