Antawn Jamison(notes), John Salmons(notes), Drew Gooden(notes), and Darko Milicic(notes) were among the players to change addresses on Wednesday.
• A three-team trade has brought Antawn Jamison to Cleveland. In the deal, the Cavs also acquired Sebastian Telfair(notes) from the Clippers; Washington received Zydrunas Ilgauskas(notes), Al Thornton(notes), a 2010 first-round pick from Cleveland, and the rights to 2009 second-rounder Emir Preldzic(notes); and the Clippers receive Drew Gooden.
The Cavs’ depth chart doesn’t change much. Jamison will take over for J.J. Hickson(notes) at power forward, while Anderson Varejao(notes) will absorb the excess playing time at center. Telfair’s salary was necessary to facilitate the deal but he probably won’t see the court at all, particularly with Mo Williams(notes) about to return from his shoulder injury. In general this is a slight downgrade for Jamison (less usage), a downgrade for Hickson (back to the bench), and that’s the extent of it.
Although the weather is better, Gooden probably won’t be much happier with the Clippers than he was during his brief stint with the Wizards. He’s a candidate to be bought out, as the Clips have no shot at the playoffs, but he also could be in line for some playing time at power forward if the team opts to keep him around. While we’re on the subject: DeAndre Jordan(notes) got the start at power forward for the Clips Wednesday night (27 minutes, 5 points, 4 boards, 1 block, 6 fouls) – he has intriguing boards+blocks potential but seems a poor fit alongside Chris Kaman(notes) and at the four. There are worse speculative adds at this point, but don’t bank on a full-fledged breakout while Kaman is the team’s starting center.
Here’s your new, new-look Washington Wizards:
PG: Randy Foye(notes), Earl Boykins(notes), Mike James(notes), Gilbert Arenas(notes)
SG: Mike Miller(notes), Nick Young(notes), Quinton Ross(notes)
SF: Josh Howard(notes), Al Thornton, Dominic McGuire(notes)
PF: Andray Blatche(notes), James Singleton(notes)
C: JaVale McGee(notes), Fabricio Oberto(notes)
If Wednesday night was any indication, then Andray Blatche (33 points, 13 boards, 2 steals, 1 block) deserves universal ownership consideration and JaVale McGee (14 points, 11 boards, 1 steal, 5 blocks) needs to be most fantasy radars. There is plenty of usage available for the taking here, and the Wizards have nothing to lose when it comes to letting players work through growing pains. Howard came off the bench Wednesday but that should change fairly quickly. Miller and Howard are suddenly the vets on this team and should be in a position to assert themselves moving foward. Thornton will back up both forward positions but isn’t in any more of a position to succeed here than he was in Los Angeles (plus, he’s still the same player).
• Reports are that the Bulls have agreed to trade John Salmons to the Bucks for Hakim Warrick(notes) and Francisco Elson(notes). I do expect Salmons to start in Milwaukee, and my guess is that it’s ahead of Charlie Bell(notes) at shooting guard, so this should be an upgrade for his fantasy owners. Warrick could see some minutes for the Bulls if Tyrus Thomas(notes) is dealt, but his shortcomings are well-established and he won’t be looking at major minutes in almost any circumstance.
• The Knicks have traded Darko Milicic to the Timberwolves for Brian Cardinal(notes), a move that clears luxury tax savings for the Knicks and also a roster spot, as they are expected to waive Cardinal. As for Darko, who plans to return to Europe at the end of the season, the T-Wolves actually have plans for him. David Kahn, Minnesota’s president of basketball operations, had this to say:
"There’s a lot of enthusiasm among our coaches. Let’s see
what he can bring. Even if he ends up
returning to Europe, I hope he wants to end his NBA career on a positive note.
In our situation, he’ll play."
Keep in mind that this is a team that is currently starting Ryan Hollins(notes) [game log] at center, so it’s not out of the realm of possibility that Darko does carve out a role with his new team.
• For a complete wrap of the latest trade buzz, click here.
Notes from Wednesday’s games:
• Jarrett Jack(notes) was a -25 in 18 minutes of the overtime loss to the Grizzlies, turning in a minuscule line (2 points, 2 assists). Meanwhile, Jose Calderon(notes) played 35 minutes and had one of his best games as a reserve (12 points, 2 threes, 6 boards, 9 assists). The discrepancy in playing time and production is noteworthy, but this needs to happen a few more times before we start doing anything like speculating on role changes.
• Dwight Howard’s(notes) massive line (33 points, 17 boards, 7 blocks) pushed his averages over the past 15 games to 22.1 points on 61-percent shooting, 14.2 boards, and 3.6 blocks.
• Tim Duncan(notes) posted quite a bizarre line. He made just four of 23 shots, grabbed 26 boards – including 11 offensive – and didn’t go to the free throw line once. He also added five assists, two turnovers, two steals, and two blocks in 34 minutes … DeJuan Blair(notes) owners take note: Matt Bonner(notes) was in the starting five, although he played just 13 minutes (3 points, 1 three, 2 boards).
• Joakim Noah(notes) (plantar fasciitis) missed another game, paving the way for Brad Miller(notes) to take advantage of a stellar matchup with the Knicks (37 minutes, 21 points, 2 threes, 10 boards). Noah hopes to play Thursday, although the team is not going to push him.
• Chris Duhon(notes) scored two points on 1-of-5 shooting, and he’s scored in double-figures once in the past 18 games. During that time, he’s averaged 7.7 points on 35-percent shooting, 1.4 threes, 6.2 assists, and 1.8 turnovers in 33 minutes.
• Dwyane Wade(notes) played just seven minutes before aggravating a nagging left calf injury. He said he felt a little pop after he collected a rebound, took two steps, and then had to be helped from the court. He left the arena in a walking boot and will remain with the team as it stays on the road for games Friday and Saturday. He’ll undergo an MRI after the team returns to Miami if things haven’t improved dramatically by then. Daequan Cook(notes) played 35 minutes (11 points, 2 threes, 5 boards, 1 steal) and likely will fill in for Wade for as long as he’s sidelined. D-Wade owners, keep your fingers crossed here.
• Make a note of it: Luke Ridnour(notes) (34 minutes, 12 points, 6 assists, 0 turnovers) saw significantly more playing time than Brandon Jennings(notes) (20 minutes, 13 points, 2 assists, 4 turnovers) for the second consecutive game.
• You can scratch that talk of a platoon between Brendan Haywood(notes) and Erick Dampier(notes) for at least a few weeks. Damp had finger surgery Wednesday and is out indefinitely. Meanwhile, Haywood had 10 points, nine boards, and five blocks in 34 minutes in the 107-97 win over the Suns.
• C.J. Watson(notes) went absolutely nuts while Monta Ellis(notes) (knee) sat out his third consecutive game, scoring a career-high 40 points and adding two threes, seven boards, six assists, and two steals in 43 minutes. Ellis is officially day-to-day but is expected to miss another week … Corey Maggette(notes) sat out the second half with a sore left hamstring.
• Baron Davis(notes) sat out the Clippers’ loss to the Hawks with a sore back. Steve Blake(notes) got the start without having practiced with his new team, and had three points, nine assists, and three turnovers in 32 minutes.
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