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Enemy Chatter: KG's been in Jamison's ear for 20 years

I often wonder what opposing teams, their beat reporters and bloggers are saying about the Celtics after playing the Celtics. Here's a dose of 'enemy chatter' from Cleveland.

In his 14 NBA seasons, Jamison has heard trash talk reduced to a whisper, he said. Big talkers such as John Starks and Charles Barkley are gone. Rabbit-eared referees are quicker with the whistles and technical fouls.

But no one squelches Garnett. The emotional Celtics center remains one of the best and most prolific yappers in the NBA. He can unnerve opponents and take them out of their games, Jamison said.

"KG plays a lot of mental games and he's good at it," Jamison said. "He will hold and grab and talk. There's times I've tried to talk with him, but I don't do it much anymore."

Garnett, 35, has been in Jamison's ear for nearly 20 years. Both players grew up in the Carolinas and faced each other on the AAU circuit. Jamison said Garnett is the same player he was as a kid. Cavaliers rookie Tristan Thompson, who idolizes Garnett, was given a full scouting report on the "shenanigans."

And what are these shenanigans?

"Nothing appropriate for the newspaper or the radio," said Jamison, who relishes the challenge of playing the future Hall-of-Famer. "Let's just say the 'bar fight' [rant] was a G-rating for him."

Cleveland.com

Poor Antawn Jamison. He's had to listen to Garnett yap for two decades. Then again, I've know John for 20 years, too. Poor me.

TA destroys Antawn Jamison

Jamison trade is worse than the Pau Gasol trade

A couple of years ago, everyone was going nuts over Pau Gasol going to the Lakers for his brother Marc, a few other guys and couple of first round picks (one of them still to be used this summer). 

But it turns out that Marc Gasol is a pretty good player and the deal wasn't a complete give-away.

But this Antawn Jamison deal is. 

Cleveland is giving up an almost 35-year-old Zydrunas Ilgauskas, a first round pick, and the rights for some second round pick we'll never see for Jamison.  Marc Gasol was a young big man with potential... so at least Memphis got something out of it. 

Plus... big Z's agent has already said he's going to ask for a buyout... which would free him up to return to Cleveland (or wherever he wanted to go).  The Wizards, unlike Memphis, are left with nothing but some cap space... and nothing to fill it with.

So the Cavs are giving up a guy who is clearly at the end of the road averaging 7 and 5 for an athletic forward who is dropping 20 and 9... and they might even get that first guy back. 

A couple of draft picks for a guy who could drop 20+ if he needed to... who can slide in and fill whatever role you need him to... who has the demeanor that allows him to fit into a new situation and give his new team the best chance to succeed after a shakeup in the locker room. 

Amare Stoudemire is a better player than Jamison... but he's not a better fit in Cleveland.  The Cavs just locked up the #1 seed... and maybe the championship... with that move. 

Jamison slides on into Cleveland the same way a stunt driver power slides into a parking spot.  Everything is in line... and suddenly this guy comes in from out of nowhere.  But despite the potential for a complete wreck, the end result will be everything falling in line.

The road to a championship is now all but guaranteed to go through Cleveland.  It's a move that should scare everyone in the East.  

Photo by Fernando Medina/NBAE via Getty Images

Cavs Get Antawn Jamison

Via Adrian Wojo of Yahoo! Sports:

The Cleveland Cavaliers have reached agreement on a six-player, three-team trade that lands them former All-Star forward Antawn Jamison, league sources with knowledge of the talks told Yahoo! Sports.

The Cavaliers are sending center Zydrunas Ilgauskas and a first-round pick to the Wizards. The Wizards also will receive Brian Skinner and Al Thornton from the Los Angeles Clippers. The Cavaliers will get point guard Sebastian Telfair from the Clippers. The Wizards will send Drew Gooden to the Clippers.

How much will Jamison help the Cavs? Like I tweeted earlier today, his minutes have to come from somewhere and it could mean less time for Andy Varajeo and JJ Hickson - two high energy guys who have been playing well.

As for the Celtics efforts to get Nate Robinson, Eddie House told the Globe's Gary Washburn: "Strong possibility I will be traded to New York tomorrow."

Your Morning Dump... Where Wojo Fires Back

Every morning, we compile the links of the day and dump them here... highlighting the big storyline. Because there's nothing quite as satisfying as a good morning dump.

This is how it goes. I break a story on the Celtics, Danny denies it and then everybody finds out it’s accurate. It’s also been confirmed by some other people out there. The story’s 100 percent accurate. They’ve talked. Danny’s thing was you can go back and perhaps talk to ownership or bring it to them, or that’s just what he said. But they’ve talked, names have been exchanged and it’s exactly how I portrayed it. I didn’t say it was imminent. I didn’t say it was about to happen. It’s exactly what happens this time of year, which is a trade discussion. Last week or 10 days ago when I said they’re shopping Ray Allen, and they said, ‘No, we’re not.’ Well, guess what? They’re shopping Ray Allen. This idea that they’re taking calls on Ray, it’s not accurate. Every GM in the league will tell you, they’re actively looking."

Adrian Wojnarowski on 98.5 The Sports Hub (via Boston.com)

It's a moot point now. Dallas is close to a deal with Washington for Caron Butler. Will the Celtics still have interest in Antawn Jamison? Maybe... but Steve Bulpett says Butler is the guy the Celts really want.

“Is this what the basis of All-Star Weekend is going to be like right here?” said Garnett, smiling and shaking his head after the first question about his physical state, and its effect on his game.

“I’m good, man,” he said. “New things and revelations that come to you make you stronger. With my injury I’ve acquired some patience and understanding in my body. But it’s still driving ahead 100 percent.

“I’ll speak one time about my health,” he said to another question. “It’s great. I’m happy to be here in the game, and other than that I’m not going to make this weekend about my leg.

Herald - KG's Knee Deep in Media Focus

The questions about KG's knee will cease, once he plays like it's no longer bothering him.

On Page 2, Rondo has some fun with reporters.

Butler going to Dallas, Jamison still possible

Everyone was buzzing today about a potential Caron Butler, Antawn Jamison trade... but Butler is almost definitely going to Dallas for Josh Howard.

But.... he says Boston is still interested in Antawn... in what he calls a scaled down deal.

Quite honestly, I don't know how that will work.  He's making $11 million.  I don't see how "scaled down" the deal can get and have salaries still work.

.....

Meanwhile, my T-Mobile-sponsored trip to the All Star game currently has me in St. Louis.  I will miss Rookie-Sophomore game, since I'm not getting into Dallas unitl 8:30 local time (9:30 ET).  Thank God for WiFi.

Rumor: Celts, Wizards Talking Blockbuster Deal

Via Adrian Wojo of Yahoo! Sports:

In a dramatic move that would resuscitate their fading championship hopes, the Boston Celtics are discussing a deal with the Washington Wizards for forwards Antawn Jamison(notes) and Caron Butler(notes), league sources told Yahoo! Sports on Friday.

The proposed deal would send the expiring contracts of Ray Allen(notes), Brian Scalabrine(notes) and J.R. Giddens(notes) to the Wizards, a move that would signal the start of Washington’s rebuilding process.

The trade isn’t imminent, but talks have progressed and Celtics GM Danny Ainge has positioned his organization to make one of the boldest trade deadline moves in years. For the Celtics, ownership would have to agree to take on an additional $24 million in salary next season between Jamison and Butler. Jamison makes more than $15 million in 2011-12, but most owners are discounting those salaries because of an assumption that there will be a labor lockout and some, if not all, of that money will never be paid to the players.

Holy crap!

Antawn Jamison is a class act

The Washington Wizards have a lot of work to do to repair their image... and it got off to a great start with Antawn Jamison's pregame speech last night.

The Wizards are better off without Gilbert Arenas in so many ways.  Good riddance.

The Game Changer

The Cleveland Cavaliers are making a push for Antawn Jamison. It's a deal that might dump Wally Szczerbiak's expiring contract in exchange for instant, no-doubt-about-it favorite status.

I'm not going to say it will be "game over" if Cleveland gets Jamison, but they'll clearly move ahead of everyone else if they do.  They're playing out of their minds right now, they've got Mo Williams playing some of the best ball of his life.  Delonte West, who was playing great before his injury, is coming back in the not-too-distant future.  And to improve things with a #2 option as potent as Jamison could simply be too much for opposing teams to handle.

The only potential saving grace is that we don't know how LeBron will react to being the favorite.  It might be the rest of the leagues only hope that he will crumble a little under that kind of pressure.  I would highly doubt it though.

And not only would getting Jamison be a game changer for this season, it could have a ripple effect for years.  If they DO get Jamison... and if they DO win the NBA title... then why would LeBron leave in 2010?  Why wouldn't he just try to re-up and ride this wave for as long as he could?  Why would he leave all that to go to a team that is clearly at the bottom floor and building around him all over again?

The Wiz say they're not looking to dump Jamison's salary.  I hope they're being sincere.  Because I think a trade for Jamison would have an effect for them that rivals the effect the Kevin Garnett trade had for us.

Don't Overlook Washington

Three days off  + 4-15 team + New Orleans (and the return of James Posey) tomorrow could = let down tonight.  It's not that I expect it... but the ingredients are there.   They did beat Detroit 2 nights ago.

They still have Caron Butler.  They still have Antawn Jamison.  Both are averaging more than 20 points per game.  Andray Blatche is wildly inconsistent, but is capable of a double double.  Again... I don't expect it to happen, but it wouldn't shock me, either.

As for tomorrow, James Posey is excited about it.

I’m really excited for the trip; I’m going to be getting my championship ring. That’s the reason why I play this game, why we all play this game: to have an opportunity to win a championship. It really meant a lot to me to have a chance to win a title in Boston, because of all the tradition surrounding the franchise. It’s pretty surreal to now be associated with and mentioned in the same breath as Bill Russell, Bob Cousy, John Havlicek, Larry Bird, and the list goes on and on. To be thought of as a player on that team when people look up and see the banner that reads “BOSTON CELTICS 2008 WORLD CHAMPIONS,” that’s something really special. It will be good to see all my former teammates as well. I keep in touch with KG (Kevin Garnett) and Sam (Cassell) all the time, and Doc (Rivers) and I text message each other all the time too.

Tip o' the hat to Jess Camerato for finding Posey's blog.  She also found out that the Celtics have the highest total attendance in the Eastern Conference so far this year.

Examiner:  Celtics start is the same, Ray Allen isn't |  Herald:  Thorn sharpened |  C's-Wizards scouting report |  Globe:  Play points to Rondo having a Star chance |  Carmelo Anthony drops record 33 in 3rd quarter alone |  Souza:  Christmas will bring an LA gift | Ball Don't Lie:  Buy the jersey Darko ripped off his chest |  Heart ailment forces Mobley retirement |  Cavs win 10th straight |  Chris Paul:  15 pts, 15 assists