Ernie Grunfield, it’s time. Time to trade Antawn Jamison. The 4th pick of the 1998 draft has been great the past three seasons, but we need to shake things up. Jamison averaged a solid 20 points and 8 rebounds a game this season, but I’m sorry, the team must move on. During the playoffs while Gilbert Arenas and Caron Butler were hurt, Jamison did his best to keep the team afloat. The one-time all-star is a great scorer and without a doubt a great person, but I can’t see us winning a championship with our current roster, do you? Boston shook things up this year and it’s time for the Wizards to do the same.

The Washington Wizards are an offensive powerhouse. The team can score with anyone, ensuring every contest to be exciting and competitive. Last season the Wizards were fifth in offensive efficiency and second in points per game. The stands have stayed packed the past three seasons while the team lived and died by their offense, but the offense has yet to translate into playoff victories.

The Wizards are one of the worst defensive teams in the NBA. Able to light up the scoreboard, they give up almost as many as they score. Coach Eddie Jordan is desperate for effort and concentration on the defensive end. LeBron James tortured the team the past two post seasons. In 2005, Dwayne Wade and Shaquille O’Neal ran amok on our pitiful defense. Abe Pollin’s Wizards are in dire need of a defensive presence. Without a defensive game changer Washington will remain a middle-of-the-pack franchise. Yes, making the playoffs is great, but what have you done for me lately? Reaching the postseason is no longer good enough. Show Agent Zero we are serious about competing for a championship before he goes all Kobe Bryant on us.

Antawn Jamison is no longer what the Washington Wizards need. First things first, Jamison is a terrible defender. Not only a terrible defender, he has no desire to defend. Remember 2006 when he allowed LeBron’s game winning baseline drive in a momentum changing Game 3 in the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals at the Verizon Center? Did you watch the game he let Zach Randolph score the game winner in Washington this season? He didn’t even put his hands up. I do not hate Jamison, but he has no heart when it comes to making a big stop. At least foul… I cannot get that LeBron lay-up out of my head, I’m sorry. Everyone who has ever played organized basketball was taught to cut off the baseline, at least try… On the game winner against Zach Randolph you can’t even contest the shot?

Honestly, even if Jamison wanted to be a good defender, he no longer has it physically. At 31 Antawn’s tenure status is a hindrance not a benefit. His feet are not fast enough to stay in front of quicker guards and he is not physical enough to stop stronger post players. He is a terrible help side defender and probably gives up just as many points as he scores, taking away from his actual offensive production.

There is no guarantee the Washington Wizards will return to the playoffs next season. Talk out of Washington is the team held first place in the East at the All-Star break before being ravaged by injuries, suggesting no need for change. If you haven’t noticed, the Eastern Conference has taken a step forward. Not only will Miami be healthy this year, the Charlotte Bobcats added some firepower with Jason Richardson, the Orlando Magic did the same with the addition of Rashard Lewis, and that is just in our division (Southeast). Let’s not forget about Chicago, Detriot, and Boston. Gil promises a victory in Boston for KG’s home debut, but can he promise a victory in a 7 game series with this roster?

Wizards need not become complacent. Having Antwan Jamison in the last year of his contract at roughly 15 million dollars, Grunfield has an opportunity to receive something special back for the cap relief Jamison will bring at the end of the season. Ernie do not be afraid to pull the trigger like the Bulls’ John Paxson did with P.J. Brown’s expiring contract last season. Mmm… who is in need of cap relief and has a disgruntled athletic defensive power forward that would thrive in the Wizards running system? Well, I am glad you asked…

Do you think the Phoenix Suns would trade Shawn Marion for Antwan Jamison?

Probably not, but hear me out…

Have you ever witnessed a team so desperate to get under the cap? Phoenix gave two first round picks to Seattle just to dump Kurt Thomas’ salary! That is the dumbest move the world has ever seen. No… it’s second to the Dirk Nowitzki for Robert “Tractor” Trailor trade, but you get my point. The Suns traded away Jerome James and this year’s first round pick, Rudy Fernandez, to the Portland Trailblazers for a mere three million in cash. The last two years they gave away draft picks as well. General Manager Steve Kerr is frantically attempting to save money for owner Robert Sarver, the Suns would at least listen to what the Wizards had to offer. Jamison’s 15 million dollar contracts coming off the books saves the Suns 30 million dollars (15 million in contract dollars, 15 million in luxury tax).

Shawn Marion’s trade demand came after not recieving the lucrative extension he desires. Next summer Marion will definitely opt out of his contract, so the Suns better move fast at taking advantage of their commodity. Maybe if the Wizards threw in a draft pick or two along with Jamison. What if the Wizards offered Jamison, Etan Thomas/Brendan Haywood, and their 1st round pick of the 2010 draft for Shawn Marion and Marcus Banks. The Suns would get the cap relieve they have been searching for with Jamison, a much needed big man, a 1st round pick in a draft that they are without a top pick (the Suns traded theirs away to Seattle), and they could get rid of Marcus Banks and his four year deal. Steve Kerr would probably turn us down, but Ernie Grunfield has to make some sort of effort.

Next option:

Bring Andrei Kirilenko to the Wizards. Kirilenko wants out of Utah bad. If you think that his peace with Jerry Sloan is going to last all season you’re crazy. I wrote this piece on why AK47 should be traded before his trade request, explaining why he is a terrible fit in Utah and how he would thrive in the East.

Utah Jazz point guard Deron Williams is coming off a career season and will be entering the last year of his rookie contract. Surely Jazz owner Larry Miller would like to get some cap relief before signing Williams to the hefty deal necessary to keep him in Utah. After extending Williams’ deal, Jamison’s contract might leave enough room for the Jazz to go after a much needed shooting guard, say, Corey Maggette. The Clipper has already turned down an extension with his current team and let’s not forget he signed an offer sheet with the Jazz when he was a restricted free agent, but the Clippers matched it.

Larry Miller has a problem with airing his dirty laundry through the media. When the inevitable clash of Sloan and Kirilenko happens, do the Jazz really want this to play out in the media? The team already has enough problems convincing free agents to come to Utah. If Andrei continues to speak out about how difficult it is to play for Sloan that will only further hinder the chances of getting premier players in Utah.

Side note: Wouldn’t it be cool to have a guy named AK47 in a throwback Bullets jersey?

So Ernie, it’s time to roll the dice on Antwan. Portland gave away Zach Randolph for nothing, how about we not sit around and let another Western Conference All-Star slip through our fingers? It has been a long time since the Wizards had a chance to be elite. The only glory days I can recall is the Rod Strickland, Calbert Cheaney, Juwan Howard, Chris Webber, and George Muresan team that got swept by Jordan and the ‘98 Bulls. At 25, I have witnessed more bad trades and signings then I care to remember. From trading Webber to Sacramento for washed up Mitch Richmond, to the huge contract of Ike Austin(!), Kwame Brown, Sheed, Tom Gugliotta, and the whole “Jordan era.â€? The madness has got to stop. Don’t make us lose Gilbert too. I love Caron, but we need more. We need AK47, we need Shawn Marion, we needed Zach Randolph. Don’t waste the expiring deal like Jon Paxson of the Bulls did with P.J. Brown. Please, Ernie, trade Jamison’s contract for something special.