Le Basketbawl

The “Washington Post” has reported that Washington Wizards veteran Zydrunas Ilgauskas returned to Cleveland on Friday night. The center who is now in his twelfth season in the NBA was acquired by the Wizards in the three team deal with the Cleveland Cavaliers and Los Angeles Clippers that sent big man Antawn Jamison to the Cavaliers. According to reports Ilguaksas has told the team that he does not want to play for them and would like to be bought out of his contract. There has been speculation that if Ilgauskas does become a Free Agent before March 1, he would wait the required 30 days and then re-sign with Cleveland.

New York Vinnie has noticed over the past couple of days some grumbling going on as if Cleveland is trying to pull some kind of Frickin scam by resigning their former center. This practice goes on every year or at least could if situations call for it. The Cavaliers are not doing a thing wrong; and if any team is trying to insinuate they are that is just Frickin sour grapes.

Well if the Phoenix Suns do trade big man Amar’e Stoudemire before the NBA Trade Dead Line of  Thursday at 3:00pm EST it will not be to the Cleveland Cavaliers. The Cavaliers and Phoenix have broken off talks that would have sent the All-Star to Cleveland in exchange for veteran Zydrunas Ilgauskas and second year big man J.J. Hickson. Thursday the “Washington Post“  reported that the Cleveland Cavaliers have acquired Washington Wizards veteran big man Antawn Jamison for the stretch run in a three team deal that also included the Los Angeles Clippers.

 Cleveland will send veteran center Zydrunas Ilgauskas and their first round pick in the 2010 NBA Draft to the Wizards. The Wizards will send Jamison to Cleveland and veteran forward Drew Gooden to the Clippers and Los Angeles will send forward Al Thornton to Washington and guard Sebastian Telfair to the Cavaliers to complete the deal.

Cleveland had been in discussions with the Suns for the last several days about the Cavaliers picking up Phoenix All-Star Amar’e Stoudemire before the NBA trade deadline. Cleveland reportedly had a deal on the table that would have sent Phoenix the veteran center Ilgauskas along with Hickson; a second year player that the Cavaliers really did not want to lose. The deal that they completed will still give the team an elite big man without having to lose Hickson a player the team believes has great upside. Instead Cleveland will give up their Number One pick in the upcoming NBA Draft a selection that should be at or near the end of the first round. 

The deal is the second major trade for the Wizards and the Clippers in less than a week. Saturday the Wizards completed a seven player deal with the Dallas Mavericks that sent Dallas forward Caron Butler, center Spencer Haywood and guard DeShawn Stevenson in return for Josh Howard, Drew Gooden, James Singleton and Quinton Ross. Tuesday the Clippers sent veteran big man Marcus Camby to the Portland Trail Blazers to fill the pivot spot for them for the rest of the season. The Blazers traded guard Steve Blake and forward Travis Outlaw to the Clippers for the veteran who is the second leading rebounder in the NBA this year. Reports are also that the Trail-Blazers also sent Los Angeles $1.5 million and will pay Camby $2 million in incentives for the rest of the season.

The trade gives Cleveland a proven talent in Jamison that along with reigning NBA MVP LeBron James and veteran center Shaquille  O’Neal gives the club a very formidable front line. Jamison now in his twelfth season in the Association has averaged 20.5 points and 8.8 rebounds per game this season for the Wizards. There is speculation that Washington could waive the veteran Ilgauskas which would then allow him 30 days after he clears waivers  to sign a deal with the Cavaliers for the rest of the season.

In many ways New York Vinnie sees this deal as a better fit for Cleveland than the trade with Phoenix would have been. The Cavaliers will have Jamison under contract for the next two seasons which should be enough to alleviate any lingering doubts that Cavaliers star LeBron James would have about signing an extension with Cleveland this Summer. They also get to hold onto a player they really like in Hickson and most likely will not be giving up a whole lot with the draft pick.

The deal gives James a veteran running mate for two seasons after this and if Jamison does decide that this is indeed his final contract it will open up  a salary slot that could bring in another quality player.

Sunday night after the New Orleans Saints won Super Bowl Number 44; New York Vinnie thought  about all the teams over the past few years that have finally broken through and won the Championship of their Sport after being ridiculed for years. The NFL not only has the Saints but the New England Patriots and Tampa Bay Buccaneers who did what at one time folks thought would be impossible. In Baseball we have witnessed the Red Sox win two World Series Titles and the White Sox also copped one. But there is still one city that has suffered for Frickin decades; longer than even New York Vinnie has been on this Planet.

That of course is the city of Cleveland, Ohio who have a Frickin rabid fan base for all their Pro Teams and who are always waiting until next year. During the Nineties The Cleveland Indians wennt from the Frickin sewer to the top of the American League and made it to the “Big Show” twice but could not get the Frickin ring.

Cleveland Browns fans are just Frickin nutsy-cuckoo; there is just no other Frickin reason to explain their devotion to a franchise that is truly a Frickin joke or a nightmare dependant on your perspective. This team that plays in Cleveland is not even really the Frickin “Real Browns“ as that team moved to Baltimore and became the Ravens in 1995. Browns Team Owner Randy Lerner is as Frickin clueless as New York Vinnie’s “BOYS” Team Owner James “EL DOUCHE” Dolan. They are now like on their newest management team in 11 years; New York Vinnie believes this may be number 37.

However there is one team in  the city of Cleveland that could actually end the Frickin drought that goes all the way back to 1964. That of course would be the Cleveland Cavaliers who have won their last 11 games despite the fact that they have had neither of the team’s two point guards for the last 8 contests.  The “News-Herald” is reporting that the Cavaliers will most likely not make any moves before the NBA Trading Deadline which is on February 18.

The rumors out of Cleveland are the only way the team is going to make a move is if they could acquire Washington Wizards forward Antawn Jamison. New York Vinnie thinks that Cleveland General Manager Danny Ferry is doing the right thing. This team has the best record in all of the Frickin NBA; why would you mess with that?

Now; if you can bring in a Jamison or Carlos Boozer that would be making you a better team. But reports out of Indiana are that the Pacers are looking for the Frickin  Sun and the Moon for Troy Murphy; that is not going to be worth it for the Cavaliers. Iguodala is not what this team needs; they need a quality power-forward what they term recently as a “stretch-four.” So if you can’t make the team better why make a move at all? If its not broke; don’t fix it, right?

As of Monday February 8, the Cleveland Cavaliers are playing the best ball in the NBA. Sometimes when you make that one pass too many you throw the ball away. Unless the club can get something that puts them a lot closer to the basket they should take their shot with the team they have.

Washington Wizards forward Antawn Jamison is getting pretty Frickin tired of talking about his suspended teammate Gilbert Arenas. The veteran told the “Associated Press” that he really does not want to have the main Frickin topic of conversation every time he is being approached by a member of the media. New York Vinnie is starting to wonder if the forward will make it to the end of the season with the club. Last month there were rumors that Jamison could be traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers and with the recent events those rumors could be a lot more credible now than they were in December.

Jamison told reporters that he just wants to move onto another subject. The veteran said “It’s been going on too long; long enough. We’re definitely sick of it, too much negative publicity, and I think guys are just to the point where we just want to get some positive publicity and turn things around and start winning some games, start having fun. We haven’t had fun in a while, so my New Year’s resolution is just to have fun, go out there and play hard and do everything possible to start winning.”

Arenas may have given his teammates one more gift before he was suspended by Commissioner David Stern Wednesday. Unfortunately this was a gift that would be about as appreciated as getting a Frickin Social Disease! In the last game that Arenas played in which was in Philadelphia Tuesday during the pregame introductions when Gilbert was introduced he made believe he was Frickin Bat Masterson shooting at his teammates.

A photographer got the image on film showing Jamison and other Wizards teammates laughing at the gesture. However the veteran said that Arenas did that on his own without telling anybody. Jamison said “You think we’re going to initiate something serious like that? If you know me, you shouldn’t ask that question. A lot of guys didn’t see that happening. I know you see the photo and you see a certain image, but that photo doesn’t justify the way guys viewed the whole situation. Once again, it’s just another use of poor judgment.”

The report goes onto say that some of the Wizards players may be in trouble for laughing; and if that is the Frickin case than New York Vinnie thinks that would be Crapolla! Arenas was playing the Frickin Fool and some guys Frickin laughed? The NBA is not a Frickin prison! What were they supposed to do go “Tsk, Tsk” and look upset and wave their fingers at him? These are Frickin athletes not librarians!

There could be a deal in the works that would benefit the Wizards, Jamison and the Cleveland Cavaliers. There has been speculation since before Christmas that Jamison could be traded to the Cavaliers for Zydrunas Ilgauskas whose contract expires at the end of this season. That move would give Washington some big time flexibility next summer when the Free Agent Class will have some incredible players making themselves available.

If the Cavaliers can pull off a deal to pick up Washington Wizards forward Antawn Jamison they would have a starting line-up with four NBA All-Stars in it as Jamison would join point Mo Williams, center Shaquille O’Neal and of course the “Chosen One” reigning NBA MVP LeBron James. It could also arguably give them the best team in the entire NBA.

For the Cavaliers it not only increases their odds of winning the NBA Championship this season; it would also give LeBron James even more incentive to sign with Cleveland for another tour of duty. Every time you strengthen the team it only gives James another reason to stay with the Cavaliers.

The Wizards will not be going anywhere this year and Jamison could get himself an NBA Championship ring with Cleveland. The Wizards have probably reached the point of having to start back at square one. If Cleveland can pick up Antawn Jamison this team has the chance to be “Frickin Scary Good!”

As most people who follow the NBA expected  the Cleveland Cavaliers have been one of the elite teams so far in the 2009-2010 season. Heading into their contest Sunday night in Dallas when they will go up against the Mavericks the Cavaliers have a record of 20–7; which is the second best  record in the NBA Eastern Conference as they and Orlando a team that has the same record as Cleveland and they trail just the Boston Celtics in the Conference. They also have the third best record in the league behind the Celtics and the current leader in the NBA the Los Angeles  Lakers. 

So as we head into the final days of the year 2009 the Cavaliers have to be very pleased where they are currently and have no plans to alter their current roster, correct? Well according to the “Cleveland Plain Dealer” Sunday that might not be necessarily so. The team according to reports feel they could use an upgrade at the power forward slot and have been kicking around some names they may try to acquire before the NBA Trading deadline ends in February.

The Cavaliers currently have two players who play the bulk of the minutes at the four; veteran Anderson Varejao and current starter J.J. Hickson who is in his second year in the NBA. Although both players do bring positives to the team; their lack of consistency is troubling to the Cleveland Brain-Trust. So according to reports the Cavaliers are exploring the possibility of making a move for an upgrade at that position.

The reports on Sunday mention three possible players that Cleveland may be interested in pursuing. After seeing the three names; New York Vinnie is unimpressed with one of the players and feels hinky about the second. However if they could make a deal to pick up the third player; he would not only help them this year but make them  a team to watch out for in the next few seasons.

Okay let’s get rid of the Flotsam and Jetsam first and that would be Indiana Pacers forward Troy Murphy.  New York Vinnie as always will be honest with you; Troy Murphy is a better than average player but he is not somebody you look at and say that this is the guy that will put us over the top. Murphy does have a career scoring average of 11.8 points per game but he has no sense of urgency on the defensive end. New York Vinnie would not make a deal to pick up Troy Murphy for the Cavaliers.

 The second player named in the report has a huge upside however he could be a “True Problem Child.” The only reason that New York Vinnie is willing to give this young man the benefit of the doubt is the team he is on and the coach he is playing for seem to be filled with players that are very dissatisfied. Golden State Warriors second year player Anthony Randolph has the physical tools to be a possible NBA All-Star one day. The question is does he have the proper mind-set and inner discipline to get to that level? Randolph is in Warriors head coach Don Nelson’s dog-house; however it seems like almost every player on the roster has been at one time or another. The problem may not be the players it may be time for Nellie to take off to his home in Paradise and leave the NBA for younger men. Bottom line Randolph could be a steal or a bust; the jury is still out. 

Now the third player on the list could be  the player that takes Cleveland to the next level; and barring injury could  have this club celebrating their first NBA Tittle in the team’s history. If the Cavaliers can pull off a deal to pick up Washington Wizards forward Antawn Jamison they would have a starting line-up with four NBA All-Stars in it as Jamison would join point Mo Williams, center Shaquille O’Neal and of course the “Chosen One” reigning NBA MVP LeBron James. It could also arguably give them the best team in the entire NBA.

The Wizards have gotten off to a terrible start and their have been rumors that Jamison and Caron Butler are on the block. The question is does Cleveland have enough for the Wizards to make the deal? Now one thing they do have is an expiring contract in veteran center Zydrunas Ilgauskas which would give Washington some big time flexibility next summer when the Free Agent Class will have some incredible players making themselves available.

For the Cavaliers it not only increases their odds of winning the NBA Championship this season; it would also give LeBron James even more incentive to sign with Cleveland for another tour of duty. Every time you strengthen the team it only gives James another reason to stay with the Cavaliers.

So New York Vinnie says that the Cavaliers should make this deal; anybody except for James or Mo Williams should  be made available. If Cleveland can pick up Antawn Jamison this team has the chance to be “Frickin Scary Good!”

This was the season that things  were going to turn positive again for the Washington Wizards. After suffering for the last couple of seasons Wizards the team’s star guard Gilbert Arenas is finally pain free and starting to get back to the player that caused so many opponents headaches when he was at his best. Unfortunately the team is still doing far lees than even mediocre with a 7-16 record.

 Asked by a reporter how he would have responded if he had been told before the year started how poorly the Wizards would kick off the season the veteran was visibly dis-pleased. He responded “I would’ve laughed. I would’ve said, How many people got hurt?”

Washington has lots of talented players on their club starting with their three stars Arenas, Antawn Jamison and Caron Butler. Now Jamison did miss a chunk of time at the beginning of the season, however the injuries excuse has gotten old for fans of the team. They have seen what this club is capable of when running smoothly and they want to see them perform like that again.

The “Washington Post” asked the veteran guard if he feels  any  pressure this season. Arenas fired back “It’s only pressure whenever somebody mentions my name, they mention one-eleven. They don’t just call me a basketball player. They put a number behind it, like that defines who I am. There is no pressure playing the game of basketball. I’m a basketball player. I haven’t played this game in two years. I haven’t been in situations where I get to take game-winners. I can’t take game-winners in practice. I can’t shoot free throws in practice that simulates the game. There’s no crowd. There’s no nothing, so I’m learning as I go. I’m getting back and feeling the vibe again. People don’t understand that. It’s like, if you’re a bodybuilder and you stop lifting for two years, then go back in there and try to lift 400 pounds, you’ll break your arm. I’m happy where I am. I see progress (23) games into the season. I know where I need to be.”

Arenas although just shooting at about 40% from the floor has had a  season average of 21.0  points and 6.9 assists per game. Yet this team that  looked like a safe bet to make the NBA playoffs this season is on pace to  be Lottery bound. Rumors have been floating around the last couple of weeks that All-Star forward Caron Butler may be on the trading block. If that is the case any realistic hopes of this team ending the season with a winning record and making the Post Season would drop radically.

The Wizards back in the middle of the decade looked like they were on the verge of being a perennial power in the NBA Eastern Conference. Unfortunately it is looking more likely that their legacy will be as “The Greatest Team That Almost Was.”

Even before New York Vinnie writes a word of this column I realize all the grief and heat that I am going to take for the stand I am going to take. New York Vinnie will get e-mails saying that I am twisted and Frickin sick and my priorities are all messed up. That is fine New York Vinnie has very broad shoulders and you can throw a lot of Crappolla on my back and I will be strong enough to stand it!

New York Vinnie does not always follow conventional Frickin wisdom; I have my own mind and my own set of values. New York Vinnie is not some lemming who follow the Frickin crowd; I go by what my brain and my heart tell me not what society thinks is the correct way to act.

A wise man told New York Vinnie many years ago that there are two kinds of mistakes a person can make; a mistake that is caused by trying too hard or a mistake a person can make by not trying hard enough. He then went on to tell New York Vinnie something that has stuck with me for the rest of my life. He said he could always for give someone for making a mistake by trying too hard but a mistake that is created by not trying hard enough is unforgivable.

Those are words to live by as far as New York Vinnie is concerned; you make a mistake because you are trying too hard New York Vinnie will pat you on the back. However if you make a mistake by giving too little effort than New York Vinnie is going to call you what you are; a lousy Scumbago. You don’t show any effort that means that you lack pride. And if you do not have pride you are Frickin worthless.

Friday night the Washington Wizards  lost a game to the Indiana Pacers by the score of 102-86. It was a game that the Wizards could have won had they exerted themselves instead of just going through the motions. Washington played the game with no heart and no passion and it showed in their lack of effort on the hardwood. Wizards All-Star forward Antawn Jamison injured his right shoulder during the preseason and has had to start the regular season on the injured list.

Jamison is a big time competitor and there is no doubt he is chomping at the bit to get back on the floor. However it is one thing to be frustrated because you can not play quite another if your anger is caused by a half-hearted effort by your teammates. According to the “Washington Post” Jamison let his teammates know his displeasure in the locker room in no uncertain terms. Reports say that Jamison could heard screaming and cursing in the hallway outside the team’s locker room. When reporters entered the room they saw that Jamison had also taken the fruit tray provided for the team and had thrown it off the table. There were reports of fruit, candy and pieces of the broken tray all over the floor.

Now New York Vinnie knows that lots of sports fans are going to think that Jamison blew the whole thing out of proprtion and overreacted. Not New York Vinnie though; I applaud Jamison for getting so fired up and hopefully he has inspired his teammates to play better. Every once in a while you have to speak out when you are disgusted by what you see around you; and to New York Vinnie this was one of those times. Antawn Jamison is the kind of player that New York Vinnie would want on his team; a guy who is unwilling to put up with a lack of effort.