Jamison Not Expecting Cavs To Trade Him

For teams seeking cap space this summer, Antawn Jamison's $15MM+ expiring contract would be a valuable asset. For teams looking to make a title run, Jamison would be a valuable frontcourt piece, having posted 17.4 PPG and 17.9 PER for the Cavs this season. However, Jamison doesn't expect to be traded before the deadline, as he tells Tom Reed of the Cleveland Plain Dealer.

"Honestly, deep down inside, I don't want to go anywhere, and I don't feel like I'm going anywhere," Jamison said. "I enjoy playing with these guys. These guys are very receptive to what I tell them and what I do on the court."

When I examined Jamison as a trade candidate last week, I noted that the 35-year-old may be too valuable to the Cavs for the team to find a deal it likes. Cleveland is well-positioned to have a tremendous amount of cap space this offseason, and trading Jamison for a player under contract for multiple years would affect the club's flexibility.

Additionally, the Cavs seem more inclined to attempt a run at the playoffs rather than selling off players that can help in the short-term. Jamison has certainly been helping this month, averaging 22.0 PPG and 9.0 RPG in 11 February games (36.0 MPG). If the former Tar Heel continues playing well and the Cavs continue to believe they're postseason contenders, I think Jamison may be right — he'll remain in Cleveland past March 15th.

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