The early returns are good for the players the Wizards acquired in the last couple of weeks in trades involving Caron Butler, Antwan Jamison and Brendan Haywood. Al Thornton is playing the best basketball of the new guys so far. He has played in 3 games (0 starts) for the Wizards so far and he is averaging 30.3 minutes, 16.0 points, 4.3 rebounds, 0.7 assists, 1.0 steal and 1.7 blocked shots per game. Thornton is shooting 52.6% from the floor so far this season for the Wizards. Josh Howard has also played really well for the Wizards as he has played in 4 games (3 starts) in which he is averaging 22.8 minutes, 14.5 points, 3.3 rebounds and 1.0 assist per game. James Singleton is providing some muscle off the bench for the Wizards so far. He has played in 4 games (0 starts) for the Wizards so far and he is averaging 22.3 minutes, 7.0 points, 8.0 rebounds, 0.3 assists and 1.3 blocked shots per game. Quinton Ross had also pitched in off the bench for the Wizards playing in 4 games (0 starts) in which he is averaging 11.0 minutes, 4.0 points, 0.8 rebounds and 0.3 assists per game on 58.3% shooting from the floor. Emir Preldric is still in Europe and Zydrunas Ilgauskas is in Cleveland awaiting a buyout from the Wizards.

The Wizards have traded 24-year old small forward Dominic McGuire to the Kings for a future 2nd round pick. McGuire played in 41 games (0 starts) for the Wizards this season and he averaged 5.9 minutes, 0.7 points, 1.5 rebounds and 0.2 assists per game. In his three years with the Wizards, McGuire played in 190 games (58 starts) in which he averaged 15.8 minutes, 2.5 points, 3.3 rebounds and 1.3 assists per game. This is not much of a loss for the rebuilding Wizards.

The Wizards also got the draft rights to small forward Emir Preldrzic from the Cavs in the Antwan Jamison trade. Here is what was said about him when the Cavs acquired his rights from the Suns on Draft Night:

The Cavs bought Emir Preldzic from the Suns on draft night. The 21-year old small forward is a typical soft European player. He played in 156 games in five seasons in Europe and he averaged 8.1 points, 4.2 rebounds and 2.7 assists per game. Don’t expect him to make much of a impact for a long time….if at all.

So don’t get too excited about Preldzic as he is still playing overseas.

Sure, the Wizards traded a fan favorite in 33-year old Antwan Jamison but they had to go in a new direction. The Arenas/Jamison/Butler Wizards were fun to watch but they were never going to be a legit championship contender. With that in mind the Wizards made the best trade they could which will save them a ton of money. Jamison was to make $28 million bucks the next two years for the Wizards which is now off the books. The Wizards will likely buy out Zydrunas Ilgauskas saving them even more cash. But the two most important things in this particular trade was getting the first round pick and Al Thornton. Thornton is only 26 years old and he has had a solid career so far in the NBA. He played in 51 games (30 starts) for the Clippers this season and he averaged 27.5 minutes, 10.7 points, 3.8 rebounds and 1.2 assists per game. Thornton has now played in 201 games (128 starts) in his NBA career and he has averaged 30.9 minutes, 13.7 points, 4.6 rebounds and 1.3 assists per game. He will be a big part of the rebuilding process in Washington. .

Antawn Jamison is leaving the Washington Wizards in a three-team deal between the Wizards, Cleveland Cavaliers, and Los Angeles Clippers.  The Wizards are getting Zydrunas Ilguaskas and a first-round draft pick from the Cavs in return.  They also sent the recently acquired Drew Gooden to the Clippers, but they will be getting Al Thornton in return.  They also recently sent Caron Butler, DeShawn Stevenson, and Brendan Haywood to Dallas.  The Wizards seem to be clearing house and freeing up as much cap-space as they can with the big free agent class coming up this summer, which includes LeBron James, Dwayne Wade, Chris Bosh, Joe Johnson, Tracy McGrady, Jermaine O’Neal, Richard Hamilton, Ray Allen, and Stephen Jackson.  Al Thornton played more of a reserve role for the Clippers this season, averaging 10.7 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 1.2 assists while shooting 48% from the field in 28 minutes per game.  He should see more playing time with the Wizards and be one of their top players in the last half of the season.  The first-round draft pick from the Cavs will also help in the future, while Zydrunas Ilgauskas is a solid center who will contribute this season.  He has been the backup this season for the Cavs, averaging 7.5 points, 5.3 rebounds, 0.8 blocks, and 20.5 minutes while shooting 45% from the field but his contract expires this season.  Don’t expect many more wins for the Wizards this season though.