The Wizards are likely going to trade 33-year old power forward Antwan Jamison next week. The Wizards better make sure they at least get one talented young player back for him. Jamison has played in 41 games (all starts) for the Wizards this season and he is averaging 38.9 minutes, 20.5 points, 8.8 rebounds, 1.3 assists and 1.1 steals per game. Jamison still has a lot of game left but the Wizards would like to get out of his contract as he has two more years worth around $28 million bucks left on it.

With Brendan Haywood off to the Mavericks in tonight’s trade it appears as if 23-year old Andray Blatche will be the new starting center for the Wizards. He has played in 49 games (4 starts) for the Wizards this season and he is averaging 21.9 minutes, 8.9 points, 5.0 rebounds and 1.1 assists per game. Blatche has now played in 287 games (68 starts) for the Wizards in his career and he is averaging 18.5 minutes, 7.1 points, 4.5 rebounds and 1.1 assists per game. I’m anxious to see how well Blatche plays because he has a boatload of talent.

The Wizards have traded 29-year old small forward Caron Butler, 30-year old center Brendan Haywood and 28-year old shooting guard DeShawn Stevenson to the Mavericks for 29-year old SG/SF Josh Howard, 28-year old PF/C Drew Gooden, 27-year old SG/SF Quinton Ross and 28-year old power forward James Singleton. Butler played in 47 games (all starts) for the Wizards this season and he averaged 39.4 minutes, 16.9 points, 6.7 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.5 steals per game. Haywood was having the best season of his NBA career for the Wizards this season. He played in 49 games (48 starts) for the Wizards this season and he averaged 32.9 minutes, 9.8 points, 10.3 rebounds, 0.4 assists and 2.1 blocked shots per game. The Wizards were thrilled to make the Mavericks take DeShawn Stevenson off their hands as part of this trade. He played in 40 games (13 starts) for the Wizards this season and he was averaging 15.4 minutes, 2.2 points, 1.6 rebounds and 1.1 assists on 28.2% shooting from the floor.

The Wizards didn’t give Butler and Haywood away for nothing as they got a couple of decent players in return for them. Josh Howard will likely step into Butler’s old starting spot at small forward. Howard has played in 31 games (9 starts) for the Mavericks this season and he averaged 26.7 minutes, 12.5 points, 3.6 rebounds and 1.4 assists per game. He has now played in 431 games (368 starts) in his NBA career and he has averaged 31.7 minutes, 15.3 points, 6.0 rebounds, 1.7 assists and 1.1 steals per game. Drew Gooden will likely back up Antwan Jamison at power forward and new starting center Andray Blatche. Gooden played in 46 games (11 starts) for the Mavericks this season and he was averaging 22.4 minutes, 8.9 points, 6.9 rebounds, 0.6 assists and 1.1 blocked shots per game. He has now played in 556 games (407 starts) in his NBA career and he is averaging 27.6 minutes, 11.8 points, 7.8 rebounds and 1.1 assists per game. Quinton Ross is a defensive specialist without much of a offensive game. He played in 27 games (7 starts) for the Mavericks this season and he was averaging 11.1 minutes, 2.0 points, 1.0 rebound and 0.3 assists per game. Ross has now played in 397 games (165 starts) in his NBA career and he is averaging 19.8 minutes, 4.5 points, 2.3 rebounds and 1.0 assist per game. James Singleton will probably be far down the depth chart at power forward for the Wizards. He played in 25 games (0 starts) for the Mavs this season and he averaged 8.4 minutes, 2.4 points, 2.2 rebounds and 0.4 assists per game. Singleton has now played in 199 games (16 starts) in his NBA career and he is averaging 11.2 minutes, 3.3 points, 3.1 rebounds and 0.4 assists per game.

I don’t think this was a good trade for the Wizards but if they are truly going to start over then this wasn’t as bad as it could have been. Howard and Gooden should be solid players for them unless they trade them too.

With the trade deadline on the horizon a lot of teams are calling the Wizards about center Brendan Haywood. The Wizards will consider trading Haywood if they get a solid return for him. Haywood is playing the best basketball of his NBA career this season for the Wizards. He has played in 48 games (47 starts) for the Wizards this season and he is averaging 33.0 minutes, 9.7 points, 10.3 rebounds, 0.4 assists and 2.1 blocked shots per game. While most of his shots come off putbacks and dunks it’s still impressive that he has hit 56.1% of his shots from the floor. Unless the Wizards get a nice return for Haywood they should just keep him.

Veteran point guard Mike James is buried on the Washington Wizards’ bench and he is not happy about it right now. He has played in 3 games (0 starts) for the Wizards this season and he is averaging 14.3 minutes, 6.0 points, 1.0 rebound, 1.7 assists and 1.0 steal per game. James is buried on the depth chart for the Wizards but with the trade deadline approaching the Wizards could make a team wanting to trade of one of their betters players take him also.