The right thing for Wizards to do is move Jamison

"With me, every year, it's something. You just go out there and play the game, but if I have to go somewhere else, that's part of the game. I have a pretty good relationship with the front office people and they have yet to indicate with me that something different is about to happen. They are being very patient and they want to see this thing turn around, but how long do you wait? And how many chances to do give this core group of guys that you have here? Us as players, we know we're in a difficult situation, but we just got to go out there and play hard and know eventually we'll turn things around."

-- Antawn Jamison via Wizards Insider, Washington Post.com

Indeed, for Antawn Jamison and the Washington Wizards, it has been something different every year. In 2007 -- the year Wizards president Ernie Grunfeld likes to point to for his basis for sticking it out with this core group of players -- it was Gilbert Arenas' initial knee injury and a broken hand by Caron Butler that derailed Washington's season. The Wizards already had positioned themselves for a playoff berth before the injuries hit, but Jamison and a patchwork lineup got run by LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers.

The next year Jamison & Co. had the two failed comeback attempts of Arenas to deal with. He started the season, playing eight games before having to have a second knee surgery, and behind Jamison and Caron Butler, Washington still managed to remain competitive and earn the fifth seed in the East with a 43-39 record. Arenas made another comeback attempt late in the season, and with his knee still not right, he -- not intentionally -- ended up disrupting his team's flow rather than giving them the extra boost they needed against Cleveland, which beat Washington 4-2.

Last season there was third knee surgery to Arenas and the whole will-he-come-back, will-he-bag-it question. Remember the "I don't know. Seven wins? Would you?" What made matters worse was the injuries to Brendan Haywood and DeShawn Stevenson, the fact that Grunfeld had let Roger Mason Jr. -- a strong, surprise contributor during the 2007-08 campaign -- walk via free agency, and the trade that shipped out Antonio Daniels and brought in Mike James and Javaris Crittenton, who never settled in. Arenas made a two-game cameo appearance during that 19-63 campaign.

But this was supposed to be the year. Instead, it appears to be the sad swan song for this group. The last hurrah for this dysfunctional family. Flip Saunders is a small-time magician on the side, but hasn't been able to get any of his tricks to work on the Wizards. Arenas is back, but from alleged Shaq-baby-mama-drama to the now very serious gun investigation, has been one big distraction. The annual progress Caron Butler had made (averaging 17.6 points, 19.1, 20.3, 20.8, respectively, since coming to D.C.) has come to a screeching halt as he tries to adjust to going from sharing lead dog duties with Jamison to now being the third option that Arenas often overlooks.

Jamison has been the one constant during the last three trying seasons. Despite injuries to Arenas or Butler, he's been there to get the job done. He continues to age gracefully this season. His numbers (20.6 points and 8.2 rebounds) are down a smidgen from last year but his shooting percentage (both from the field and the arc) have slightly improved. He's no closer to achieving his goal of winning a championship, however.

Jamison made it clear before the season started that the only reason he at the age of 33 is still playing is to win a championship. He said he'll play the final two years of his contract after this season, and then start the next chapter of his life, which a few times he has said could be as a member of the media. Last January I asked Jamison if he had any regrets over re-signing with Washington in 2008 rather than accepting an offer from the 76ers, or from his hometown Charlotte Bobcats. Jamison said he had no regrets and that he still believed. Now a year later, Jamison has to be feeling a twinge. The mutual fondness between Jamison and the late owner Abe Pollin was no doubt a big reason why Jamison returned to the District, and it likely was a big reason why the Wizards turned down offers for Jamison last season. Cleveland wanted him in the worst way, believing he was the piece to the puzzle that would have greatly improved LeBron's cast. But Grunfeld stood firm, believing that in 2009 with Arenas back -- and later because of the additions of Mike Miller and Randy Foye -- Jamison and the Wizards would indeed be competing for a championship.

Yeah, that's not happening. As sad as it is to say, Grunfeld needs to trade Jamison. Twan is not the problem, not even close. Sure, nobody's perfect, and he could always do a better job defending, but no one can blame this 10-21 record on him. The 'Big Three' can't play together any more. The magic -- that first-place record in the East at the 2007 All-Star break -- is not going to be rekindled. Grunfeld will blow this thing up in the summer. He should start by selecting the best offer he has heard for Jamison and give him the chance to contend for a title elsewhere, because it sure as heck isn't happening here. Say the Wizards stand pat and somehow figure out how to turn things around despite the lack of chemistry they have now and despite the huge distractions they face. What's the best they can finish? Eighth? MAYBE seventh? The East is bad, real bad, Michael Jackson. The Wizards are only three games back of Charlotte, which ranks eighth right now. But then what? A date with Cleveland, Boston or Orlando? Yeah, good luck. As Flip Saunders said last week, "I didn't come here to make the playoffs, I came here to win a championship." Cleveland, Orlando or Boston would sweep Washington, and that's a gigantic IF the Wizards can even turn things around to that point.

The Wizards are, according to multiple sources, are talking to "lots of teams" right now. They're weighing their options and trying to see if they can get a deal to turn things around this season, while also trying to figure out if it's best unload some money and gain some financial flexibility for the summer. Jamison will make just more than $13 million next year and $15 million and change the following year. Gilbert Arenas may or sadly may not be in the league next year. If the Wizards are freed of his contract either by trading him or voiding his contract, that's another $80 million over the next four seasons they have to play with. Washington at this point doesn't have an untouchable list. All the players know it, and can't exactly say they're broken up about it. Arenas told me on Sunday, "if they want to get rid of me [via trade], at the end of the day, it's alright." I'm told by insiders that multiple players have asked to be traded. Jamison is too professional to do so, but he wouldn't complain if he got shipped to a contender.

Arenas, Jamison and Butler have and continue to do great work in the D.C. community, but on the court I think they'd admit -- quoting Eve 6's old song -- "I feel our time has gotten stale." Since a roster overhaul seems unavoidable, start now with moving Jamison. Depending on Arenas' legal proceedings they should either void his contract if he is seriously charged, or if not, beg someone to take him off their hands this summer. Build around Butler and JaVale McGee and maybe rejoin the ranks of the East's elite a couple of seasons from now. But let Jamison realistically chase his title dreams his now. Do it, Ernie. As a thank you for the All-Star level of play Jamison has consistently produced the last 5-1/2 seasons, give the man a chance to win a ring.