It’s not quite Dwight Howard… actually, he’s nothing like Dwight Howard. Especially if you talk defense.
But it is a better signing than a lot of people realize.
The Lakers have agreed to a one-year, veteran’s minimum deal for 14-year NBA veteran Antawn Jamison, tweets Mark Spears of Yahoo Sports.
Jamison was given a heavy offensive responsibility with a terrible Cavaliers team last season and averaged 17.2 points (on just 40.3 percent shooting) and 6.8 boards a game. He shot 34.1 percent from three, and had a PER of 16.1, above the league average.
This season, he can come in off the bench, play fewer minutes and shoot a higher percentage letting the offense come to him because the Lakers have no shortage of other offensive weapons opposing defense have to account for (Kobe Bryant, Steve Nash, Andrew Bynum, Pau Gasol, and every fourth game Metta World Peace).
The only concern for Lakers fans should be that Jamison is a one-way player any more — the Cavaliers defense got 8 points per 100 possessions better when he sat down last season.
Still, smart pickup by the Lakers. Good veteran player who can help out at an affordable price. The kind of pickup contending teams make.