Report: Mavs set to send Jamison to Wizards in mega-deal

Dallas, TX (Basketball News) - The Dallas Mavericks are reportedly closing in on a deal that would give them the No. 5 overall pick in Thursday’s NBA Draft from the Washington Wizards as a part of a package that includes forward Antawn Jamison.

According to the Dallas Morning News, the Mavericks will send Jamison to the Wizards for the draft pick, as well as forward Christian Laettner and swingman Jerry Stackhouse.

The deal is apparently awaiting NBA approval on Thursday morning.

The paper also cited sources as saying the Mavericks might use the pick, Laettner and/or Stackhouse as part of another deal. There had been reports earlier this week that the Mavericks were interested in Shaquille O’Neal, who has requested a trade from the Los Angeles Lakers.

Jamison, who was recently named Sixth Man of the Year, spent just one season in Dallas after five solid years in Golden State to start his career.

In Dallas, Jamison was surrounded with scorers at every position, but was still able to average 14.8 points per contest. A career starter with the Warriors, Jamison accepted a role as a reserve when he came to Dallas this past season and still remained a valuable part of the Dallas offense.

In his six-year career, Jamison has averaged 19.1 points per game to go along with 7.2 rebounds.

Laettner, who can play forward and center, has a career average of 13.3 points per contest, while playing with five different teams. Laettner spent the first 53 games of the 2000-01 season with the Mavs before being traded to the Wizards, where he had spent the last three-plus seasons.

Stackhouse, who missed the first three months of the 2004 season due to off- season surgery on his right knee, is a proven scorer. He has averaged 20.9 points in a nine-year career with Philadelphia, Detroit and Washington.

Both Laettner and Stackhouse are also entering the final year of their respective contracts.