WASHINGTON (AP) -Javaris Crittenton and Mike James might be the two happiest NBA players ever to join a last-place team.
Both guards sounded thrilled to be cleared to play for the Washington Wizards about 1 1/2 hours before tipoff against the reigning champion Boston Celtics on Thursday night.
So what if the Wizards entered the day an Eastern Conference-worst 4-15? If anything, that means the new guys figure to get more playing time than with their former clubs.
“One person’s trash is another person’s treasure,” said James, who was averaging only 8.7 minutes with the Southwest Division-leading New Orleans Hornets. “Hopefully I can be a treasure in D.C.”
James appeared in only eight games with New Orleans this season, but he has been a regular player in the past. He averaged 20.3 points and 5.8 assists for Toronto in 2005-06.
pick that was part of a previous swap.
With All-Star point guard Gilbert Arenas out indefinitely after his third knee operation in 1 1/2 years, Washington was in need of backcourt help.
Like James, Crittenton – a first-round draft pick out of Georgia Tech in 2007 – can play either guard position.
Crittenton said he’s more comfortable at the point, but wherever he’s used, he certainly is looking forward to more court time than the 6.7 minutes he was getting in Memphis.
“I feel very blessed to be somewhere where they want me,” Crittenton said. “I feel really appreciated right now.”
The two guards weren’t allowed to participate in Washington’s shootaround Thursday morning, because the trade was not yet official. But they were in uniform and ready to go by game time, both on the active roster.
Crittenton even was given a pair of sneakers in Wizards team colors by Arenas. Asked whether he was worried about notorious jokester Arenas setting him up with some sort of prank, Crittenton smiled.
“I’ve heard about Gil,” Crittenton said, “but I don’t think he’ll do that.”
Wizards interim head coach Ed Tapscott wouldn’t say exactly how he expected to use James and Crittenton against Boston.
He did say he had a plan, however.
get hit in the mouth.’ And so if you guys see my lip bloodied, now you know whether my plan has any integrity to it.”
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