Somebody get the tissues out.  The NBA’s royalty is upset.  Blood was boiling yesterday as Los Angeles Lakers coach Phil Jackson and Boston Celtics coach Doc Rivers bellyached to the media over the recently completed trade which allowed the Cleveland Cavaliers to obtain forward Antawn Jamison.

Competitiveness can bring out the worst in people.

Antawn Jamison Trade Draws Ire

The Cleveland Cavaliers parted ways with center Zydrunas Ilgauskas, the rights to Emir Preldzic and 2010 first-round draft pick to Washington for Antawn Jamison.  To work within salary cap requirements, the Los Angeles Clippers packaged in guard Sebastian Telfair to Cleveland in return for Washington F Drew Gooden.

So what’s their beef?

The focus of their complaint centers on the construct of the deal.  While Washington accepted Ilgauskas, he is expected to be waived from the Wizards rosters.  Ilgauskas will then get a mini vacation and re-sign with the Cavaliers for the final stretch run and playoffs.

Speaking with ESPN, Jackson shared, “They’re going to get Ilgauskas back and it’s going to be one of those scenarios that we see in the NBA where you ship a player out, you get another player, then your player retires or they pay him off and then he comes back in 30 days.  I don’t know what that does for the league.  I think that’s kind of a weird situation.”

While the criticism is justified given the loopholes within the NBA’s operating policies, it kind of falls on deaf ears when the complaint comes from Jackson and the Lakers.  Jackson must have forgot about that one-sided trade that delivered him the missing link All-Star named Pau Gasol back in 2008.

To refresh Jackson’s memory, here’s a recount of what the Lakers gave up for Pau Gasol:

• Kwame Brown (a phenomenal NBA bust that played 15 games with Memphis)
• Javaris Crittenton (yes, the same guy that drew pistol with Gilbert Arenas)
• Aaron McKie (who the Lakers signed earlier in that day and never played a game with the Lakers)
• The draft rights to Marc Gasol
• First round picks in 2008 and 2010.

Needless to say, it was the most one-sided trade in recent NBA history that catapulted the Lakers back to prominence.  Making things more suspicious, the NBA increased revenue sharing by 63% shortly after the deal, helping line the pockets of the smaller market teams.  One of the leaders of that push…Memphis Grizzlies’ owner Michael Heisley.

Now let’s look at Boston’s gripes.  Celtics’ coach Doc Rivers shared with ESPN, “I have a problem with that.  I loved it three years ago when we did it with Gary Payton if you remember, but now I think it sucks.  I think it’s a terrible deal.”

How interesting that it was okay when it benefited Boston, but when the shoe is on the other foot they cry foul.  Let’s take a moment and reflect on what Boston gave Atlanta in the deal for Antoine Walker:

• Gary Payton (who was subsequently released and re-signed with Boston as their starting point guard)
• Tom Gugliotta (who was averaging 1.3 PPG and retired at the end of the season)
• Michael Stewart (who hadn’t played a game all season for Boston)
• First round draft pick

By having the Hawks release Payton, the Celtics ended up giving away two players that couldn’t contribute in the NBA any longer for a perennial All-Star in Walker that immediately became a starter on the Celtics.  As for Payton, he missed a handful of games and was soon back starting at the point with the Celtics.

It is hilarious to hear these teams complain that this trade is unfair when their past actions were significantly more egregious.  The Cavaliers didn’t do anything but play by the rules set forward for them that were exploited previously to the benefit of Lakers and Celtics.

Some advice to Jackson and Rivers…stop being crybabies and get back to playing ball.