Andre Miller’s quietly excellent career is almost over. And though he’ll finish it out of the playoff race, the 38 year-old will also do so playing for the coach who recently helped him revive it. According to a report, the Washington Wizards are sending Miller to the Sacramento Kings to be reunited with George Karl in exchange for Ramon Sessions.
Here’s Yahoo Sports’ Adrian Wojnarowski:
The Washington Wizards traded guard Andre Miller to the Sacramento Kings for guard Ramon Sessions, a league source told Yahoo Sports.
The trade reunites Miller with new Kings coach George Karl. Karl had a close relationship with Miller in Denver and pushed for Miller’s addition after taking over the Kings.
Miller, the league’s ninth all-time leader in assists, has seen his playing time in Washington dwindle of late. After beginning the season considered one of basketball’s best backup point guards, Miller has underwhelmed – at this point, he’s not much more than a starry name and favorite of basketball nerds. That won’t change in Sacramento even as his minutes likely will.
Sessions should make a difference for the Wizards, though. He’s an extremely gifted penetrator and draws fouls with ease. The problem with Sessions has always been all-encompassing defensive ineptitude and a lack of shooting range. Neither flaw will be corrected at this point in his career, but that doesn’t mean he won’t offer Washington more than Miller did. His ability to crease defenses and draw defenders, for instance, is especially valuable to a team with rebounders like the Wizards’.
Will this move put Washington over the top in the East? Certainly not. The Atlanta Hawks are something close to a juggernaut, the Cleveland Cavaliers might be, and the Chicago Bulls still seem destined to round into form. But all it takes is an injured star or two to drastically shift the balance of power, and the Wizards are now better situated to take advantage.
