Don't expect Jamison back in Cleveland next year

Don't expect Antawn Jamison to endure another ugly season in Cleveland.

The veteran power forward told Jason Lloyd of the Akron Beacon Journal he "might not be here next year," referring to his upcoming free agency and the Cavaliers.

Unhappy with the direction of the team since LeBron James jetted to Miami in the summer of 2010, Jamison told the paper, "It was tough to know we were so close and instead of taking steps forward, we took dramatic steps backward."

Jamison also told Lloyd that he wasn't "OK" with the Cavs unloading veteran point guard Ramon Sessions at the trade deadline.

In his 14th season in the league, Jamison, who will be 36 next year, was dealt to the contending Cavaliers at the 2010 trade deadline. After 25 regular season games and 11 playoff games with the club, though, James left, turning Cleveland from a true title contender to one of the laughingstocks in the league.

The Cavs proceeded to win just 19 games during the 2010-11 season -- 42 fewer than the year prior -- a year that included an NBA record 26-game losing streak.

Jamison is second on the Cavs in scoring, averaging 17.5 points per game, and second in rebounding at 6.5 per game. Cleveland is 17-33, in the midst of a seven game losing streak.

An unrestricted free agent next season, Jamison is currently 21st in my 2012 NBA free agent rankings.