6/24/04...WASHINGTON (AP) -- Antawn Jamison is moving from a team that won 52 games last season to one that hasn't made the playoffs since 1997 -- and he couldn't be happier about it.

``I can't stress how excited I am to be part of this organization,'' Jamison said at a news conference Monday. He was traded to the Washington Wizards by the Dallas Mavericksx last Thursday. ``This has been six years in the making.'' The 6-9 Jamison was acquired by the Wizards for Jerry Stackhouse, Christian Laettner and the rights to the fifth pick in last week's draft -- Wisconsin point guard Devin Harris.

Jamison averaged 14.8 points and 6.3 rebounds in the 2003-04 season, when he was named the NBA's Sixth Man of the Year. In his six-year NBA career, the first five with the Golden State Warriors, Jamison has averaged 19.1 points and 7.2 rebounds. He's twice scored 51 points in a game and has the NBA's longest consecutive game streak at 328. While Jamison came off the bench last season, Washington coach Eddie Jordan sees him starting along with Kwame Brown at forward. Jamison said he's ideal for the young Wizards. ``This is definitely the best situation so far in my career,'' he said.

Jamison claimed the opportunity to start wasn't the most important consideration in the deal. ``The most important thing is to win. I don't have any kind of ego,'' he said. ``I experienced going to the playoffs last year, and I don't want that to be my only opportunity to make it to the playoffs.'' As a Warrior, Jamison played with the Wizards' likely starting backcourt of Gilbert Arenas and Larry Hughes.

Washington president of basketball operations Ernie Grunfeld said he was thrilled to land Jamison, but was careful to say many of the players on a team that won just 25 games last season may return.