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What Can Ramon Sessions Do For The Wizards?

ByMark Vandeusen|
Dec 16, 2014; Sacramento, CA, USA; Sacramento Kings guard Ramon Sessions (9) drives in against Oklahoma City Thunder guard Reggie Jackson (15) during the fourth quarter at Sleep Train Arena. The Oklahoma City Thunder defeated the Sacramento Kings 104-92. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 16, 2014; Sacramento, CA, USA; Sacramento Kings guard Ramon Sessions (9) drives in against Oklahoma City Thunder guard Reggie Jackson (15) during the fourth quarter at Sleep Train Arena. The Oklahoma City Thunder defeated the Sacramento Kings 104-92. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports

On Thursday, the Washington Wizards acquired Ramon Sessions from the Sacramento Kings in exchange for Andre Miller.  While not a major move, the trade deadline swap is definitely an upgrade for Washington at the backup point guard position.

Here is what Wizards general manager Ernie Grunfeld had to say about his club’s newest player:

CSNWashington.com’s Ben Standig writes: 

"“The NBA’s oldest team just became younger. Sessions turns 29 in April. Miller turned 29 in 2005. The NBA’s oldest player in uniform, Miller will celebrate his 39th birthday in March. Regardless of how many candles each would blow out on their respective birthday cakes, this swap is in part about getting younger legs on defense. … Miller struggled keeping up defensively with speedsters like Chicago’s Aaron Brooks and Atlanta’s Dennis Schroder.”"

As the season wore on Miller was becoming more and more of a non-factor for the Wizards. Before Bradley Beal‘s recent injury, Miller hadn’t gotten off the bench in three games and had played only eight total minutes over a five-game stretch.

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And speaking of Beal, in his absence Sessions is a much better fit to fill in an shooting guard than Miller was. Washington is woefully thin at guard, with John Wall and Garrett Temple being the only other backcourt players on the roster.

Unlike Miller, Sessions is a solid match for Wall’s uptempo style of play and can share the floor with him from time to time. Sessions is also much less of a health risk than Miller. Over the first 11 years of his career Miller missed just six regular season games.  However, the aging 15-year veteran sat out 40 times over the previous three seasons.

Sessions actually accomplished a rare feat by playing in 83 regular season contests a year ago, picking up an extra game after being traded from Charlotte to Milwaukee.

The Wizards will be Sessions’ ninth NBA stop in eight seasons in the league–he’s the definition of a journeyman. For his career he’s averaging 11.3 points, 4.3 assists and 2.9 rebounds per game. Sessions is not much of a three-point shooter, he’s hitting just 21.4 percent of his attempts from long range this season (his career number is .304). However, he is very good at getting to the free-throw line:

By all accounts, Sessions is currently in the midst of the worst season of his career. His points (5.4), assists (2.7), rebounds (1.9) and minutes (17.8) per game are all the lowest he’s ever had.

It’s quite possible all he needs is a change of environment though, which is what Grunfeld is expecting:

How often do you hear guys rave about the their experience playing in Sacramento?  In 28 games with the Bucks last year Sessions averaged 15.8 points, 4.8 assists and 3.1 rebounds per contest.  If he can return to that form, this trade will look like a heist from Washington’s perspective. But even if he can’t, the club had very little to lose by pulling the trigger on this deal.

Next: What are Washington's realistic chances of signing Ray Allen?

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