Washington Wizards Blog

Comment from neal
Time June 10, 2007 at 10:10 AM

Doesn’t surprise me what he’s doing. Given his success one wouldn’t have expected him to resign for his option amount. But I wish he hadn’t announced it now. Might make it harder to sign free agents.

Maybe he’s giving the Wiz a warning to improve the roster or he’s splitting.

EG has big decisions to make. Not only this year. After next year both Jamison and Arenas will be coming off the payroll, putting us under the salary cap.

Comment from LilGil
Time June 10, 2007 at 10:11 AM

Does anyone know wheter his chlidren spen most of their time in DC or in Oakland?? And what about the ground portion Gil bought earlier?? I think something has changed lately for him, with the mother of his children or something like that, but what… I’m not interesting in knowing everything about Gil and his private life, but here it’s a Wizards matter

Comment from elysia
Time June 10, 2007 at 12:00 PM

I agree with LilGil and neal but i don’t know what i’ll do if he leaves. I do wonder if this has anything to do with the mother of his children, like there’s a move or something. I remember that the post did a story on gil like last year and it tlaked about how he and the mother of his kids aren’t together, but he bought them a house like across the street? i dunno all i care about is his career with the wizards, i’ll be soooo sad if he leaves, i hope everything works out and his contract is extended next year.

Comment from neal
Time June 10, 2007 at 12:09 PM

I’d also like to know whether the mother and children live. I was under the impression they were in this area.

Comment from wizardsdotcom
Time June 10, 2007 at 12:10 PM

Folks – let’s please leave Gil’s family out of this discussion. From his comments, this is purely a “business decision” and is one that really shouldn’t surprise anyone given the millions of dollars that’s involved in it.

We’ll be releasing a statement from Ernie very shortly.

Comment from wizardsdotcom
Time June 10, 2007 at 12:11 PM

Based on information from a story (can’t remember where…Post maybe) that ran earlier this year, mother and kids are down the street from Gil.

Comment from WizDom
Time June 10, 2007 at 12:31 PM

It still says his intentions are to remain in DC…
Opting out is just so he can sign a long term deal, doesn’t mean he’ll leave… hopefully

Comment from wizfan4u
Time June 10, 2007 at 12:46 PM

I think that Gil needs to do whats best for him. I agree with wizardsdotcom that we need to leave his family out of this. We all make our decisions based on some influence of our family; so why should he be any different. My only concern is that Ernie G will be placed in a trying situation next summer being that he will be faced with signing Gil and Antawn. I don’t think we will have enough money to pay them both. Am I correct? Something needs to happen this summer.

Comment from LilGil
Time June 10, 2007 at 1:18 PM

Eric- Don’t get me wrong I respect Gil’s privacy… The questoin was just popin in my head cuz I remembered that Gil had to go to oakland when his son was born… Anyway we’ll see what happens. I still think Gil’s opinion on accepting the proposition that the Wiz will make him when he opts out isn’t fix. I mean when we’ll win the championship next year he’ll have to face the consequences

Comment from edry09
Time June 10, 2007 at 1:33 PM

I’ll be so sad to see him in an other jersey, I hope EG will make all to extend his contract and bring to DC guys who will make wizards real contenders. Gil is “the man” of the team, we have to build around him and I’m sure that’s it’s EG’s priority!!!
STAY HERE GIL!!

Comment from Wizards4Life
Time June 10, 2007 at 2:06 PM

well i don’t know about u but he has to do whats right for him i hope that’s to get a few more $$$ and hang around in DC. we all love Gil for what he has done and ill respect him for that but the Washington Wizards will be my team with or with out him!

Comment from wizardsdotcom
Time June 10, 2007 at 2:30 PM

wizfan4u – I’m pretty sure Gilbert will get the maximum deal from Washington or wherever he ends up. As for making something happen this summer, because of the collective bargaining agreement, the most the team can offer GA is a three year extension. Gilbert will make more money (from the Wizards) by becoming a free agent next season. Based on the way I’m reading things, that’s what it’s about and I completely understand. Any player in his position would do the same thing.

Comment from neal
Time June 10, 2007 at 2:45 PM

Arenas’s option for 2008/2009 is for $12.8M for one year. We couldn’t expect for him to exercise that. But I believe him when he says he’s more interested in playing for a championship contender than playing where he can make the most money. He’s said it enough times and in more than one way. I also believe him when he says he wants to stay here. Put all that together and it says that he’ll stay if he thinks we’re headed toward a championship, but he won’t if he gets an offer from a team with much better prospects.

But like wizards4life, I’m a Wizards fan more than an Arenas fan.

I do think we can keep both Jamison and Arenas. We have them now, don’t we? Jamison will make $16.4M next year. The following year he will be 32. I don’t think he can expect more than about half that per year and a two-year contract. The difference should be more than enough to keep Arenas.

I presume that Jamison will be worth more to us than anyone else. The big question is whether EG will choose to keep Arenas or go for a more pure point guard who looks to pass before looking to shoot.

It will be interesting to see what EG says.

Comment from wizfan4u
Time June 10, 2007 at 2:51 PM

I am sure Gil will get the maximum deal; he deserves it for sure. However I am wondering if we will be able to sign Jamison as well. Here are my thoughts on whats it will take for the Wiz to win:

Gil is the MAN, but must be more aggressive in getting his teammates involved (ex. Lebron James) James key focus is to get others involved. He is confident in all of his teammates…… The Cavs may not win a this series, but they got to the finals. I would love for Gil to emerge as a leader.

EJ must be more consistant with everyone other than the “Big 3.” When they went down the other members seemed to be like deer in headlights. The bench lacks confidence and consistant minutes….. which in turn leads to inconsistancy. EJ must separate personal feelings from business (I.E Brendon Haywood not playing). That was clearly for personal reasons. Now I love EJ, love him, but in order to win everyone must change in addition to the players. It is not all the players fault.

EG must realize to build and keep a great team he must PAY! I understand that they don’t want to go over the salary cap, but every other winning team is paying. They got lucky with Stevenson last season, but to keep him they’ve got to pay him!

I think that we have a great team, we just need to exercise all elements of it. These just some of my personal thoughts.

Comment from neal
Time June 10, 2007 at 4:25 PM

wizfan4u I agree with every point, except that “we have a great team”. I think we have some real bright spots and some real problems.

Arenas has matured a bit in the last couple years, it seems to me. He is a little less likely to just come down the floor and shoot. But he still has some work to do. And toward the end of the year Jordan was playing him a little less and depending on others a little more, I think. And next year we should be deaper.

Wash is already well over the salary cap, as are all but a couple of teams. I think they can do this primarily because resigning your own player is an exception to the cap. So to sign Arenas, some team will have to let some other high priced player(s) play out his contract(s).

I think Grunfeld is willing to pay market for good players. I don’t get the feeling I had when Unseld and Pollin were calling the shots. I also think he has the discipline to not overpay players (Hughes, Jeffries) when that might hamper the team’s ability in the future. I trust he will retain Stevenson, even if we get another good SG for Haywood or in the draft.

We are

Comment from eccentric beethoven
Time June 10, 2007 at 4:44 PM

my thing is would arenas stay if a.j. go?

Comment from LilGil
Time June 10, 2007 at 4:53 PM

I agree with you guys. Wiz4life, as usually I’m just like you, I was a Wiz fan before Arenas became Agent Zero… I watch the team wheter he plays or not and if he leaves it’ll be hard honestly, but I’ll still follow our guys. I’m pretty sure EG won’t make the stupid mistake of resigning Gil at a very very high salary which would kill the team, you don’t win with only one guy. Our preocupations stay the same, for me we gotta find a good center and hopefuly a quick guard who will be able to do a lil part of Gil’s job when he gets a rest. I like Donell and I think with the time he could fit that kind of description… Anyway this summer, the next season and next summer will be very important for DC, many important decisions to make, I think EG will make the right ones… Anyway I feel a lot of positivity in what I read about Arenas’ statement on opting out, it seems like many people think he’s doing this to settle in DC, well I’m not sure but I know that if next season we win 40 games and get sweep, Gil won’t stay…

Comment from middletonss
Time June 10, 2007 at 7:18 PM

Personally I think it has something to do with Larry Hughes making it to the Finials by leaving Washington. I would hate to lose Gil but I say get what you can get now because it’s just business. I don’t know what problems he is having but I think I do very well with the money I make and my pay is damn sure not $11,000,000 a year. Draft Javaris Crittenton and give him some playing time, trade Haywood and get what you can get. Wizards will move on with or without Gil.

Comment from ANTMAN3000
Time June 10, 2007 at 8:02 PM

Its going to be hard for the Wizards to sign any FA only because they are cap out. I have heard that the Wizards may ship Haywood to the Bucks for Charlie Vilanueva if Ernie can pull that off it would be a great move for the Wizards. He’s a guy who is 6-11 and could probably play either the PF or the C position for us. He’s a 13 ppg kind of guy.

Comment from elysia
Time June 10, 2007 at 9:03 PM

i apologize for bringing his family into this, my only concern if wheter or not he’ll stay. but ill still love the wizards and be a fan of the wizards.

Comment from wizfan4u
Time June 10, 2007 at 9:16 PM

I dont think that it has anything to do with Larry. Yeah, Gil should be disappointed that he hasn’t been able to take us beyond the 2nd round; however there are several factors that go into that. I don’t blame the guy for trying to maximize his value, hey I would do it no matter if I was making 11 million per year. Why should he stop there when he can get so much more? I just would hate for EG to build a team around Gil and he leave. I think that EG needs to play it really smart this summer b/c Gil is in a very powerful position right now.

Comment from neal
Time June 10, 2007 at 9:31 PM

I credit Arenas for having a level head about money. How much money can one guy spend? (as long as he doesn’t feel disrespected by his salary). I think he’s going for a championship. It’s up to EG to do things to convince Arenas that he’s got as good a chance here as anywhere.

Grunfeld is in a very difficult situation. I would hate to be in his shoes.

Comment from dd86wiz0
Time June 10, 2007 at 9:44 PM

maybe gil just wanted to be honest, we know before he said he would consider opting out of his contract if the team doesn’t improve. Maybe he felt bad because he was going to opt out anyways so he might as well come out and say it. plus its gilbert…

Comment from Wiz034
Time June 11, 2007 at 6:01 AM

Hey Guys it’s been a while since I’ve posted. Just been very busy. Anywho, I read the article about Gil. All I realy got out of it was him saying he was, he wanted to remain in one place for a long period of time and therefore was going to opt out so that he can get more money and remain in Washington for a long period of time..

Comment from DC_Fan50
Time June 11, 2007 at 8:53 AM

The Wizards are blowing smoke up our collective a… Gilbert has been in this organization long enough to see the plan for building a champion, and he’s saying it’s not for him, see ya DC. First Larry then Jared and now Gilbert. This team’s plan seem to be to generate just enough excitement to get butts in the seats and nothing more.The Wizards are “Perennial also rans” We all know when things will change, and Gilbert public declaration says it will not be soon enough at least not soon enough for him.

Comment from neal
Time June 11, 2007 at 9:03 AM

I have to take EG at his word. Sounds like he’s prepared to give Arenas the max. That’s $16.7M each year for 6 years. I thought he and Jordan might rather try to get a center or a pure point guard with the money.

So…. the team will have to be built via the draft and second tier free agents. Which certainly isn’t hopeless. We’ll have a much clearer picture by next month.

Comment from LilGil
Time June 11, 2007 at 10:17 AM

Even if EG is okay to give Gil the max (what I don’t think he’ll) Gil wouldn’t take the money regardless to where the team will head after that. Do you remember when Gil accepted to get less money to let the Wiz get players easily, well this decision goes straight in the other sens. We all know Gil, we all know he loves DC as much as DC loves him (a lot) but still, love never brought no ring, and Gil isn’t in this league to hit buzzer beaters….

Comment from neal
Time June 11, 2007 at 10:49 AM

Yes, Gil said that but now he’s saying he’s changed his mind due to the birth of his second child. Didn’t he now say he wants the max? Of course, we may be the only ones who can afford to pay him that. I doubt he will be presented with a competing max offer from a team that has better prospects than us.

My presumption is that EG will ante up and take the consequences of being limited in the FA’s he can sign. Jamison should be no problem. His new contract would begin the same year that Gil’s does. And if he’s willing to take a jump down (he should) when Arenas takes a jump up we’ll be fine.

We just have to find a center somehow. Maybe Blatche or Pecherov will show up having gained 50 lbs.

Comment from Wizards_Fusion
Time June 11, 2007 at 11:52 AM

I was at the airport when CNN Headline Sports flashed the information about Arenas opting out the last year of his contract. The first thought that came to my mind was “here we go again”.

Almost a year ago, Arenas told the Washington Post he’ll take a pay cut if the Wizards get a free agent that’ll make them more competitive. Here’s the story link:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/06/27/AR2006062700788.html

In the same article, the Post reported that a close source to Arenas said he’ll opt out if the team doesn’t make strides. Washington picked up 2 good free agents last year in Stevenson and Songaila. And Ernie Grunfeld did those two moves last year.

So, according to Arenas in 2007, he’s saying the money is really for his family. In my opinion, I don’t think that’s the real reason. I think Arenas already knows the Wizards are going to be about the same again – hence he’s opting out so he doesn’t get stuck in a situation that makes him lose an extra year of his athletic prime.

If the team loses star player after star player in the upcoming years, Ernie is smart enough to rebuild, unlike the previous regime. Rebuilding from scratch takes about 3 years. You just have to trust Ernie. And you have to trust that new talent that may come to Washington will continue to bring the current successes.

Finally, I enjoyed Grunfeld’s response to Arenas’ opt out because it sounded like Ernie already was planning for it. If a GM has foresight, he or she will make an organization sustain strength for years. Basketball is a business, even if fans don’t want the most popular player to wear something else besides a Wizards uniform.

Comment from wizardsdotcom
Time June 11, 2007 at 12:35 PM

Fusion – “If a GM has foresight, he or she will make an organization sustain strength for years. ”

Excellent call – you’ve got to wonder if the times the team passed on Jared & Larry’s big contract demands if it was because Ernie & Co. knew Gilbert’s contract was going to come up sooner or later….

Comment from wizkid034
Time June 11, 2007 at 2:09 PM

“Excellent call – you’ve got to wonder if the times the team passed on Jared & Larry’s big contract demands if it was because Ernie & Co. knew Gilbert’s contract was going to come up sooner or later….”

This is spot on. For as many “demands” as we fans seem to make of Ernie, sometimes it sounds as though we do not trust him to do the right thing. Maybe it is because we have seen past GMs screw this stuff up…who knows?

I think the most telling comment came from Ernie. EG acknowledged that he was not surprised. It actually sounded like he expected. Knowing Gil, and how classy he is, I would be surprised if he did not go to Ernie prior to making the comments to let him know. That is professional class.

It does not bother me that Gil will opt out. I figured he would. Bottom line is that the two guys on this team that are untouchable are Gil and Caron. I trust that EG sees the future in these two. I would put Andray at number 3 on that “untouchable” list, mainly because he is so young and has shown great potential. I think this year will be Jamison’s last. The Wiz will just simply not be able to keep all three under contract. If they draft right this year, Jamison will be expendable. With Pech coming over and Blatche coming on, we could be a nice, young, talented team.

Comment from neal
Time June 11, 2007 at 2:34 PM

Yes, I think EG expected what happened. It was entirely logical. I didn’t like the timing of the announcement, however, and I doubt Grunfeld liked it either. I would rather Arenas had announced it after next year’s team was set.

I still think Jamison is worth more to us than anyone else and I would hate to see him go. He’s a class act and I think he and Daniels have an excellent influence on the younger guys. He’s also an outstanding offensive player. And I certainly think the Wiz can keep all of the big three. Jamison just needs to take a pay cut in line with Arenas’s pay raise.

Of course, if someone offers us a first-rate center for Jamison, that’s a different story.

Comment from Tom Mandel
Time June 12, 2007 at 7:50 AM

neal: “Maybe Blatche or Pecherov will show up having gained 50 lbs.” I hope not!

I don’t understand all this speculation about Gilbert — *of course* he opts out in order to sign his biggest career contract. He’d be an idiot not to! For that matter, *of course* he wants to play for a championship contender and to get a ring — every motivated player does.

But, it ain’t easy to win a championship, and there’s no reason to think that anyone else who would court him would give him a better chance for a ring (remember that salary cap thing guys?).

Moreover, Gil needs to be in a particular kind of system, and he needs it to be built around him. Gilbert is a wonderful basketball player and, even more important, a truly exceptional person. I’d miss him if he went to another team, but this announcement does not portend his moving.

Comment from neal
Time June 12, 2007 at 10:07 PM

Yep, Arenas is a helluva talent and a real joy to watch, and quite a personality to help build interest in the team. I also think he’s staying.

Comment from elwizard
Time June 13, 2007 at 2:11 PM

Well, if your not sure about washington winning a championship. I’m a believer that barring injuries, we have the answer for the east next season, and the big three will be in top condition to take us all the way. “It’s personal,” ever since Labron two seasons back, gil has a statement to make, and it will be made in washington. Stay tuned…

Pingback from Washington Wizards Blog » Blog Archive » GILBERT: “DON’T WORRY WIZARDS FANS”
Time June 14, 2007 at 7:47 PM

[...] the latest update to his NBA.com blog, Gilbert Arenas discussed the hot topic which started this past weekend. The three-time NBA all-star explains in his own words why it makes [...]

Comment from brickman9
Time August 19, 2007 at 5:22 AM

I understand why you opted out of your contract Gil to sign a huge contract with the wizards to be the star of the wizards to lead the wizards deep in the playoffs and make to the eastern conference finals and win a championship in the next couple of years . Hopefully this year though we can make it to the eastern conference finals at least and be the sleeper team to creep on everybody this year. Cause Gil you are the most underestimated NBA superstar that can score on any given day to lift the Wizards to victory even if it means dropping 50 points.