The Predictably Sucky Gilbert Arenas Thread

[DCZards]

What I think I have learned so far is that AJ shouldnt be someone who gets traded. He is the best fit mentally and physically for a main leader on this team. Plus, he doesn't often get injuried. I'm more worried about GA ( for the money ) and CB at this point. But again, give them a little more time.

2nd - MM is a keeper for sure while not so sure Foye is.

3rd - We need PG skills on this team. Even adding Boykins has showed this. Even a 5-5 PG shows what we have been missing. To many SGs, not enough PGs.

Totally with you on Jamison. I cringe when I see people here repeatedly call to trade AJ for financial reasons. I think it's being "penny wise and pound foolish" to look at AJ's contributions strictly in financial terms. In addition to being a consistent 20-10 guy and someone who is willing to play hurt, Jamison has proven to be, imo, far and away the most valuable leader on this team.

Yes, the day will come when AJ no longer should be starting, but given his skillset and workmanlike attitude Jamison is going to be an absolutely great sixth man someday, imo. And teh Zards will still have him around to be a on and off court leader.

As for someone with PG skills, we need to give Critt a real look when he gets healthy.

[dandridge 10]

D10, that begs the following question: knowing that Gilbert is not in the class of the aforementioned alpha dogs, do you (a) cut bait and get what you can for him or (b) surround him with the best possible teammates, compete each year and hope for some luck/lightning that enables you to steal a ring?

That's probably a question better asked BEFORE massive contract extension, but one that still needs to be considered now.

Personally, I opt for B because as rabid as my WIzards fandom is, it's still *just* entertainment to me, not life and death. And I'd rather be entertained by a winning team, even if it never means winning a title than I would suffer through terrible teams with the hope of perhaps one day in the distant future winning one.

Fish, I agree that your question was better asked before the massive contract extension and the Wizards certainly should have asked it. However, given that it did not happen and I don't think we would get something equitable in return for Gil because of questions regarding health and current play, I would also go with plan B. For better or worse, I think we are stuck with Gil.

With that said, I do personally believe that at least one of the other big three need to go. I've never believed that we could be a real contender with our current big 3. All three are defensive liabilities and I have always seen Caron and AJ as tweeners for their positions. At this point, Caron is probably more of a tradeable piece than AJ. I also think Gil has more chemistry with AJ than Caron. For that reason, I probably would vote to move Caron, even though up until last year, he was my favorite player on this team. I also trust Miller to take over Butler's spot more than I trust Blatche to take over AJ' spot on this team (yeah, I still haven't bought into Blatche yet, at least not as a starter)!!!

[hands11]

Agreed. CB is the one who is most likely to go. He will be an expiring and we really dont need him and AJ since AJ will slowly get moved to SF before he goes to the bench. At AJs contract, it would be touch playing him off the bench at 12M

And it really kind of comes down to who do you keep, CB or Haywood because I dont believe we can afford both and keep MM and other players.

Hard to have a team with 4x 10+ Million dollar players.

I could see a core of Gil, MM, AJ, Blatche, Haywood with roll players of McGee, DMAC

Bubble keepers. Nick, Foye, Critter, Boykins, Fab

Keys would be to make sure we add some toughness. Make sure we have enough PG skills.

[closg00]

By now, you know that Shaunie O'Neal has filed for a divorce from Shaq. You also know that the divorce stems from Shaq's relationship with Gilbert Arenas' fiancee, Laura Govan. And you would guess that Arenas is pissed about it all.

http://www.yardbarker.com/nba/article_e ... er/1654855

I figured this would be the place to put this. I'm not sure if this is just the old story being re-circulated or if the story has some legs to-it. If-true, this certainly has to be added to the mix amongst the possible reason why Gil had been slumping. Trashy stuff, but now perhaps worth discussing.

[ZonkertheBrainless]

Anyway is Gil really performing that badly? I think he's averaging 5 minutes less per game than he was when he was scoring 29. That's a 12% drop, 12% drop from 29 points is 25.5. Add to that that he's got pieces around him that can score consistently (besides Caron and Jamison he has N1 and Blatche) that he didn't have before, so...

[20MexicanosIn1Van]

Anyway is Gil really performing that badly? I think he's averaging 5 minutes less per game than he was when he was scoring 29. That's a 12% drop, 12% drop from 29 points is 25.5. Add to that that he's got pieces around him that can score consistently (besides Caron and Jamison he has N1 and Blatche) that he didn't have before, so...

He's been pretty inefficient and leads the league in turnover's.

[MJG]

Anyway is Gil really performing that badly? I think he's averaging 5 minutes less per game than he was when he was scoring 29. That's a 12% drop, 12% drop from 29 points is 25.5. Add to that that he's got pieces around him that can score consistently (besides Caron and Jamison he has N1 and Blatche) that he didn't have before, so...

His shooting percentages are down and his turnovers are up. For a PG whose main weapon is his scoring, that's bad.

It's also worth noting that Arenas just had his two best games since the first week, coming in after this thread went up. If he keeps playing like this going forward, people will have less of an issue with his game.