Arenas Traded for Rashard Lewis

[Joe_Wiz]

I don't like it. Ruzious' point about the non-guaranteed salary in 2012-3 helps, but I still don't like it.

I was never counting on us getting Dwight Howard in 2012, but I was hoping, and the Magic's recent struggles would have seemed to have added a little hope. Now the chances have gone from slim to none.

I would have liked a pick or prospect, but more salary savings would have seemed to have been a minimum requirement. Maybe I'm still in denial about how little Gil was worth.

This might, just might, be enough to get me to follow a team other than the Wizards. I might be about to become a Magic fan. That doesn't mean I'm bailing on the Wizards, but I might actually follow two teams. That would probably mean less time watching the Wizards, though, because there's a limit to how much time I can spend watching basketball.

[Induveca]

Ernie is a bad negotiator, period. He is poor with the draft (no credit for Wall, he was a no brainier). His trades have produced mixed results. Credit is due for the Caron / Kwame, but that could be negated by Foye, Miller / 5th pick.

Bottom line, a new GM is a must.

Jamison for Thornton was one of the most one-sided deals of the decade. EG absolutely robbed Cleveland blind on that one.

That is somewhat ridiculous. If you win the lottery it is irrelevant if you go out and spend all of the money on garbage.......that's pretty much what has happened here.

Grunfeld has traded away some very solid players and picks and has received little to nothing in return. If Grunfeld showed the talent/swagger to lure great players with that cap space great. Instead we get Yi, Hinrich and Rashard Lewis. Wow.

And don't give me the Dwight Howard in 2012, or Carmelo Anthony in 2011.....that's not happening. Only major free agent we've landed since the 90s was Arenas. And that was in a literal coinflip.

[Induveca]

I don't like it. Ruzious' point about the non-guaranteed salary in 2012-3 helps, but I still don't like it.

I was never counting on us getting Dwight Howard in 2012, but I was hoping, and the Magic's recent struggles would have seemed to have added a little hope. Now the chances have gone from slim to none.

I would have liked a pick or prospect, but more salary savings would have seemed to have been a minimum requirement. Maybe I'm still in denial about how little Gil was worth.

This might, just might, be enough to get me to follow a team other than the Wizards. I might be about to become a Magic fan. That doesn't mean I'm bailing on the Wizards, but I might actually follow two teams. That would probably mean less time watching the Wizards, though, because there's a limit to how much time I can spend watching basketball.

Ahh don't do that, you gotta stick with your team, especially one as bad as the Wizards. I have 16 years invested in this damn annoying (but oddly loveable) franchise. I keep telling myself it will all be worth it one day.

Then again I haven't seen Lewis in a Wiz uni yet. That being said just like I watched Butler and Haywood on the Mavs last year I'll watch Arenas as well. Hardest part will be dealing with basketball savvy friends and family who are already texting me endlessly about how pathetic the Wiz are.

[TGW]

A loser move by a loser team...I'm not surprised.

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

I agree with everyone who says Arenas needed to be moved. I think how the Wizards got to that point is the real problem, and reason why they ended up getting nothing in return.

There is no reason the Wizards shouldn't have gotten real value in return for Arenas, however situations were handled as they were and it is what it is.

Rashard Lewis is not a good player though, and I'll continue to laugh at any of you who try to pass him off as one.

Abe is gone but his family and Ernie did horrible damage to Gilbert's reputation by making public condemnation and statements before Gilbert even got due process.

From all I read, and I read a whole lot, I hold Ernie Grunfeld personally accountable for throwing Gil under the bus in matters that might very easily have not even been reported and possibly not prosecuted. Gil did the crime but IMO the whole gun gate deal could have been handled discreetly with nobody getting in trouble. (Had I been GM no way in hell do the guns come back from NOVA to DC. Gil's gun's would have been alleged like Javaris'. Noone even remembers Crittenton's role now). Last, the finger-pointing dance thing was funny as hell. Jamison laughed and so did all the team. Why go off on Gil for that?

AceDegenerate, I'm happy for Gil. He is free!

Thank you for not obscuring what I said and many other posters when EG was reading the Pollin's statements and hurling the invective--the Wizards are ruining any possible trade value.

Washington should have treated Gil's indiscretion like Memphis has treated Zach Randolph's. You don't even know what the allegations are. They quietly issued a statement saying they'd wait for the facts to come out and the stuck by their player.

The Wizards have treated Gilbert the same why Dan Snyder have treated McNabb.

Getting just Lewis, if that's the deal, shows why this team sucks and will suck so long. Not that Lewis is as bad as he's made out to be, but just that like the time they traded up for Booker or when they traded the fifth pick for Foye and Mille; the Wizards could have gotten more.

So, I'm happy for Gil and still a fan of the Wizards, but thanks, AD, for not forgetting how things got to this point.

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

Oh-well, Gil had to be shipped-out, not sure how this swap works financially since Lewis is actually paid more. I imagine that we'll have to cut Hamady and pick-up another guard given Wall's injury.
We're in for Kirk 42 minutes a night fellas, yippie!

The Flip supporters will still back him through the losses, closq. Flip could play Hinrich 48 a night and some folks would justify it.

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

...and you will certainly see a different version of Gilbert once he hits Orlando, he was holding-back.

Probably true, but irrelevant as far as the trade goes. The fact is, Arenas was not the same player he once was, and he wasn't going to become that player again as long as he remained in a Wizards uniform. He had lost his joy for the game.

I hope he gets it back in Orlando. I'll be rooting for him.

Consider that Orlando got J Rich on the wing and also got back Turkoglu. Richardson is a nice scoring option outside and in. Turkoglu can handle the ball and he hits big shots.

Then they've got Howard who's deadly inside and Redick from the outside. Jameer can handle PG when Gil's not at that positon. Arenas with Redick will be sweet.

Gil should be in HEAVEN with the Magic! He's going to have the time of his life there. I am very happy for him.

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

Arenas had to be moved but wtf?? Not even a 2nd rounder?

Moronic, isn't it?

[now and 4 life]

I would look at a positive in the trade. At least Rashard Lewis will play. Arenas was barely on the floor.

[Ruzious]

...and you will certainly see a different version of Gilbert once he hits Orlando, he was holding-back.

Probably true, but irrelevant as far as the trade goes. The fact is, Arenas was not the same player he once was, and he wasn't going to become that player again as long as he remained in a Wizards uniform. He had lost his joy for the game.

I hope he gets it back in Orlando. I'll be rooting for him.

Consider that Orlando got J Rich on the wing and also got back Turkoglu. Richardson is a nice scoring option outside and in. Turkoglu can handle the ball and he hits big shots.

Then they've got Howard who's deadly inside and Redick from the outside. Jameer can handle PG when Gil's not at that positon. Arenas with Redick will be sweet.

Gil should be in HEAVEN with the Magic! He's going to have the time of his life there. I am very happy for him.

And I believe JRich and Gil were best friends when they were teammates in GS - seems like a lifetime ago.

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

I just hope Flip doesn't play Rashard 35 minutes per game and leave Booker rotting on the bench in a rebuilding year.

tontoz, Flip will start Lewis at PF, move Blatche to C, and he'll leave Booker, Seraphin, and McGee all on the bench.

Flip's already said Javale's not a starter.

I know how Flip works. Josh Howard's got a spot. He's the SF that Flip will play 38 minutes. Saunders is going to roll with Wall, Hinrich, Howard, Lewis, and Blatche; his most veteran group. Armstrong will get his minutes and so will Thornton.

Booker? Washington buried any hope of Booker at SF and this deal for Lewis gives less PF minutes for Trevor, too.

[willbcocks]

I was one of the biggest move Gil supporters on this board, and it's done. But there is little to be excited about this trade.

First let me analyze the talent swap:

Rashard Lewis: SF...shoot...no, no, no, I have nothing to say about this guy's talent he absolutely sucks.

Gil: I think what changed over the beginning of this season was a belief in the organization that Wall and Arenas would not work on the court. They may had this offer before the season but hoped that Gil's floor presence wouldn't hurt Wall's development, but having seen that the two really don't work well together, they thought it would be safer from a development perspective to have a huge contract wasting space elsewhere on the floor.

Financial Concerns: Obviously Rashard's contract is one year shorter, so let's call that a victory. Congrats EG--you have again made the least beneficial trade imaginable. I will redouble my applause if you are terminated after Christmas.

Also, the clear message for me here is that Leonsis and EG made the trade with strike in mind. Rashard has 3 years left but only one year after the strike, and I am sure the two realize there will be an opportunity to cut him then. That 50% salary different post strike is probably the main number playing in their heads.

and finally, The Fans:

IMO we, or at least me, are the main winners of this trade. Not because we will be treated to quality basketball this year--that's a laugh. But because there is finally some closure on a fundamentally unstable situation. And the one time hero of our franchise was traded to a rival of our old rivals, to a team that is likable. I am happy that I will be able to cheer for Gil the player instead of having to keep thinking about Gil the contract. With Shard I will have no reservations simply calling him Contract Lewis, but that was harder with Gil and I think created some bad blood among Wizards fans.

The rebuild through youth that was extremely probable before the season started is on in earnest. IMO we should forget about big free agents in the next 1 or 2 years. Dwight is not coming here after this year and a strike. We will be developing internally and it will be a long, slow, and potentially heartbreaking process. For the sake of the organization, though, there's no alternative.

Cheers Gil, thanks for everything and have fun in Disneyworld.

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

Hate to see GA go. Always of favorite of mine--in good or bad times--and a good-hearted kid. But I guess it was inevitable....and probably best for the Zards in the short and long-run. I'm not a big fan of Lewis, but those calling him "garbage" are way off target.

Best to you in Orl, Gil!

Well, off to see the Wizards beat the Heat!

I liked Lewis out of HS. I'll never forget him crying about being passed over in round one. He said he was going to make teams pay for that and he did. Lewis was a stone cold scoring machine with Seattle. He wasn't bad at all the year Orlando went to the Finals.

That said, he's vanished since that contract. Rashard's grossly overpaid and hasn't been the same lately as he once was. I can only hope Lewis regains form, DCZards, because I agree he's not garbage.

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

EG on the deal:

This was a way to possibly free up cap room for us down the road and also get some front-court help," Wizards President Ernie Grunfeld said in a telephone interview. "Rashard can shoot, rebound, play some defense and it never hurts when you have a player like John Wall to have another perimeter shooter

WHAT A LOAD OF BS!!!! Rashard Lewis can rebound?????? Rashard Lewis can defend??????
Stop it. Don't sell that to true diehards. Ernie is a charlatan. Just tell the truth. You did it to save money and not because Lewis is a good player. Josh Howard, IMO, is a better player now, even after the ACL than Lewis is.

Bull.

F i r e E G and Flip.

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

[quote="LyricalRico]Huh? So the owner gets to say stuff for his hockey team, but when it's the basketball team he can only speak through the GM? Ted has absolutely said about the Wizards EXACTLY what he said about the Capitals and we are seeing the execution of strategy. Matter of fact, to think that Ted wasn't very involved in this move is completely ridiculous. If you're going to be mad at anyone, why not your beloved Ted who just said a little more than a month ago that Gil "wasn't going anywhere"?[/quote]

No, I'm mad that Ernie Grunfeld is openly lying to Wizards fans when he says Rashard Lewis can rebound and defend. That is what I'm mad about. And the common fans will eat it up too. If you are going to give accolades, just say Lewis has been to the finals, and has shown he can be an excellent 3 point shooter. Don't tell me lies.[/quote]
You're really grasping at straws.

What do you want Ernie to say? "Yeah, Rashard sucks. He doesn't give much effort on the defensive end or the boards, but man, we had to get out of that Arenas deal."?

What he said is the exact same thing every other NBA GM would have said about Rashard. It's a canned response to give the impression that the team got a great player.

Of all the things to bash Grunfeld for, his comments regarding Rashard are just about as inconsequential as it can get.[/quote][/quote][/quote]

I want Ernie to divulge the advice he gave Arenas this time last year, prior to the gun gate conviction.

Oh wait, he'd lie about that, too. Never mind.

Rashard can rebound?

[lupin]

Also, the clear message for me here is that Leonsis and EG made the trade with strike in mind. Rashard has 3 years left but only one year after the strike, and I am sure the two realize there will be an opportunity to cut him then. That 50% salary different post strike is probably the main number playing in their heads.

It is NOT going to be a strike. It will be a LOCKOUT.

Players already get a bad enough rap. Don't be ignorant.

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

Probably true, but irrelevant as far as the trade goes. The fact is, Arenas was not the same player he once was, and he wasn't going to become that player again as long as he remained in a Wizards uniform. He had lost his joy for the game.

I hope he gets it back in Orlando. I'll be rooting for him.

Consider that Orlando got J Rich on the wing and also got back Turkoglu. Richardson is a nice scoring option outside and in. Turkoglu can handle the ball and he hits big shots.

Then they've got Howard who's deadly inside and Redick from the outside. Jameer can handle PG when Gil's not at that positon. Arenas with Redick will be sweet.

Gil should be in HEAVEN with the Magic! He's going to have the time of his life there. I am very happy for him.

And I believe JRich and Gil were best friends when they were teammates in GS - seems like a lifetime ago.

Wow, Ruz. Now I'm REALLY happy for Gilbert.

Since then, J Rich has had some playoff success with GS in their upset over Dallas years back, and most recently, last year with Phoenix. Richardson was on fire in the playoffs.

Helluva trade for Orlando, IMO.

[willbcocks]

Also, the clear message for me here is that Leonsis and EG made the trade with strike in mind. Rashard has 3 years left but only one year after the strike, and I am sure the two realize there will be an opportunity to cut him then. That 50% salary different post strike is probably the main number playing in their heads.

It is NOT going to be a strike. It will be a LOCKOUT.

Players already get a bad enough rap. Don't be ignorant.

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

I was one of the biggest move Gil supporters on this board, and it's done. But there is little to be excited about this trade.

First let me analyze the talent swap:

Rashard Lewis: SF...shoot...no, no, no, I have nothing to say about this guy's talent he absolutely sucks.

Gil: I think what changed over the beginning of this season was a belief in the organization that Wall and Arenas would not work on the court. They may had this offer before the season but hoped that Gil's floor presence wouldn't hurt Wall's development, but having seen that the two really don't work well together, they thought it would be safer from a development perspective to have a huge contract wasting space elsewhere on the floor.

Financial Concerns: Obviously Rashard's contract is one year shorter, so let's call that a victory. Congrats EG--you have again made the least beneficial trade imaginable. I will redouble my applause if you are terminated after Christmas.

Also, the clear message for me here is that Leonsis and EG made the trade with strike in mind. Rashard has 3 years left but only one year after the strike, and I am sure the two realize there will be an opportunity to cut him then. That 50% salary different post strike is probably the main number playing in their heads.

and finally, The Fans:

IMO we, or at least me, are the main winners of this trade. Not because we will be treated to quality basketball this year--that's a laugh. But because there is finally some closure on a fundamentally unstable situation. And the one time hero of our franchise was traded to a rival of our old rivals, to a team that is likable. I am happy that I will be able to cheer for Gil the player instead of having to keep thinking about Gil the contract. With Shard I will have no reservations simply calling him Contract Lewis, but that was harder with Gil and I think created some bad blood among Wizards fans.

The rebuild through youth that was extremely probable before the season started is on in earnest. IMO we should forget about big free agents in the next 1 or 2 years. Dwight is not coming here after this year and a strike. We will be developing internally and it will be a long, slow, and potentially heartbreaking process. For the sake of the organization, though, there's no alternative.

Cheers Gil, thanks for everything and have fun in Disneyworld.

Preach, WB!

No offense to anyone who has a child with special needs, or if you yourself were one, but I often think Ernie was a SPED kid.

He can draft talent but when it comes to the fiscal part of deals this dude just hands over his lunch money for one carton of milk. Ernie gets back pennies on the dollar for what he gives. Gil for Rashard is the worst deal out there.

When polls were taken for the worst NBA contract, none other than Rashard's won. Gil's wasn't even top five.

ALL HE GOT WAS LEWIS?

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

I would look at a positive in the trade. At least Rashard Lewis will play. Arenas was barely on the floor.

I am just having fun with this (and I do applaud you, there are positives IMO)....

That said, who's to say that now that he's a Wizard Rashard Lewis doesn't get injured?

Josh Howard, John Wall, Yi Jianlian might have something to warn Lewis about.