Arenas for Vince or dump Arenas for cap space?

[LyricalRico]

So quoting Gilbert Arenas is "trolling" now? That's pretty funny. What's next, Krizko? Are you going to claim that Gil himself is a "Gil Hater" because he's talking about not finishing his career in Washington?



(Oh and nice job trying to report my post as "illegal" just because you disagree. A true D-Bag move, son.)

[queridiculo]

Gil has no inner monologue. Why any Wizard fan that's familiar with his personality make much of this boggles my mind. I can understand the casual observer reading too much into it but IMO it's just another case of Gil being Gil.

Arenas says he is not seeking and early exit

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/wizardsinsider/

To some, Arenas's comments appeared to be a message that he was looking to be moved before his contract expires after the 2013-14 season. Arenas said he isn't looking to go anywhere, or seeking a trade; he is content serving as a mentor to Wall and the other young Wizards as one of the few veterans on the roster. He said he simply meant that he would move on when his deal ends, not before it.

"I've got four years left," Arenas said, "and that's it. That's all I was saying."

At the end of his current contract, Arenas will be 32 and the rest of the Wizards' young players -- such as Wall, JaVale McGee, Andray Blatche and possibly Yi Jianlian, if he re-signs next summer -- will be entering their respective primes. He said it's only natural for teams to move on and bring in younger players, but he enjoys being around this group.

Arenas said was merely stating the obvious: It is Wall's team now. He's a veteran role player around to show him the ropes and help him become a star. "I had my time," Arenas said.

[nate33]

Okay, this is starting to piss me off. Us fans have been waiting patiently for the last three years and now it's your time to "move on". No it's not. It's time for you to live up to the contract the WIZARDS gave you and play for the WIZARDS and be the superstar you can be. What's this "basketball is just basketball I've lost all feeling" bull? And "I'm just there to hit open shots"? No you're not. You're paid like a superstar not some role player sharp shooter off the bench. At least try to take over the game like we all know you can. Don't simply "take open shots". Not a single thing he said in that video (http://voices.washingtonpost.com/wizard ... aside.html) makes me excited to see Gilbert this year.

If after three years of waiting for him to get healthy and what not, he pulls this "support player" bull during the season I'll be pretty pissed. Us fans don't deserve that.

Good grief, there's nothing the guy can say or do without getting criticized.

It appears that Gil believes his role is to be secondary scorer and spot up shooter. I'm sure that's coming from Flip. Obviously, the intent is to groom Wall as the full time PG, not as a combo guard who shares the back-court as co-equals with Gil.

As a complimentary scorer and spot-up shooter, what we want is for Gil to score efficiently, make threes, and expend more energy on defense. That's exactly what he did. He scored 12 points on 9 shots in 26 minutes. Over 36 minutes, that's 17 points per game with a TS% of 66.7%! My guess is that, in other circumstances, he might look for his shot a bit more with his efficiency dropping a bit. I'll take 17 ppg with a 67% TS%, or I'd take 21 ppg with a 60% TS%. Either way he's doing exactly what we need from him.

Keep up the good work, Gil!

[20MexicanosIn1Van]

^^Even after the surgeries, Gilbert is more than a 17 ppg scorer.

Whatever, I'm not going to sit here and decipher what Gil truly thinks or means anymore. Especially when he is acting all phony in front of the media (which is what he's clearly doing). I'm going to wait and watch a few regular season games before I make any more judgements.

[LyricalRico]

Arenas says he is not seeking and early exit

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/wizardsinsider/

To some, Arenas's comments appeared to be a message that he was looking to be moved before his contract expires after the 2013-14 season. Arenas said he isn't looking to go anywhere, or seeking a trade; he is content serving as a mentor to Wall and the other young Wizards as one of the few veterans on the roster. He said he simply meant that he would move on when his deal ends, not before it.

Looks like he cleaned it up pretty quick. But in the end, it doesn't really matter what he thinks. It's up to Ted/Ernie. I think Gil is probably here for the rest of this season, but I'd be shocked if the organization didn't at least explore their options after the new CBA is set.

Go Wiz!

[Dat2U]

Arenas says he is not seeking and early exit

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/wizardsinsider/

To some, Arenas's comments appeared to be a message that he was looking to be moved before his contract expires after the 2013-14 season. Arenas said he isn't looking to go anywhere, or seeking a trade; he is content serving as a mentor to Wall and the other young Wizards as one of the few veterans on the roster. He said he simply meant that he would move on when his deal ends, not before it.

Looks like he cleaned it up pretty quick. But in the end, it doesn't really matter what he thinks. It's up to Ted/Ernie. I think Gil is probably here for the rest of this season, but I'd be shocked if the organization didn't at least explore their options after the new CBA is set.

Go Wiz!

No it isn't. It's up to Gil. His performance determines his value around the league, not Ernie or even Teddy. If Gil's performance is sub par or he gets hurt again, he's a Wizard indefinitely no matter what anyone thinks.

Again, read my earlier post. You of all people should no better. Whenever Gil speaks to the media he's an open book. Back when he was popular, we & the media praised him for being refreshingly honest. Now we critique & criticize everything that comes out his mouth. What changed for that to happen? $100 million dollars, a bum knee and one regrettable mistake.

[verbal8]

As a complimentary scorer and spot-up shooter, what we want is for Gil to score efficiently, make threes, and expend more energy on defense. That's exactly what he did. He scored 12 points on 9 shots in 26 minutes. Over 36 minutes, that's 17 points per game with a TS% of 66.7%! My guess is that, in other circumstances, he might look for his shot a bit more with his efficiency dropping a bit. I'll take 17 ppg with a 67% TS%, or I'd take 21 ppg with a 60% TS%. Either way he's doing exactly what we need from him.

Keep up the good work, Gil!

I agree. Some may argue with his contract he should be producing more, however with the cheap talents the Wizard have(Wall, Blatche, McGee), it is better to have an overpaid player filling a role, than trying to play up to his contract.

[Ruzious]

I think the "depression" and all this junk will go away on the Wiz opening home game - when the DC crowd gives Gil a standing O - and that'll be one of those moments that I think will be memorable to some of us - like Irene Pollin's reaction to winning the lottery. It might have some dust and rust on it, but Gil will get his smile back.

[JWizmentality]

I think the "depression" and all this junk will go away on the Wiz opening home game - when the DC crowd gives Gil a standing O - and that'll be one of those moments that I think will be memorable to some of us - like Irene Pollin's reaction to winning the lottery. It might have some dust and rust on it, but Gil will get his smile back.

I agree, Gil needs to know he's still loved. Some jackasses in Dallas were booing him when he got the ball.

[20MexicanosIn1Van]

I sure hope the Verizon center goes crazy for Gil, hopefully no idiots boo.

[LyricalRico]

Whenever Gil speaks to the media he's an open book. Back when he was popular, we & the media praised him for being refreshingly honest. Now we critique & criticize everything that comes out his mouth. What changed for that to happen? $100 million dollars, a bum knee and one regrettable mistake.

I am not going to apolgize for quoting something that somebody said. Especially not when they are "refreshingly honest", which would mean that whatever they say is actually true. Seriously - I don't think you can call somebody "refreshingly honest" and then complain that they are misunderstood by the people they are being so "refreshingly honest" with.

And I don't think people are just now starting to "critique & criticize everything that comes out of his mouth". People have been doing that since Day 1 with Arenas (and any other popular athlete for that matter). What HAS changed is that some of his supporters are trying to transform him into some kind of victim our hearts should bleed for, some kind of holy martyr that doesn't deserve anything that has ever happened to him and who has been unjustly wronged so such an extent that anything less than blind, unflinching support is tantamount to an act of treason against the entire franchise.

Sorry, but I'm not buying that.

[AceDegenerate]

So quoting Gilbert Arenas is "trolling" now? That's pretty funny. What's next, Krizko? Are you going to claim that Gil himself is a "Gil Hater" because he's talking about not finishing his career in Washington?



(Oh and nice job trying to report my post as "illegal" just because you disagree. A true D-Bag move, son.)

Yeah, real d-bag move when you and your mod cronies get me suspended for nothing at all.

I reported you for trolling, didn't see the drop down box to specify. Regardless not like it matters. You know what your doing, I get called out all the time for it.

[AceDegenerate]

Arenas says he is not seeking and early exit

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/wizardsinsider/

To some, Arenas's comments appeared to be a message that he was looking to be moved before his contract expires after the 2013-14 season. Arenas said he isn't looking to go anywhere, or seeking a trade; he is content serving as a mentor to Wall and the other young Wizards as one of the few veterans on the roster. He said he simply meant that he would move on when his deal ends, not before it.

Looks like he cleaned it up pretty quick. But in the end, it doesn't really matter what he thinks. It's up to Ted/Ernie. I think Gil is probably here for the rest of this season, but I'd be shocked if the organization didn't at least explore their options after the new CBA is set.

Go Wiz!

I know you'd love for that to be the case, but no. It's up to Ted.

[Wizards2Lottery]

What HAS changed is that some of his supporters are trying to transform him into some kind of victim our hearts should bleed for, some kind of holy martyr that doesn't deserve anything that has ever happened to him

I know this is hyperbole, but come on? You don't think it's unfair how the media treated him for what obviously a joke gone wrong? Yeah it was stupid on his part but the treatment he got was far WORSE than say someone like Roethlisberger, who's coverage wasn't even picked up by ESPN for some absurd reason (jeez I wonder why?).

Devastating knee injuries, losing a ton of money, being portrayed as a thug and a horrible person, give me a break man. The emotional toll that can take on someone is ridiculous. The entire country wanted to make an example out of him without even knowing the details.

We all like to think that Gil might be happy because he's being paid a ton of money, but the man has been without his job for nearly three years now. Basketball was a safe haven for Gil

At this point I really don't care what happens to his status as a Wizard. But Gilbert, simply on a humanitarian level is a great person. Sadly, he's also extremely misunderstood. And I know what being misunderstood can do to the psyche of a person.

[Wizards2Lottery]

I think the "depression" and all this junk will go away on the Wiz opening home game - when the DC crowd gives Gil a standing O - and that'll be one of those moments that I think will be memorable to some of us - like Irene Pollin's reaction to winning the lottery. It might have some dust and rust on it, but Gil will get his smile back.

I agree, Gil needs to know he's still loved. Some jackasses in Dallas were booing him when he got the ball.

I'm going to be at the home opener against Philly and Gil will get a standing ovation from me. The man has been through way too much to be getting piled on as if he's used garbage.

[JWizmentality]

I am not going to apolgize for quoting something that somebody said. Especially not when they are "refreshingly honest", which would mean that whatever they say is actually true. Seriously - I don't think you can call somebody "refreshingly honest" and then complain that they are misunderstood by the people they are being so "refreshingly honest" with.

And I don't think people are just now starting to "critique & criticize everything that comes out of his mouth". People have been doing that since Day 1 with Arenas (and any other popular athlete for that matter). What HAS changed is that some of his supporters are trying to transform him into some kind of victim our hearts should bleed for, some kind of holy martyr that doesn't deserve anything that has ever happened to him and who has been unjustly wronged so such an extent that anything less than blind, unflinching support is tantamount to an act of treason against the entire franchise.

Sorry, but I'm not buying that.

I don't think anybody here is implying that Gil didn't bring this whole episode on himself. What we object to is the "hide your kids, hide your wife" label the media has branded him with. Gilbert is a nice guy. He made stupid mistakes and he has paid for it. So now, I want him to succeed and and wish him the best. There's nothing wrong with that. To be honest, and to avoid completely agreeing with Krizko, your comments do come off as kind of trollish, dancing on his grave kinda thing. I thought we only did that to he whose name shall not be spoken.

[Induveca]

Agreed with Krizoko/JWiz......Rico you've been a poor representation of what I consider to be the most intelligent board on RealGM as of late with the over-the-top Arenas hatred. You're a moderator, you should really act like one. You should MODERATE, not ALIENATE.

Becoming one of the most polarizing figures on the entire board as a mod is a bad sign. Even though KZ can get out of hand at times, I do applaud him for calling you out. He just says what a lot of us think.

I don't dislike you, you're completely logical and seem to be a good guy but you've really gotten off in baiting and making outlandish comments specifically in this thread for months now. It's gotten juvenile and old. We're all fans here rooting for the same team, and if you as a moderator know 50+% of the board is rooting for Arenas to succeed as a Wiz, the last thing you should be doing as a moderator is your "tapdancing on his grave" schtick.

[Induveca]

So quoting Gilbert Arenas is "trolling" now? That's pretty funny. What's next, Krizko? Are you going to claim that Gil himself is a "Gil Hater" because he's talking about not finishing his career in Washington?



(Oh and nice job trying to report my post as "illegal" just because you disagree. A true D-Bag move, son.)

Rico, just read this as well. Pathetic. "D-Bag". I think it's offensive and unworthy of the trust you've been given. Calling out and alienating customers for stating their mind is not something you should be doing in your unpaid, yet *important* position here on a large scale forum.

I'm a man who has owned/owns huge online communities (250,000+ subscribers with 80+ moderators) and I would have axed you immediately for your comments over these past two pages. DISGRACEFUL job representing the brand here. Customer is always right, you forget you're not a customer when you decide to represent a company.

Stick to the Arenas debate, calling a customer a "D-Bag" in your position is unacceptable.

[willbcocks]

I don't think it's anything to criticize, but Gil clearly does not see himself in the team's long term plans. He can say he's waiting for the contract to end before moving on, but that just tells me he'd be happy to move on sooner if given the chance. Maybe if EG had been dumped for a new GM things would have turned out differently.

My impression is it's pretty clear that both sides are ready to move on. That they have not means we are not getting trade offers. Hopefully Gil starts balling and that changes.

[montestewart]

Wow, I missed a lot of action. Today's discussion evokes images of high school girls full of angst over the impossibly sexy, brooding loner with leather jacket and a volume of Rimbaud or Baudelaire.

"He has such sad eyes."

Arenas got some ridiculously skewed coverage over the last year, but he also brought some of it on himself. I know he knows that. I don't see him as martyr, but a man who is trying to figure out what comes next. So far, I pretty much respect the choices he's made of late.

Some of Arenas might be a petulant reaction, but some of it might be a thoughtful decision. He has some impulse control issues, but in the past, that only led to entertainment. On the heels of the big contract and the injuries, it all finally went wrong and he got burned. Maybe he just wants to relearn how to control his impulses a little, starting from a neutral position.

That would be a pretty dramatic change, but possibly echoed by the change I maybe was seeing on the court last night. As noted above, he seemed to be playing the role the team needs, scoring efficiently and letting Wall's game come to him. On a couple of sequences, I believe I even detected some increased defensive energy from him too--if he kept that up, he might even learn to be adequate there. And I saw him smile at the end there. I think he'll find joy on the court.

All that water over the dam, and who knows how much longer he'll be here? Regardless, he's still up there with my favorites: Unseld, Dandridge, Bol, and Muresan (and, and, and, Ewing). He never was a Bullet, but he'll always be a Bullet to me. (No lame pun intended there at all.) I'll be there cheering for Arenas and his team at the opening home game too. See you all there.