Mitch Lawrence: Gil's deal is already done.

[fishercob]

Mod's, merge if you like, but I thought this deserved it's own thread:

Gilbert Arenas isn't leaving Washington, despite opting out of the last year of his contract, which would have paid him around $13 million next season. Arenas and the Wizards have secretly agreed on a new multi-year deal, according to a GM friend of Washington executive Ernie Grunfeld. ...

[FreeBalling]

Mod's, merge if you like, but I thought this deserved it's own thread:

Gilbert Arenas isn't leaving Washington, despite opting out of the last year of his contract, which would have paid him around $13 million next season. Arenas and the Wizards have secretly agreed on a new multi-year deal, according to a GM friend of Washington executive Ernie Grunfeld. ...

That's great news, I see 55 wins next year. Now if we can only draft Roy Hibbert, I'm going to be real happy.

[dobrojim]

Ditto the above

that is except if it turns out that they violated league rules and it ends
up costing us a draft pick or worse.

AFAIK, such a secret deal could indeed be a violation. I'm not sure
what would specifically constitute such a violation. I have my doubts
that GMEG would be a party to an actual violation. The other wild card
is the possible involvement of AJ in such an "understanding" if we are
to believe GA when he stated that AJ should be "taken care of first".
Of course that statement didn't really jive (that well) with his original statement
that he wanted a MAX deal.

All that said, I expect both to be in Wiz unis next season.

[tsvqt]

Mod's, merge if you like, but I thought this deserved it's own thread:

Gilbert Arenas isn't leaving Washington, despite opting out of the last year of his contract, which would have paid him around $13 million next season. Arenas and the Wizards have secretly agreed on a new multi-year deal, according to a GM friend of Washington executive Ernie Grunfeld. ...

All it tells me is that we will have the exact same team we had last season, although a healthier version....minus RMJr and adding our #18 and VV.

PG - ARENAS, Daniels
SG - STEVENSON, Young
SF- BUTLER, McGuire, #18
PF - JAMISON, Blatche, Songaila, VV
C - HAYWOOD, THOMAS, Pecherov

VV being a D-League'r and Pech being IR/Inactive or #18 going to D-League with VV.

We all do our best GM'n job and put forth our two cents with these elaborate trade ideas, but when the rubber hits the road in Oct/Nov 2009, the above is what you'll likely be looking at.

[rook6980]

I think we're more likely to see:

PG - ARENAS, Daniels, #47 (big combo guard with PG handle)
SG - STEVENSON, Young
SF- BUTLER, McGuire,
PF - JAMISON, Blatche, Songaila, Pecherov
C - HAYWOOD, THOMAS, #18 (Hopefully Hibbert)

And VV back in Russia for another year. Based on what I've seen of his stats, he's not exactly tearing up the Russian leagues; and they're a step below the Euro Leagues at that...

[tsvqt]

I think we're more likely to see:

PG - ARENAS, Daniels, #47 (big combo guard with PG handle)
SG - STEVENSON, Young
SF- BUTLER, McGuire,
PF - JAMISON, Blatche, Songaila, Pecherov
C - HAYWOOD, THOMAS, #18 (Hopefully Hibbert)

And VV back in Russia for another year. Based on what I've seen of his stats, he's not exactly tearing up the Russian leagues; and they're a step below the Euro Leagues at that...

Summer League will tell us more on this subject. Summer League helped fool us with Pech right? Why not VV as well?..........
p.s. Please tell me how you divide up the minutes for the 7 big men you have listed. Is Hibbert a D-leaguer or what?

[mohammed10]

A few random thoughts:

If Lawrence's report is accurate, I can't help but think the Commish's office will come calling (remember Joe Smith and Minny?). If that back room deal cost the Wolves, what 3 #1's, I wince to think at what it would cost this franchise, especially after the Minnesota punishment was to serve as a warning to the rest of the league.

If this turns out to be nothing more than a verbal agreement (gulp!), then I'm on board with giving GA far less than the max deal he originally sought (similar to what nate and others have stated in other posts). Final numbers will tell the tale.

[tsvqt]

A few random thoughts:

If Lawrence's report is accurate, I can't help but think the Commish's office will come calling (remember Joe Smith and Minny?). If that back room deal cost the Wolves, what 3 #1's, I wince to think at what it would cost this franchise, especially after the Minnesota punishment was to serve as a warning to the rest of the league.

If this turns out to be nothing more than a verbal agreement (gulp!), then I'm on board with giving GA far less than the max deal he originally sought (similar to what nate and others have stated in other posts). Final numbers will tell the tale.

I don't get it....I'm lost in the sauce somewhere. I was under the belief that Gil is now a Free Agent and can sign with anyone for any amount, basically. So if we have got a deal done, then what's the shadyness you guys are speaking of??? Just because Gil and EG didn't put their finances out in public for all to see, what's the problem?

[mohammed10]

Unless I am incorrect, FA doesn't start until July 1st. No FA or someone who has declared for FA can sign before that time. OTW, it is considered a violation of the CBA.

Any other experts out there can verify?

[80sballboy]

I'll believe it when I see it, but if it's true, I'm not jumping for joy. Even with a healthy Gil, we still don't have enough defense to get past the Celts or current Pistons in the playoffs. If it's true, I'm sure Eddie's thrilled though.

[mohammed10]

I'll believe it when I see it, but if it's true, I'm not jumping for joy. Even with a healthy Gil, we still don't have enough defense to get past the Celts or current Pistons in the playoffs. If it's true, I'm sure Eddie's thrilled though.

Couldn't agree more, 80sballboy.

[yungal07]

I'll believe it when I see it, but if it's true, I'm not jumping for joy. Even with a healthy Gil, we still don't have enough defense to get past the Celts or current Pistons in the playoffs. If it's true, I'm sure Eddie's thrilled though.

we couldn't beat the celtics or pistons if we lost arenas for nothing, so you wouldn't be jumping for joy regardless of what happened.

i'm just glad the tough part is over with. maybe now the FO can consider moving jamison without the threat of arenas leaving.

[miller31time]

If true, then I'm quasi-relieved the deal is done, but still left wondering how much it's for.

I mean, was there really that much doubt that Arenas would be in a Wizards uniform next season? It would have been awfully unlikely for anything but him signing a new contract with us to happen.

What we've all been worrying about isn't if he'd sign, but for how much. Let's just hope it's a slight increase in pay with the main point being longterm security....heck, with his last injured season (and considering we still payed him millions of dollars to not play basketball in a Wizards uniform) I'm having a hard time trying to tell myself it's fair to even ask for a raise.

[tsvqt]

Unless I am incorrect, FA doesn't start until July 1st. No FA or someone who has declared for FA can sign before that time. OTW, it is considered a violation of the CBA.

Any other experts out there can verify?

OK, true...true....that I know of though, you can have a deal in place. That has happened plenty of times before. You just wait until the witching-hour to actually lay the contract down for a signature. I'm sure EG hasn't done anything shady. Not sure why it's even being discussed.
EG's not S T U P I D.

[Kanyewest]

The Joe Smith scandal is much worse than this. Courtesy of Wiki

"Following the 1999-2000 season, it was discovered that Smith was involved in a salary cap-tampering scandal involving Timberwolves executive Kevin McHale. Smith was allegedly promised a future multi-million dollar deal if he signed with the team for below market value, allowing the team to make some additional player moves in the short term. The league later found out about this violation and voided the last year of the contract, also severely punishing the Timberwolves by taking away five first-round draft picks (though two of the picks were ultimately returned) and fining the team $3.5 million.[1]The move hurt the Timberwolves in the long run, as while the team still found success, the lack of draft picks set the team up for their eventual failure in the mid-2000s."

[mohammed10]

Thanks kanyewest - that's even worse than I originally thought - 5 1st round picks.

tsqvt - no worries. I hope EG isn't that stupid!

[MJG]

With the rumors of Philly making a run at Jamison coming up, it makes me a little curious about this whole thing. I mean, we're all aware that Arenas said he is willing to take on less money if that's what it takes to bring Jamison back. How is that possible though, if he's already secretly agreed to a deal? Is it so low, that the team feels it can bring Jamison back no matter what? Is he just assuming that Jamison will come back at no more than a certain price, and bargained based around that number? Was he just talking out of his ass earlier, and decided not to worry about Jamison and just get his?

Of course, that's all assuming this secret deal is true.

[Wizardspride]

With the rumors of Philly making a run at Jamison coming up, it makes me a little curious about this whole thing. I mean, we're all aware that Arenas said he is willing to take on less money if that's what it takes to bring Jamison back. How is that possible though, if he's already secretly agreed to a deal? Is it so low, that the team feels it can bring Jamison back no matter what? Is he just assuming that Jamison will come back at no more than a certain price, and bargained based around that number? Was he just talking out of his ass earlier, and decided not to worry about Jamison and just get his?

Of course, that's all assuming this secret deal is true.

Or could the Wiz be moving on without Jamison and be in the process of making a big move?

[RickRoll_inDC]

or maybe they've 'worked out' deals with both Arenas AND Jamison, and they only found out about Gil's.

I'm not at all concerned that Jamison won't be back next year. We'll have- most likely- remotely the same roster as last year with maybe a small little trade getting a certain poet out of town with a new Big guy in town (or, a new big guy REMAINING in town, if you know what i mean )

[Skins 2008]

If no rules were broken then this very good news it is great that Gilbert is coming back.I didn't think
he was going to leave anyways because the Wizards can pay him the most money.