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I'm creating this poll because it seems that our board is TOTALLY divided (as usual). With what we know RIGHT NOW, do you want to see Gilbert Arenas gone? I'll give you multiple options.

I'd like to see Gilbert stay a wizard, I hate when celebs/stars are used to make a point. I just feel he made a mistake and meant no harm. He brought the guns (a crime) so he should have to pay his fine/community service or whatever.


You can choose 2 if you are torn, and you can go back and change your vote.

I would like Arenas gone. Prior to this incident, I was hoping (but not necessary hopeful) that we would deal him for an expiring contract. Now, if it turns out that he has done something that would give us a valid reason to void his contract, I want us to pursue that route.

The reasons for this are entirely basketball-related. Arenas' contract is probably double what he's really worth on the court, and for a team that badly needs to blow things up and start again, that's a serious liability. Whether getting rid of him involves him going to jail, going to another team, or just leaving the NBA entirely, I really don't care.

On the flip side, if he remains with the team - meaning he is found innocent of any wrong doings and no other team is wiling to trade expirings for him - I'll continue to cheer and boo him, as appropriate, just like any other member of the team. This latest incident does nothing to change that.

I hope he's traded.

I only see Gilbert winning a chip if he's teamed up with a natural born on-court leader who can keep him in line and motivate him to play defense. Given the size of his contract, I don't think the Wizards will be able to sign or trade for that type of player. So, unless we get lucky and (a) the Wizards draft a guy like Wall and (b) Wall ends up being a true Leader of Men, I think the Wizards cannot win a chip with Gilbert on the roster.

I'm not saying that the Wizards should get rid of him by any means necessary (e.g., taking on everyone else's worst long-term contracts). Obviously, Gilbert isn't enough to keep the team out of the lottery, and we can effectively tank with him on the roster and hope that Wall or whoever ends up being the Man.

But, Gilbert should definitely be made available.

Now, it's unlikely that EG (or any GM, for that matter) can trade Gil easily (given the contract + antics), which is why the Wizards should at least consider the pros and cons of attempting to void the contract. But I'd prefer a trade to a voided contract, depending on what the Wizards collect in return.

I think he should pay the price if the stories are true... But...

I want him to stay in a Wiz uniform... Not only b/c he's my favorite player, but also the fact that if he leaves, we won't be seeing any big name free agent in a long time... We won't have a player with his offensive talent anytime soon, meaning we'll probably overpay some other guy who doesn't deserve it...

I still believe we can go deep into the playoffs if we surround him with a 2nd/3rd tier 2 way post player and a bunch of defensive roleplayers and glue guys like Miller, Haywood, Lowry etc... Maybe even win a championship...

There are enough players we can try and get without breaking the bank... We have enough tradeable assets and another try in the draft next year... I mean, teams like the Rockets, Thunder, Kings all have 1 very talented player surrounded by role players and are getting it done... Of course they may or may not make it far in the playoffs, but in the Wizards case, let just build a team that can make the playoffs before talking about a championship...

Oh and on another note... Kobe or Lebron can't even lead these guys to a championship... Both their teams consists of players that know their roles... Only the main dudes get to shotjack every once in a while... Hell, I'll even go as far as saying that this team would do much better with guys like Varejao and Moon at the 3 and 4 instead of Butler and Jamison...

For basketball reasons alone, I would prefer him gone. But as far as whether or not his contract should be voided, that depends solely on the facts. Right now, I'm not yet sure we know the facts so I'll withhold judgment. If the Mike Jones/Gilbert Arenas/Javaris Crittenton account of the story is true, then I don't think it rises to the level of voiding of the contract. But if the feds interrogate them and find out that it was worse and that they were covering up, then the contract should be voided.

* Never mind. An "other" category was added. Thanks.

Based upon a few recent posts, you would think everyone that posts is taking one of two extreme views, and that seems to serve some people's rhetorical purposes. In fact, a fair number are taking a more measured approach, and as such may have the same trouble I have in answering this poll, because there's no category that fits what I think.

Arenas is my favorite Wizard since Wes Unseld (Muresan a distant second) and when it's on, I love his game as much as anyone's in the league, and I love his personality too. The excitement he brought to this dead franchise is more than I can sum up. Still, I've wondered for a few years just how far we could go with him, wondered about his limitations leading the attack, his limitations off the ball, and his limitations on defense, wondered how he would reintegrate into a team that had played without him for two years. Wondered.

I didn't necessarily want to trade him; sure, I was open to trading him to get some people here, but more, I wondered whether he could still be big part of the future, so long as the Big-3 was broken up. I was concerned about him getting a max contract right after major surgery. I was concerned about some of his actions and comments: forcing his own comebacks, then deflecting responsibility for it; blaming Jordan for a team style that he embraced at the time. Still, I was happy to see his return, and happy to see that he was slowly coming back to something like I remember.

The team has been pretty putrid this year, his defense has been largely as I remember, and he seemed to have an obsession with getting assists as if the goal was to amass a fixed number of assist (as opposed to a fixed number of points) rather than to do what was needed to secure victories. He is the best player on the team, but he isn't free from responsibility; the team is bad partially because of him, not despite him.

That's about where I was when this gun story broke. As I've said elsewhere, the fact that the story spread so quickly didn't help, but really, the surrounding circumstances (the big picture, as it were) make it look worse. Everyone should be held to the same standard, but a regrettable act looks even worse when the surrounding circumstances look so bad, and here I include the Wizards' record, Arenas' huge contract, and public perception.

Arenas is the best player on the team, but recently I've become more open to trading him, as I was before this story broke. A contract is a contract. If a player signs a small contract, then gets really good, he still has to play for the small amount. If he signs a max contract, then gets injured or otherwise doesn't live up to on-court expectations, the team still has to pay the player. If either party can legitimately get out of the contract under its terms, they are entitled to do so. I doubt the Wizards will be able to get out of the contract, but it is a business, and they would be negligent if they didn't look into it, as they would be if they weren't open to trade options.

I don't think my position fits in with any of the categories. From what I've read, a number of other positions don't fit very well either; so you'll either get a partial response or many will distort their actual opinions in order to fit a choice. Either way, it won't be a very accurate poll.

I can add some stuff to the poll...

uh oh, i think it reset now. Okay, not adding...update your response. **** THIS ****!

I'm disappointed in Gilbert. Abe went out of his way to clean up the image of his team and the brand for the sole reason of giving the community a positive message. You can agree or disagree with his motives/decisions, but Abe wanted to put together a team of good citizenship, sportsmanship, and camaraderie. Gilbert displayed none of these qualities in his actions. No he didn't pull a trigger, but he created an atmosphere that could have escalated into real violence -- in the Verizon Center nonetheless.

How disappointing that only a month and change after Abe dies, Gilbert pulls this ****. I'm tired of defending this kid (and yes, his character suggests to me that Gilbert is a child in a grown man's body). It's like there's always some new antic or decision he makes that forces Wiz fans to defend him. Well this wizards fan is done. Goodbye Gilbert. Enjoy LA or Golden State next year.

yungal07 wrote:Enjoy LA next year.

This is the key here. I would love nothing more for GIlbert, the human being, than for him to be voided by the Wizards and sign with a team like the Lakers, and use all of this as motivation (as we all know he is capable of doing) for turning his entire career / life around, and feel that sweet taste of revenge on this whoa begotten Wizards / Bullets franchise that so many before him have felt.

There is a good reason the Verizon Center is near-full on a nightly basis with a more than 75% fan base for the opposition. You fans ready to give up on Gilbert for this Gun situation are the reason for this, and you'll get the product you deserve to see on that Verizon Center court.

I'm not gonna lie, if Gil goes to LA...I'll have a Lakers jersey. The wizards will still be my team, but I'm definitely buying an Arenas Lakers Jersey.

I think, Gil to the Cavs is the only jersey I wouldnt buy.

Donkey McDonkerton wrote:I'm not gonna lie, if Gil goes to LA...I'll have a Lakers jersey. The wizards will still be my team, but I'm definitely buying an Arenas Lakers Jersey.

I think, Gil to the Cavs is the only jersey I wouldnt buy.

+1, +1 and +1.

so in effect, +3

If Gil goes to LAL or CLE to piggyback his way to a ring, well, then it certainly wouldn't bode well for the competitive balance of the league. But as a Wizards fan, I'm far more interested in the team doing what it can to increase the odds of winning a chip in DC than in preventing the creation of dynasties elsewhere.

In a dream world, the Wizards could pull off a "wink-wink" nullification of the contract, and re-sign Gil to a long-term contract at a far more modest price. But that ain't gonna happen. And, since I remain convinced that the Wizards won't win a chip with Gil as the Alpha Dog, then the front office has to consider voiding the deal (especially if a trade is unavailable).

A side question: Let's say that, after the investigation, there's enough evidence to justify voiding the deal. Are the Wizards the only team that's allowed to void the deal? Or, does Gil become a massive "non-guaranteed" contract that can be voided after a trade?

keynote wrote:If Gil goes to LAL or CLE to piggyback his way to a ring, well, then it certainly wouldn't bode well for the competitive balance of the league. But as a Wizards fan, I'm far more interested in the team doing what it can to increase the odds of winning a chip in DC than in preventing the creation of dynasties elsewhere.

In a dream world, the Wizards could pull off a "wink-wink" nullification of the contract, and re-sign Gil to a long-term contract at a far more modest price. But that ain't gonna happen. And, since I remain convinced that the Wizards won't win a chip with Gil as the Alpha Dog, then the front office has to consider voiding the deal (especially if a trade is unavailable).

A side question: Let's say that, after the investigation, there's enough evidence to justify voiding the deal. Are the Wizards the only team that's allowed to void the deal? Or, does Gil become a massive "non-guaranteed" contract that can be voided after a trade?

If Arenas' contract was non-guaranteed, it would command a much different price in trade than the current one. I'd think the trading parties would want to know before they make the trade; imagine trading for Arenas and giving back valuable assets (a starting PG, an expiring, and a pick), knowing that in a worst-case scenario, you could simply cut him. Imagine finding out after the trade that you were wrong.

As for LA, I would think that were the Clippers, unless Arenas is a free agent willing to sign a small contract (maybe he would).

I want to keep Gilbert. Unless we get really lucky, what are the chances the wiz actually sign anyone on gilbert's level? Chris Bosh? Amare? Ehh, I'd rather have Gil. Wade would be nice, but he'll either pair with another superstar or resign in miami. If there's someone I'm forgeting, please notify me, but Gilbert is my favorite player, preinjury he was the most fun player in the league to root for, and I think he'll get back on that track sooner than later, so i'd rather not give up on him at the first available opportunity. If we lose Gil, we'll have nothing to root for for the next 2-3 years. It seems so many people are pissed that he's not a top ten player 30 games into his comeback, and have already given up. Out of three options Gil/John Wall/Free Agency, I think STILL, at this point, gilbert has the best chances of being a top ten player in the league on the wizards.

At least at this point, we can hope root for a superstar to regain his old form (and add a few things to his game in the process). We've seen time and time again that you need a superstar to win in the NBA, and for all his faults, Gil is one of the few players in the league that has that type of potential. I also object to the idea that Gibert "will never be a leader". He isnt a dicatotirial type of person that gets in everyones face, but I think hes a personable and fun and will always have his teammates on his side. He's immature for his age, but given time, I think he'll start to have a sense of urgency about winning something during his career. Is he overpaid? ya, but he isnt paid twice what he's worth, and I could easily see him returning to "$15 Million player" form by the end of the season. That would take more passing and defense, but to me at least, that's obviously something he's been working on.

I'm very suprised how most people want to jump ship already and REBUILD. That'll take forever (if it ever actually happens). It takes a near perfect set of circumstances and many years as a bottomfeeder to be a title contender when starting from scratch (and last year wouldnt even count towards that goal since we didnt obtain any longterm pieces). Gil would have to really do some crappy stuff for me to get on that bandwagon. These allogations dont really offend me, because it was done as a joke. If everyone knew the guns were unloaded, how is this any more serious than pointing a fake gun at someone. Having handguns in the District is illegal, i get that, but they werent loaded. Based on my judgements of the available details, this is not an "immoral" crime IMO--just bad judgement. Gil forgot the technicalities/specifics of the law, and didnt put anyone else in danger.

Donkey McDonkerton wrote:I'm not gonna lie, if Gil goes to LA...I'll have a Lakers jersey.

Gross.

That's the point. If any team has the ability to point to Gilbert's actions and void the contract (say, within a 30-day window), then things become a lot more interesting.

And of course, teams would have to obtain certainty about league policy on this issue (and relevant contract law) before entertaining any trade.

Eh, it's a long shot. The morality clause is presumably in place to allow teams (and the league) to cut ties with bad-acting players; it doesn't necessarily make sense to allow a team to trade such a bad actor for compensation before ties are cut. Still; it's a thought.

I'm not mad at Gil for his contract...not even a little bit. Anyone in the world would take more $ if it's offered to them.

VictorPage44 wrote:I want to keep Gilbert. Unless we get really lucky, what are the chances the wiz actually sign anyone on gilbert's level? Chris Bosh? Amare? Ehh, I'd rather have Gil. Wade would be nice, but he'll either pair with another superstar or resign in miami. If there's someone I'm forgeting, please notify me, but Gilbert is my favorite player, preinjury he was the most fun player in the league to root for, and I think he'll get back on that track sooner than later, so i'd rather not give up on him at the first available opportunity. If we lose Gil, we'll have nothing to root for for the next 2-3 years. It seems so many people are pissed that he's not a top ten player 30 games into his comeback, and have already given up. Out of three options Gil/John Wall/Free Agency, I think STILL, at this point, gilbert has the best chances of being a top ten player in the league on the wizards.

I think that is something us fans can live with, we are use to that time frame.

newslowsad wrote:

Donkey McDonkerton wrote:I'm not gonna lie, if Gil goes to LA...I'll have a Lakers jersey.

Gross.

I know, I know....I just cant root AGAINST this guy. He made the wizards exciting....