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Disclaimer: this thread is NOT to discuss the chances of Arenas signing with the Celtics

Arenas said yesterday he plans on opting out of his contract after this season. He said the Wizards are his top option but he is willing to go elsewhere. (...) "I don't know what's going to happen. I could have signed an extension this year, but it wasn't going to make sense for me. If my own team doesn't take me, I'll go somewhere for a lot less to win a championship."

I've been regurgitating the quote above trying to understand what is it exactly that Gilberto wants, but I can't tell. Your help is much appreciated.

Let's see:

"I could have signed an extension this year, but it wasn't going to make sense for me."
(My cluelessness about the CBA will probably show here but...) Why not? I'm sure the Wizards were (and still are) ready to offer you a maximum contract.

"If my own team doesn't take me, I'll go somewhere for a lot less to win a championship."
Here's where the real meat is. If your team doesn't take you (I'm assuming he refers to a max contract) you'll sign with another team for less to win a championship? So why don't you give your own team the home discount and win a championship with them (especially when they supposedly are your top option)?

So he's basically saying that he'd sign with the Wizards for the money, or otherwise with another team for the glory?

Can someone tell me if I'm reading too much into this? I had a rough day at the office today and I might need to be locked away in a padded room for the night.

Looks to me it is all or nothing in his mind. This means that if the Wizards do not offer him a max contract he will just go for the glory instead; perhaps to spite them?

I really doubt a player in his prime will walk away from a max contract for a chance to win a championship for much less money.

Joebiscuit wrote:Looks to me it is all or nothing in his mind. This means that if the Wizards do not offer him a max contract he will just go for the glory instead; perhaps to spite them?

I really doubt a player in his prime will walk away from a max contract for a chance to win a championship for much less money.

Gilbert is a bit tapped, let's not forget that.

I wouldn't put it past him to sign a MLE type deal just to win a title.

Well we can both agree he is tapped. Players at the tail end of their career will take less money to win a ring . I just do not see a player in his prime walking away for a max contract.

i always saw gilbert as a little more down to earth than most players.

maybe he realizes that an extra 60 million won't really matter that much in the end.

Joebiscuit wrote:Well we can both agree he is tapped. Players at the tail end of their career will take less money to win a ring . I just do not see a player in his prime walking away for a max contract.

At the end of the day...does it really matter if he banks $90 million in paychecks or $140 million? Toss in the super duper exposure gained from being a champion (face it, ANY team can add Gilbert so long as they're willing to pay the luxury tax...if any elite team just adds this guy for free they're instantly a notch above everyone else.

I'm jumping to my own conclusions here that it'd be the MLE...but if that's the case there's a solid mix of teams who would be vying for Arenas' services:
Boston: Rajon Rondo has been nice, but let's get serious here, Gilbert would be a KILLER Celtic.
New Jersey: They can move Kidd for a big and they'd have a KILLER 4 some with Arenas-Carter-Jefferson-new big
Cleveland: He could easily play Pippen to LeBron's Jordan and ride the King to a few titles.
Atlanta: The Hawks would be SERIOUS contenders if they added Arenas to an emerging young core of Marvin Williams-Josh Smith-Al Horford
Orlando: Arenas-Dwight...CHAAAMPIONSHIP
LA Lakers: Arenas moves to Showtime and an already talented Lakers team gets even better.
Dallas: Arenas-Howard-Nowitzki would be ANOTHER killer Big Three.

BUT my FAVORITE potential destination:
THE Portland Trailblazers: Arenas-Roy-Aldridge-Oden....WOW

BobbySura wrote:i always saw gilbert as a little more down to earth than most players.

maybe he realizes that an extra 60 million won't really matter that much in the end.

Of course 60 mill matters in the end. That is so much money in just that one contract, he would have trouble ever spending it. What would you do with 60 mill? I have a good idea what i would do.

Jimmy103 wrote:-= original quote snipped =-




At the end of the day...does it really matter if he banks $90 million in paychecks or $140 million? Toss in the super duper exposure gained from being a champion (face it, ANY team can add Gilbert so long as they're willing to pay the luxury tax...if any elite team just adds this guy for free they're instantly a notch above everyone else.

Uh, yes it does. I know people think there is a point when you have too much money but that is not that case. Pro players want to make as much as possible. No way Gilbert and any other person is going leave 50 million on the table.

Gilbert makes all kinds of statements, that usually don't mean that much. He just likes to talk his heart out.

I don't think there is much sense in these words, other then him trying to get his salary up.

Doesn't he have to opt out of this contract to be able to get the max from the Wizards?

John Locke wrote:Doesn't he have to opt out of this contract to be able to get the max from the Wizards?

Kind of: if he doesn't opt out, he'll be making "only" $12.9 million next season.

But reading between the lines, it seems to me that he's basically saying that if he stays with the Wizards he won't win a championship. Is this only aparent to me?

"I could have signed an extension this year, but it wasn't going to make sense for me."

i take this as it wouldn't make sense for his chances at winning an nba title, the direction of the wizards and their commitment to winning

i take it as his number 1 goal is to win a title and if the wizards aren't as committed as him, putting players around him etc. he doesn't want to be handcuffed by a huge max contract

but yeah, gilbert is a weirdo

Gilbert Arenas will never be the leadre of a championship-caliber team. He's too selfish and he doesn't play a lick of defense. You know there's something wrong when a team loses a 25+ ppg scorer, and the team does BETTER. Championships are won with defense, and he's a liability at that end. That's not the type of player you give a MAX contract to, and that's undoubtedly what he will be looking for.

Datruth345 wrote:i take it as his number 1 goal is to win a title and if the wizards aren't as committed as him, putting players around him etc. he doesn't want to be handcuffed by a huge max contract

This makes sense and would be typical ear candy for NBA fans, but he said the Wizards are his top option and that he would pursue plan B "if my own team doesn't take me". All of this means his top priority is to stay in DC, even if he ends up "handcuffed".

Datruth345 wrote:"I could have signed an extension this year, but it wasn't going to make sense for me."

i take this as it wouldn't make sense for his chances at winning an nba title, the direction of the wizards and their commitment to winning

i take it as his number 1 goal is to win a title and if the wizards aren't as committed as him, putting players around him etc. he doesn't want to be handcuffed by a huge max contract

but yeah, gilbert is a weirdo

I take it to mean he can make more money signing this summer instead of last.