Arenas, Jamison and the rest of the 2008 offseason

[fishercob]

Per Ivan's blog today:

Oh, and since there is a lot of speculation going around about Gilbert's future, let me save everyone time and energy: Gilbert Arenas will be a Wizard next season. It's simple really. As has been laid out over and over gain: He wants a max contract and the Wiz can give him one more year and more money that any other team. Also, the only teams that might have money to spend are going to be bad teams and as Gilbert told me once: "I ain't going to no bottom feeding team."

I thought this deserved its own spot.

[Wizards2Lottery]

Duh. This team will be built around Arenas and Butler.

I think we're set at pretty much every position except backup PG. AD is on a severe decline and I don't want to imagine how bad he is going to be come next year. Roger Mason is a solid option but I doubt we'll be able to afford him.

[Rischardo]

I don't post much, but here is an interesting read on the Times:

"Washington would have roughly $15 million of cap room if it didn't re-sign Arenas and Jamison, but Grunfeld likes what he has going with the Wizards and plans to retain both players, even if that means taking a luxury tax hit.

"We've shown we can generate some excitement when we have our whole group healthy and Gilbert, Antawn and Caron [Butler] on the floor," Grunfeld said. "[Wizards owner] Mr. [Abe] Polin has been very generous, and we'll do what we need to do to keep our players.""

http://washingtontimes.com/apps/pbcs.dl ... 005/sports

[gowiz999]

Re-sign Mason, let AJ go. Hope that Gilbert and Caron are healthy and maybe just maybe we can challenge for a Championship next season.

[Donkey McDonkerton]

We should have a championship in the next 2-3 years.

[Ruzious]

Grunfeld likes what he has going with the Wizards and plans to retain both players, even if that means taking a luxury tax hit.

We need to remember EG said that, and see if he follows up on it.

[nate33]

I hope EG doesn't take a luxtax hit just to sign those two guys. Given the market, they shouldn't cost enough to cause us to hit the luxtax. If they do cost that much, EG is overpaying.

That said, I happily endorse exceeding the luxtax to field the best possible team. Hopefully, he does it as a result of a major trade or free agent signing having nothing to do with resigning of Arenas and Jamison.

Ideally, we trade Nick Young and filler for Mike Miller. Or trade Jamison and picks for Elton Brand. Or trade Jamison and filler for Marion. THOSE are deals where exceeding the luxtax might make sense.

Jeez, could you imagine if we managed to acquire both Miller and Marion?

PG Arenas/Daniels
SG Stevenson/Miller
SF Butler/Miller
PF Marion/Songaila
C Haywood/Blatche

[long suffrin' boulez fan]

I hope EG doesn't take a luxtax hit just to sign those two guys. Given the market, they shouldn't cost enough to cause us to hit the luxtax. If they do cost that much, EG is overpaying.

That said, I happily endorse exceeding the luxtax to field the best possible team. Hopefully, he does it as a result of a major trade or free agent signing having nothing to do with resigning of Arenas and Jamison.

Ideally, we trade Nick Young and filler for Mike Miller. Or trade Jamison and picks for Elton Brand. Or trade Jamison and filler for Marion. THOSE are deals where exceeding the luxtax might make sense.

Jeez, could you imagine if we managed to acquire both Miller and Marion?

PG Arenas/Daniels
SG Stevenson/Miller
SF Butler/Miller
PF Marion/Songaila
C Haywood/Blatche

Nate for GM of the Wizards.

I'd shell out scheckles to see that team play.

[fishercob]

Nate, of course you (or I) endorse exceeding the lux tax to field the best team possible. It ain't our money!

But its good to see that the Wiz brass have made no public comment to the effect of anything other than "we're keeping these guys."

[miller31time]

Even though he'll probably get it, I would really like to see Arenas settle for 12-14mil per season. I mean, the man has been sitting on the sideline, unable to help this team for nearly this entire season, but we're still paying him big bucks to do so. It would be a real classy move if he took a paycut.

Will it happen? No. It's a business. I get that. Just saying that it'd be nice.

[dandridge 10]

Even though he'll probably get it, I would really like to see Arenas settle for 12-14mil per season. I mean, the man has been sitting on the sideline, unable to help this team for nearly this entire season, but we're still paying him big bucks to do so. It would be a real classy move if he took a paycut.

Will it happen? No. It's a business. I get that. Just saying that it'd be nice.

Maybe he might reconsider if he reads your post.

[TheKingOfVa360]

That's comforting to hear. And I also agree with everyone that we shouldn't over pay because we are bidding against ourselves.

[fugop]

Exceeding the Lux tax is a business decision, not a reflection of Abe Pollin's generosity or lack thereof. If the marginal production of an over-the-tax player is worth more than the marginal cost, you go for it -- Abe will make it back in the merchandising, attendance, playoffs, and increase in team value (from brand improvement).

Were Abe "cheap" -- and I have no idea if he is or not -- he should still be willing to exceed the luxury tax if the returns are high enough. Cheap people don't pass up opportunities to make money, and putting us into the upper echelon of the EC is just such an opportunity.

[hands11]

I hope EG doesn't take a luxtax hit just to sign those two guys. Given the market, they shouldn't cost enough to cause us to hit the luxtax. If they do cost that much, EG is overpaying.

That said, I happily endorse exceeding the luxtax to field the best possible team. Hopefully, he does it as a result of a major trade or free agent signing having nothing to do with resigning of Arenas and Jamison.

Ideally, we trade Nick Young and filler for Mike Miller. Or trade Jamison and picks for Elton Brand. Or trade Jamison and filler for Marion. THOSE are deals where exceeding the luxtax might make sense.

Jeez, could you imagine if we managed to acquire both Miller and Marion?

PG Arenas/Daniels
SG Stevenson/Miller
SF Butler/Miller
PF Marion/Songaila
C Haywood/Blatche

Even if he wouldn't exceed to cap to keep them, it is the right answer to give right now. It keeps the wolves at bay and makes Gils ears happy so he can concentrate on getting back healthy.

If he pays, he pays. If he doesn't, there will be plenty to excuses as to why he didn't. Being a GM is a political job that demands political answers sometimes.

This is a win win for EG. It just buys him time and options.

But it is nice to hear that exceeding the cap is an option. Id rather they didn't but if they need to, it's good that EG can.

[Zerocious]

We should have a championship in the next 2-3 years.

only if we're willing to go 2-3 mil into the lux tax