Wizards offer(ed) Arenas to Houston for McGrady

[EwwItsRasho]

ESPN.com reported Saturday that the Washington Wizards had reached out to the Rockets in an exploratory manner about a possible Gilbert Arenas-for-McGrady swap, but Houston has no interest in such a deal. Arenas ranks as one of the league's most difficult players to move with four seasons left after this one on a mammoth $111 million contract and a history of knee problems to rival McGrady's.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=4777423

[queridiculo]

ESPN.com reported? Espn quoting themselves without attributing any sources sounds fishy as hell to me. Sounds more like something somebody out of Houston would float in order to establish trade value.

[Lucrazi28]

sometimes..................you have to wonder.............................




W..........................T....................................F

This is in the "ARE YOU F'N KIDDING ME CATEGORY.

Reminds me of the Webber trade for mitch richmond........OOOOOOOOOOOOOH BOOOOOOOOOY.
Here we go again..............

[keynote]

Well, I guess they could've cited that chatty individual known as "Unnamed League Source." Whoever has that job sure is a blabbermouth.

Anyway, if there's any truth to the fact that the Wizards are looking to shop these guys, then let the rebuilding commence.

[Lucrazi28]

Well, I guess they could've cited that chatty individual known as "Unnamed League Source." Whoever has that job sure is a blabbermouth.

Anyway, if there's any truth to the fact that the Wizards are looking to shop these guys, then let the rebuilding commence.

No For Tmac...please God no! .......

[Awoooga]

You guys would be lucky to get such a deal. Arenas is not going to be traded for an expiring. No one wants that contract

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

I don't believe the rumor. However, if the Rockets get acquire Arenas that might turn out really well for them.

Unlike Washington, Houston's got a team full of good defenders. They've got post scorers in Landry, Scola, and Yao when he's healthy. They've got perimeter defenders in Ariza and Battier. They've got a good defensive backup PG in Lowry. They've got a terrific coach, Rick Adelman. Gil wouldn't have to do everything and his porous defense wouldn't kill that team. His ability to get to the FT line, and the fact he'd get tons of open looks.

Contractually, McGrady's already making around 22.5 MIl this season. Gil's 16.2Mil becomes only 17.7Mil next season. Houston has Cook expiring. Next season, their only two big contracts, Yao and Battier expire. They've got a bunch of good deals--they can afford Gil long term.

Awooga, Houston can afford Gil. They might make a lot of money on tickets and marketing if they get him.

[LyricalRico]

^ I dunno, CCJ. Houston is making their bones on teamwork and defense. Gil could torpedo their entire mojo. Remember what Houston was when they had Yao and Francis? Sure, Aaron Brooks is a score-first-PG, but still not on the level of Arenas from a usage standpoint.

And even from a cap standpoint, yes they can afford to take on Gil without paying the luxury tax but they'd be sacrificing a ton of flexibility. Maybe we can get them to send back Ariza? It helps their cap and gives us more value than just an expiring contract.

[cavsfan_osiris]

Well, I guess they could've cited that chatty individual known as "Unnamed League Source." Whoever has that job sure is a blabbermouth.

Anyway, if there's any truth to the fact that the Wizards are looking to shop these guys, then let the rebuilding commence.

No For Tmac...please God no! .......

The Wizards couldn't care less about TMac. They want that expiring contract.

The last thing the Rockets need is a highly paid player with a history of knee problems. I'm an Arenas fan, but I see no way they get rid of him in a trade until some years fall off that contract.

I think Jamison is tradeable, but won't be easy. Caron is going to be in a contract year next season so maybe they can move him.

[closg00]

I believe the rumor, but like folks have said, no-one is touching Gils contract (thanks Ernie). I don't believe anyone will touch AJ's contract either, it's nearly as-bad. Those two could end up being the most highly paid bench-duo in NBA history.

[AceDegenerate]

Nobody wants Gil's contract, however if Houston is up for it we should go through with it ASAP.

Unloading Gilbert's contract, Unloading AJ's contract, and getting some kind of prospect for Butler would put us on the fast track to rebuilding. Trying to rebuild around Gilbert, or just tinkering with this roster is not going to get this team anywhere.

I really believe we blew our shot to compete with this roster by turning down the Amare trade this summer.

[nate33]

If the trade was Arenas + James for TMac, I'd do it. If we also dumped Jamison onto Cleveland, we'd have a clean slate. We'd have $34M in cap space. If we resign Haywood and Miller (something I'd like to do), we'd have $20M in cap space.

That would leave us with the following roster:
PG
SG Miller/Young
SF Butler
PF Blatche
C Haywood/McGee

That's not a bad core group. Maybe we also trade Butler, but Miller and Haywood would be good veteran leaders for the youngsters that we acquire.

We'd tank for the rest of the season because there's no point guard, which gives us a high lotto pick. Then, use the $20M to save over-the-luxtax teams by buying off their first rounders and/or good players.

[long suffrin' boulez fan]

Call me a fool, but I'm not sure we still can't build around Gil.

He is showing signs of progressing on both ends of the court. He is never going to be an elite defender, but at least, under Flip, he is putting forth the effort. He is also starting to make some better pass, shoot decisions.

Put him on a team of pros, willing to sacrifice their games, play team defense and play a role and he could carry us pretty far.

[GoneShammGone]

Call me a fool, but I'm not sure we still can't build around Gil.

He is showing signs of progressing on both ends of the court. He is never going to be an elite defender, but at least, under Flip, he is putting forth the effort. He is also starting to make some better pass, shoot decisions.

Put him on a team of pros, willing to sacrifice their games, play team defense and play a role and he could carry us pretty far.

I agree with this. The last few games I've seen the following from Gil:

1. He's been trying to fight through picks.
2. He's been agressively ball-hawking. The steals have not simply come from playing the passing lanes... there have been several that came from his help defense and double-teams.
3. He's been trying to contest shots. He's actually had a couple blocked shots last night.

Yes, he is still getting beat regularly off the dribble. No, overall he is not a good defender. But I'm very encouraged because I'm seeing signs that he wants to get better. He is putting forth effort. He is a big guard and NBA point guards are probably always going to be able to drive past him. But as long as he is giving good effort and trying to play better team defense, I think he can be a major part of a winning team.

[DaRealHibachi]

Call me a fool, but I'm not sure we still can't build around Gil.

He is showing signs of progressing on both ends of the court. He is never going to be an elite defender, but at least, under Flip, he is putting forth the effort. He is also starting to make some better pass, shoot decisions.

Put him on a team of pros, willing to sacrifice their games, play team defense and play a role and he could carry us pretty far.

I agree with this. The last few games I've seen the following from Gil:

1. He's been trying to fight through picks.
2. He's been agressively ball-hawking. The steals have not simply come from playing the passing lanes... there have been several that came from his help defense and double-teams.
3. He's been trying to contest shots. He's actually had a couple blocked shots last night.

Yes, he is still getting beat regularly off the dribble. No, overall he is not a good defender. But I'm very encouraged because I'm seeing signs that he wants to get better. He is putting forth effort. He is a big guard and NBA point guards are probably always going to be able to drive past him. But as long as he is giving good effort and trying to play better team defense, I think he can be a major part of a winning team.

+1

[llcc25]

For all you still holding out hope that this team can be built around Arenas, please stop dreaming...I've seen enough through 30 games that although it may seem likes he's progressing given his stats, that's fools gold...He may put up 24 and 6 assists, which any pg would like, but if you factor in his fg %, turnovers, pourous defense, and individual play down the stretch (forced jump shots, not getting others involved, etc.)., we're better off without him...Two teams that I feel would take on his contract are the Clippers and Portland. Clippers b/c he would sell tix back in his hometown of LA and we can essentially do a swap for B. Davis/Camby for Arenas/Haywood....And Portland b/c Paul Allen has the deepest pockets of any owner and the addition of Arenas and Haywood without touching their core of Roy and Aldridge would make them title contenders in the West...

[MJG]

If we are fortunate enough to find a team willing to give us expirings for Arenas, I truly hope we do not blow the opportunity. He's gotten much better as the season has moved along, but he's not a top five player, and probably will never be close again. Maybe some of you out there are fine with paying $20 million per for another four years for say the 25th or so best player in the league, but I am not. It's really that simple.

I'm not saying he absolutely must go. It's just that if the opportunity comes up, we should take it.

[DaRealHibachi]

Gil is probably the only one on this team a pass for bad play... He missed 2 years, and still won't be 100% until the ASB... Even with the bad shooting he has shown at the beginning of this season (absolutely horrible), he managed to get his shooting touch back to an average (shooting 43% from the field and 39% from downtown in the last 10 games)

He'll be alright... Just give him time and better teammates...

[Profanity]

Call me a fool, but I'm not sure we still can't build around Gil.

He is showing signs of progressing on both ends of the court. He is never going to be an elite defender, but at least, under Flip, he is putting forth the effort. He is also starting to make some better pass, shoot decisions.

Put him on a team of pros, willing to sacrifice their games, play team defense and play a role and he could carry us pretty far.

Fool

[llcc25]

first off he was never top 5 player, and today he's not even top 25th. For all you who've soured on Caron Butler, at least he's playing at a level comprable to what he is getting paid..