Arenas for Vince or dump Arenas for cap space?

[TheGreatWall]

Agreed.

I'm not usually one to jump all over the "media" for their general laziness and tendency to fan the flames because I understand it's their job and many of them go about it the right way. However, I've tired of their complete lack of sensitivity to one who in addition to being injured for the better part of three years (no true fault of his own unless we're gonna start hounding athletes who want to prove their worth); was suspended on his birthday, lost his mother within the same span; and spent time in jail. Only two of those things were due to Gil's own actions.

I'm not so sure it applies in this case. The Post is just reporting what Gilbert said -- It wasn't an interpretation of what he said, it was a direct quote. Who knows if Gilbert was sincere or if he was just blowing smoke, but I don't think the media's portrayal of Gilbert really has anything to do with what he actually said.

[picc]

I wouldn't want Vince Carter anywhere near Wall. He can only be cancerous to his growth.

[AceDegenerate]

It's really not an issue of Gilbert wanting to be traded or the team wanting to trade him. There simply is not many options out there. For better or worse, we're all stuck together for the foreseeable future and as best I can tell everyone is trying to make the best of it.

[Rafael122]

The media has been a bit harsh. Yesterday Dan Steinberg tweeted something like "want to be depressed, take a look at Gil's media day pictures" or something to that effect. I really wanted to email him saying smething like "talk to me when you lose millions of dollars and have several knee surgeries within the last 3 years." No one understands what he's been through, yet guys like Steinberg, who are always looking for a quote keep blasting him because he isn't standing up and dancing.

[bullitz]

Agreed.

I'm not usually one to jump all over the "media" for their general laziness and tendency to fan the flames because I understand it's their job and many of them go about it the right way. However, I've tired of their complete lack of sensitivity to one who in addition to being injured for the better part of three years (no true fault of his own unless we're gonna start hounding athletes who want to prove their worth); was suspended on his birthday, lost his mother within the same span; and spent time in jail. Only two of those things were due to Gil's own actions.

I'm not so sure it applies in this case. The Post is just reporting what Gilbert said -- It wasn't an interpretation of what he said, it was a direct quote. Who knows if Gilbert was sincere or if he was just blowing smoke, but I don't think the media's portrayal of Gilbert really has anything to do with what he actually said.

I was merely referring to the overall lack of sensitivity that is truly annoying me at this point. Although, Michael Lee is not completely free of blame in this regard.

But to your point, I think the media has a lot to do with Gil's outward reaction to the public. The "media" propelled the eronious notion that Gil was a thug and represented everything wrong with the league. When in fact, Gil may be the poster child for the NBA's favorite publicity statement "NBA cares." I challenge anyone to name 5 athletes that have done more for members in the community they play in without public acknowledgment or documentation. What Gil did was self-inflicted and presented no danger to anyone but himself. Yet, the powers that be have managed to transform Gil into some cancerous malcontent that hasn't learned "his lesson."

[Ruzious]

The media has been a bit harsh. Yesterday Dan Steinberg tweeted something like "want to be depressed, take a look at Gil's media day pictures" or something to that effect. I really wanted to email him saying smething like "talk to me when you lose millions of dollars and have several knee surgeries within the last 3 years." No one understands what he's been through, yet guys like Steinberg, who are always looking for a quote keep blasting him because he isn't standing up and dancing.

But you know his answer would be - Dan would feel just fine - still getting $100 mil from that contract - after earning many millions before it. We know money doesn't necessarily buy happiness, but most people have a hard time feeling sorry for someone with that kind of money.

[Rafael122]

I understand that, but he's been through a lot of **** the last 3 years. There's no need to keep piling dirt on him. At least to me, it's obvious guys like him are trying to get something out of Gilbert, anything, and he's not budging, so they're getting peeved.

[REDardWIZskin]

^^ +1 at this point anything thing he does will be heavily discussed. he's doing the right thing by taking the silent approach and letting his game speak for him. It worked for Vick this yr and if Gil has a few 30 pt winning games this yr people will begin to change the tune of what they are saying. Leonsis said it himself. It starts at home and I think the excitement around Wall/team will contribute to us "the fans" embracing him first then the rest will. It's an interesting dynamic, His success and Wall's success are almost surely balanced in depending on one another, and I think he's starting to realize it, hence the comments he made

[dobrojim]

this may be way premature after a single pre-season game
but what I saw last night makes me wonder if we have
at worst a top 3-5 backcourt in the league.

who's arguably better assuming Gil was just a little
rusty and tentative off a minor injury but that that
was the real John Wall?


At the moment I can't even remember who form
the starting backcourt at both G positions for a lot
of teams but I can't think of many that would
immediately no argument be hands down better.

BTW - that was Gil playing D last night in case no
one noticed

[20MexicanosIn1Van]

Okay, this is starting to piss me off. Us fans have been waiting patiently for the last three years and now it's your time to "move on". No it's not. It's time for you to live up to the contract the WIZARDS gave you and play for the WIZARDS and be the superstar you can be. What's this "basketball is just basketball I've lost all feeling" bull? And "I'm just there to hit open shots"? No you're not. You're paid like a superstar not some role player sharp shooter off the bench. At least try to take over the game like we all know you can. Don't simply "take open shots". Not a single thing he said in that video (http://voices.washingtonpost.com/wizard ... aside.html) makes me excited to see Gilbert this year.

If after three years of waiting for him to get healthy and what not, he pulls this "support player" bull during the season I'll be pretty pissed. Us fans don't deserve that.

[AceDegenerate]

Wtf? Dude he shot 5-9 and had 12 points in 26 minutes. In 40 minutes that is probably 24 points. AND it was on a bum ankle.

I agree that the things he says are a bit out of sorts, however I had no problems with the way he played on the floor. In fact, I've seen WAY worse pouting from Gilbert when EJ was here, he would routinely not even take jumpers when he was trying to prove a point, this is not a case of that at all.

[20MexicanosIn1Van]

Yea, he shot the ball great. But he can be so much more than simply a good shooter. The things he said in that video make me think that's how he see his role on this team. That, coupled with the fact that he hinted at wanting to be traded, are not good signs and frankly piss me off. Whatever though, it was just a couple things he said to media guys. We'll have to see how the season plays out. Those things he said are not good signs though.

[JonathanJoseph]

this may be way premature after a single pre-season game
but what I saw last night makes me wonder if we have
at worst a top 3-5 backcourt in the league.

who's arguably better assuming Gil was just a little
rusty and tentative off a minor injury but that that
was the real John Wall?


At the moment I can't even remember who form
the starting backcourt at both G positions for a lot
of teams but I can't think of many that would
immediately no argument be hands down better.

BTW - that was Gil playing D last night in case no
one noticed

This. And it will be closer to the best backcourt in the NBA, period, by the end of the season.

Enough worrying about Gilbertology.

Here's my prediction: Wall and Arenas will form the NBAs best backcourt and play together for a long time. Their games seem perfectly suited for each other and seem to get along great.

Nothing to see here, move along.

[queridiculo]

Jeez, will this thread never die?

[cdouglas]

Okay, this is starting to piss me off. Us fans have been waiting patiently for the last three years and now it's your time to "move on". No it's not. It's time for you to live up to the contract the WIZARDS gave you and play for the WIZARDS and be the superstar you can be. What's this "basketball is just basketball I've lost all feeling" bull? And "I'm just there to hit open shots"? No you're not. You're paid like a superstar not some role player sharp shooter off the bench. At least try to take over the game like we all know you can. Don't simply "take open shots". Not a single thing he said in that video (http://voices.washingtonpost.com/wizard ... aside.html) makes me excited to see Gilbert this year.

If after three years of waiting for him to get healthy and what not, he pulls this "support player" bull during the season I'll be pretty pissed. Us fans don't deserve that.

I know it's just preseason but I'm hoping Arenas would come back with a veagance and with a chip on his shoulders. I guess you could say I wanted to see him PROVE all the critics wrong and play with a PURPOSE like Michael Vicks.

[LyricalRico]

Jeez, will this thread never die?

Never!

Especially not when even Gil knows his days in DC are numbered:

"Right now I'm out there to hit open shots, teach John the ins and the outs of the game, and then eventually go on and move on. I'm on my way," Arenas said, offering a subtle hint that he could be dealt before his $111-million contract expires in 2014. "This is the NBA. There's few players that stay in the same city, so right now the city is John's. I'm not here to fight anybody. I'm here to play alongside of him. He's Batman, I'm Robin. When I came in, Larry [Hughes] moved aside for me to become a star and I'm moving aside for him to become a star."

<snip>

"You always start a franchise with a point guard and a big," Arenas said, mentioning Blatche, McGee and Yi Jianlian. "You just build the team around them. You've got to keep building until you get something special and right now they have special players."

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/wizard ... aside.html

Already speaking of the team as "they" instead of "we"? Oh yeah - tick tock, tick tock...

[GilArenas88]

As someone else pointed out Gilbert is a few successful thirty point games, some game winner, and a good playoffs or two from being right there with John Wall in terms of franchise, okay maybe 1B. John Wall has youth and superstar ability, Gil once was borderline superstar, then Gerald Wallace killed that. I think it will be hard for him to ever be close or even a superstar, but really good to borderline elite is not out of the question. We have potentially have one of the deadliest back courts seen in a long time, mixed with the development of two versatile big men in Dray and McGee who are both young, we have the potential for something really special. We are a few good drafting, trades, free agent signings away from being real good in a year or two.

[20MexicanosIn1Van]

Calling the Washington Wizards "they" instead of "we" is disturbing. He is a Wizard and the right thing to do is to keep it that way.

[AceDegenerate]

Jeez, will this thread never die?

Never!

Especially not when even Gil knows his days in DC are numbered:

"Right now I'm out there to hit open shots, teach John the ins and the outs of the game, and then eventually go on and move on. I'm on my way," Arenas said, offering a subtle hint that he could be dealt before his $111-million contract expires in 2014. "This is the NBA. There's few players that stay in the same city, so right now the city is John's. I'm not here to fight anybody. I'm here to play alongside of him. He's Batman, I'm Robin. When I came in, Larry [Hughes] moved aside for me to become a star and I'm moving aside for him to become a star."

<snip>

"You always start a franchise with a point guard and a big," Arenas said, mentioning Blatche, McGee and Yi Jianlian. "You just build the team around them. You've got to keep building until you get something special and right now they have special players."

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/wizard ... aside.html

Already speaking of the team as "they" instead of "we"? Oh yeah - tick tock, tick tock...

Wow dude really? Trolling the Wizards forum. Some fan.

[Dat2U]

Gil has no inner monologue. Why any Wizard fan that's familiar with his personality make much of this boggles my mind. I can understand the casual observer reading too much into it but IMO it's just another case of Gil being Gil.