Significant progress was made toward that end this past summer with Orlando, according to sources with knowledge of the situation. The framework of a trade that would've sent Arenas to the Magic with Vince Carter going to the Wizards was arranged, with GM Otis Smith being one of the few executives in the league willing to contemplate such a deal because of his personal relationship with Arenas. In the end, it was the cost that killed the deal; Arenas has four years and $80.1 million left on his contract, which amounts to two years and $44 million more than Carter. An opportunity like that will be hard to resurrect, considering how poisonous Arenas' contract is given the uncertainty about "where he is mentally," according to an NBA front-office executive.
Ken Berger. He makes a similar point to Michael Wilbon, but more eloquently. He says Dallas thought about an Arenas trade, and Cleveland is a team to watch even though they aren't interested now.
over 1 year ago
Mike Prada
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I predict we’ll know about a month into the season whether Gil’s head is in the right place. If there’s no more sulking, no more erratic behavior, and he’s putting up good numbers as a starter, then there’ll be less uncertainty about the direction of this team. But if we see more of the same…then man, that Albatross of a contract he’s got is just going to kill us. He’ll either be pouting and disrupting the team, sitting there on the bench, or the only trade we’re going to find is for another overpaid problem player with years left on their contract.
this is definitely more thoughtful than wilbons piece
but the fact is that calling for a trade now is stupid, as it was in the off season. it’s not possible, in the real world. right now what’s good for arenas is good for the wizards, so yeah, give it 2 months of regular season play and see what’s what. if he’s good, then either a trade or a feel-good redemption and re-connection with the franchise is quite possible. so is a trade.
what i dread is if things don’t go well, either due to injury, attitude or performance, and people say ‘see, i told you you should have got rid of arenas before the season.’ that is stupid.
"hindsight is 50-50" - Steve Spurrier
by little stevie colter on Oct 10, 2010 1:28 PM EDT reply actions
well, there is not much question that Gil is...
going to be a Wizard for at least the first part of the regular season. At that point, what happens is a function of how well he plays, how well the WIzards are doing, and how desperately some other team might need him. The Magic could still be that team.
Sullen and sulking though he may seem, his on court performance has been quite good so far…
Such drama, oy…
yes - drama
in place of people being unable to let time pass and see where things stand in january/feburary. it’s really starting to irk me.
"hindsight is 50-50" - Steve Spurrier
by little stevie colter on Oct 10, 2010 1:57 PM EDT up reply actions
Not my money and I like Arenas
Sorry to say, but as I sit behind my computer I suffer no financial hit from Arenas. You might say, well the team will, and you like the team right?
I do and this is why I dont care that were not getting rid of Arenas. So far he has proven he can be effective, consistent, and what we need paired next Wall. For me I am perfectly happy to be seeing the new promise in Wall alongside the nostalgic favorite of mine Arenas.
Amen.
by Unxpekted on Oct 10, 2010 2:35 PM EDT reply actions 6 recs
One reason I don’t like Arenas’ approach so far is that it plays into articles like these, analyzing his supposed “unraveling”. His interactions with the press so far have been weird enough to warrant lots of questions (“The smiling Gilbert is gone now..”, etc). The beard makes him look like a hobo. What a weird contrast to compare Wall and Arenas.. Wall is completely in control, no matter what the circumstance. Gil comes off like a petulant kid. Gil needs a new PR rep.
If he would listen to a PR guy...
that would be OK but there is no evidence that he would… I have survived 45 years in the PR business despite the fact that numerous clients have paid me good money then turned right around and absolutely disregarded my counsel!
I think Orlando needs to do this trade...or something
I don’t know that standing pat is going to get them to the finals or even win the division.
Great point - VC looked 50 in the playoffs last year
Maybe this trade makes sense in that what else can Orlando do to shake it up and challenge the hated ones in South Beach?
Isn't saying Gil's cost killed the deal stating the obvious?
The trade is about getting Arenas’ massive contract off of the books, so to say that his contract was the dealbreaker doesn’t make sense. How could progress be made if the contract is the sticking point? That is the core of the trade and the first thing that has to come up from the Mafic point of view! That’s like saying I really want a peach and figured out where to get 1, but changed my mind because I dont like the taste of peaches (random, but I just ate a peach).
If he comes out flying
Then some of the would be superteams might see him too good
to turn down.
gilbert seems that he may be playing like an all-star this year and for years to come.Why would we get rid of him now.He is not bothering anyone except for the psychologists in the crowd.I can only hope I am correct but give him a chance.I believe in miracles.
by g zeller on Oct 10, 2010 10:59 PM EDT via mobile reply actions 1 recs
Orlando needs Arenas
Hedo was the playmaker that could create off the dribble and find his teammates. They were complete morons and let him go to get Vince Loser Carter. Vince is worthless and he can’t create off the dribble, can not create mismatches, can not run pick and roll, and can not find open teammates. He can’t even score anymore.
The window is closing and Orlando knows they need a guy that create off the dribble. Gilbert is not the same player but he would be far the best playmaker on the Orlando squad.
I agree…Orlando needs Gilbert but so do we.
Please say no to Vince Carter or
Rashard Lewis…
by g zeller on Oct 10, 2010 11:21 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
yeah just the thought of having to stomach getting carter
and losing arenas made me think about not rooting for this team.
there’s still a ton of latent good will towards arenas among wiz fans. he’s just got to play well, coinciding with a little team success.
there is 0 good will anywhere for vince carter.
"hindsight is 50-50" - Steve Spurrier
by little stevie colter on Oct 11, 2010 12:08 AM EDT up reply actions
Yawn, let's start the season
Even if Arenas weren’t untradeable, this is just blind speculation. I don’t think trading Arenas 2 weeks before regular season is at all on anyone GM’s radar screen including Grunfelds.
Meanwhile in the real world, Arenas has gone out of his way to show that he doesn’t want to be a problem, he’s playing extremely good basketball and shooting the ball well, the team chemistry appears good so far (per Flip’s comments) and Wall and Arenas appear to have good personal chemistry. Wall already made comments about playing with Arenas long term. They seem to like each other and perhaps respect each other’s game.
So far the only problems out of Wizards camp are being generated by remote basketball writers claiming to be psychiatrists.
agreed
Let’s keep in mind that columnists need to write columns, and while the best of them do research and investigation to come up with interesting angles on unique topics, the rest often resort to writing about topics that don’t take any imagination or effort. For example, Wilbon’s last two NBA articles were on trading Gilbert and the Heat. Wow, it took a lot of imagination to come up with those two subjects! So a lazy columnist sees Gilbert frowning on media day and thinks, “That’s a column!!”
Disagree
Grunfeld would trade Arenas tomorrow for nothing if some other team would take him.
Maybe not nothing nothing
But certainly for much less than equal value, whether that’s in terms of talent or salary.
It’s actually not blind speculation, but speculation based on “an NBA front-office executive”. And in my opinion Arenas has NOT gone out of his way to show he doesn’t want to be a problem. I think he’s made it pretty clear that he wants to get along with his team mates, but that he doesn’t care about being a problem to front office, media, or fans. Considering that it’s Orlando’s (or Dallas’ or Cleveland’s) front office that needs to make a decision about whether the Arenas headache is worth Arenas the player, I think his behavior so far bodes poorly for a trade.
I agree with you that if the trade hasn’t happened yet that it’s not going to happen now. It will come back up mid season I’d guess.
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