I'm told by insiders that multiple players have asked to be traded.

Depending on what facts are discovered in other interviews with possible witnesses to the Dec. 21 locker room confrontation between Arenas and previously obscure guard Javaris Crittenton, the official said one likely outcome would be the following: Arenas, 27, would be permitted to plead guilty to charges of carrying a pistol without a license, a felony that carries a maximum of five years in prison. Such a charge would require a grand jury indictment, which could be acquired quickly since five grand juries are seated at any given time in the District. Any other charges -- which could include misdemeanor counts for possession of unregistered firearms, carrying maximum jail time of six months for each count -- would be dismissed. In exchange for Arenas' cooperation and guilty plea, the prosecutor would ask for no jail time.

Actually, Wizards insiders have been far more concerned all season with the play of Butler -- who's struggled in Saunders' guard-oriented offense after spending the last four years in the forward-centric offense of ex-coach Eddie Jordan -- and Butler's relationship with Arenas. I heard the "king/prince" analogy this week, as in, Butler became the king last season while Arenas was injured, and wonders why he has to go back to being a prince now that Arenas has returned. But, another team guy pointed out, the Wizards won 19 games last season without Arenas.

That's more of an issue, from what I've been told, than Arenas' relationship with Saunders.