Strange Timing: Arenas says he'll opt out in 08

by Mike Prada on Jun 10, 2007 2:22 AM EDT in Free Agency

Maybe we'll have to put that wallpaper on hold. According to both the Post and the Times, Gilbert's announced that he will opt out and become an unrestricted free agent next summer.

"To me, it's just a smarter business decision to play next season, opt out and then be able to sign a long-term deal that is going to keep me in one place," said Arenas, who is recovering from left knee surgery and expects to be at full speed in time for training camp in October. "I'm not looking at anything else. It's just business. If something happens where they don't want me or they're going in a different direction, I can look elsewhere. But my intentions are not to leave."

I really need to sleep on this before saying any more, but I really need to question his timing. The Wizards are about to begin arguably their most important offseason in a very long time, and now they have to deal with this? Why Now?

At least he says it's not because he doesn't like the Wizards' direction.

"I have children now and I want to make the right decision for them," Arenas said. "I am not going to have my legs forever, but I have them right now. At the end of the day, I might as well capitalize on everything I can while I have the legs to do it.

"I'm not opting out to leave. I'm opting out to sign."

I'm still kind of skeptical. Here's another quote from the Times article.

"You are a little disappointed now," Arenas said. "At the end of the day, you're still in the first round. You get frustrated because you wonder if you are taking forward steps or if you are going backward. Our overall record is not looking better. We didn't have any more wins this year than we did last year."

I guess the best option for now is to build the best team possible for next season and the figure it out later. Still, I'm starting to wonder how many more times I can defend the guy for his strange timing. As we'll get to with his player evaluation, Arenas didn't have a very good season, and his inconsistency was one of the many reasons this season was disappointing.

I can't say any more for now. Have at it in the comments section, and I'll come back tomorrow with more coherent thoughts.

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rather sooner than later

Doesn't seem like a big deal, and the Wiz are going to be in the best position to resign him for max money anyway. Obviously the worst case scenario would be losing Arenas, but in the event he does leave the team it's probable a sign and trade would have to happen for him to go to an already successful destination.

by Paxson Jackson @ Bullets Forever on Jun 10, 2007 1:47 PM EDT reply actions

I'm kind of thinking this too

Honestly.

You know you'll get devoured by Cheaney, Wallace, and Juwan Howard.

by Mike Prada on Jun 10, 2007 1:53 PM EDT up reply actions

of course if the Bucks

don't blow their wad this offseason, Michael Redd would be an ideal guy for a top tier player to team up with. By ideal I just mean he's really good, and Milwaukee can write a blank check to the right player.

by Paxson Jackson @ Bullets Forever on Jun 10, 2007 2:22 PM EDT up reply actions

Yeah that's right

Gil to the Bucks was started right here.

by Paxson Jackson @ Bullets Forever on Jun 10, 2007 2:24 PM EDT up reply actions

Breathe in, breathe out

There's no need to panic yet. Think about it, if this was about Arenas wanting to get out of Washington, he would've just asked for a trade, it wouldn't be the first time a superstar in his prime asked for a trade while in his prime.

My guess is that Gilbert is just trying to capitalize on his current situation, he stands to make more money by signing a contract next year while he's in his prime than he would if he waited until the end of his contract. Can't blame a man for trying to get a raise.

The other thing to keep in mind is that Washington is the only team that can offer Gilbert a 6 year contract, so if this is really about his family and trying to make the right decision for them, than it would than signing the contract that provides the most job security would make the most sense. Of course, Gilbert has never been the guy to make a decision just because it makes sense but I really don't see him leaving unless there's some sort of fallout between the two parties over the next year.

Don't forget this either: What player doesn't step up their game in a contract year?

I'm a rookie, kick me!

by Jake Whitacre on Jun 10, 2007 2:02 PM EDT reply actions

That's a very reasonable point, jake

But I'm going to go ahead and panic anyway.

I mean, we just went from having a solid core for the next few years in the bag to wondering what it's going to take to keep our superstar here, and also wondering how much management is going to bend over backwards for a guy who's known for his quirky ideas.

Also, in terms of maximizing his worth, this is completely the wrong move. Gil is 25, right? If he signed a three-year extension, he'd become a free agent at 28. Some team would then offer him a long-term max contract in order to either pick him up or keep him. Hell, Shaq's going to be making max dollars until he's 38.

Signing a six-year deal right now means he'll be up for renewal at 31, after he's past his peak. He makes less money this way. Somebody's gotta get Agent Zero an agent of his own...

In no way does this fail to utterly suck.

by sierradave on Jun 10, 2007 4:39 PM EDT up reply actions

I'm not seeing that point, sierra

This is different than what LeBron and Wade did last summer.

Those guys were 21 and 24, respectively, when their new three-year contract kicked in. That would have put them eligible to sign a max deal at 24 or 27. The three-year thing to sign a max deal later makes more sense, because they're significantly younger.

But with Gilbert, that wouldn't make much sense at all. If Gilbert were to sign a three-year extension, it would kick in next summer, when he's 26. He wouldn't be able to sign a max contract until he's 29, and under the new collective bargaining agreement, few teams would be willing to give Gilbert a six-year max contract when he's already 29.

This way, he gets to potentially sign that max contract at 26, right around the time that LeBron and Wade would be signing their max deals.

Shaq's a bad example to prove your point, IMO, because he signed his contract before the new collective bargaining agreement, and since then, his maximum market value has been significantly inflated. Same with KG.

I do agree that his announcement doesn't exactly bode well, but I do think he's making the right market decision.

You know you'll get devoured by Cheaney, Wallace, and Juwan Howard.

by Mike Prada on Jun 10, 2007 5:46 PM EDT up reply actions

By the way

I Want to Be A Sports Agent has a really good take on this.

Even if the business of this sounds good, I agree that Arenas really needs to find his own agent to manage his "Gilbertology."

You know you'll get devoured by Cheaney, Wallace, and Juwan Howard.

by Mike Prada on Jun 10, 2007 5:51 PM EDT reply actions

Unless...

Gilbert already has a plan in mind. This is the one thing that scares me about this whole thing, because if he had an agent, he'd basically just get him to sign the highest contract available and by not hiring an agent it gives me the impression that maybe there's an ulterior motive in all of this that only he knows.

Then again, I always think up wacky worst-case scenario conspiracy thingys and they never pan out so I'm probably off my rocker.

At the end of the day what it comes down to is that the Wizards will offer as much money as Gilbert wants. He's a franchise player, a fan favorite, and there isn't another player out there right now that can get D.C. as excited for basketball as he can. The question is, will Gilbert take it? Or will he go in a different direction?

But that's just the pessimist in me. When all is said and done I think Gil will still be in a Wizards uniform. Like I said before, if he really wanted out he would've demanded a trade.

I'm a rookie, kick me!

by Jake Whitacre on Jun 10, 2007 8:43 PM EDT up reply actions

gil doesnt want to leave

I fully believe gil's statement that it is a business decision. He has the opportunity to get his $$ now hopefully when he is at his peak. I think he has earned that right. He was one of the top2 or 3 visable players in the league and he has to capitalize on that. He just wants to see the Bullets show they "love" him. The pressure is now on EJ, Ernie and Abe. They have to show gil that they want to anything it takes to win. Even if Abe has to call Leonsis to help pay any luxury tax this has to be done. The effort has to be there and a good 07-08 season has to happen, for the bullets and Gil. At least we know he will be playin for a contract and goin 100% on offense and hopefully D.

we need to get in Gil's ear and see if one of his contract demands can be to bring back the Bullets name and colors!!!! ha ha

section 433 seat 17

by jackpitt on Jun 10, 2007 7:36 PM EDT reply actions