Washington Wizards Thread (2009-2010)

[CatsEye]

 As of the last game, facts and words around the court about Arenas were:
       1. All Arenas merchandise has been removed from the Team Stores.
       2. Poster on side of Verizon building with Arenas picture, removed. New poster on building
       3. Pre- Introduction video of Wizards team with game shots, etc. - Arenas gone from all videos
       4. Introduction of Wizards players at beginning of games - all references to/and introductions of Arenas as a Wizards player are gone.
       5. Arenas has cleaned out his locker, and all items he had stored in the Coaches club, etc.
       6. Word on the street: Team may be busted up and some players will be put on the trading block after this fiasco.
       7. Belief is that Arenas as a minimum will be suspended, at least, till the end of the season and the Wizards organization will trade him, or release (dump) him for cause.
       8. Most people predict he will get some prison time, fined, and community service.
    
        Everyone is waiting for the next shoe to drop.........

[JMW IV]

sportsfan, what the freak makes you think i am defending gilbert?

just because i dont agree with you about why he got suspended?

[HalfSmokes]

Does anyone know what happens with cap space if the Wizards void his contract- does the team automatically get the money back?

[wpa2629]

Does anyone know what happens with cap space if the Wizards void his contract- does the team automatically get the money back?

Yes, but it's extremely difficult to get contracts voided. What I suspect will happen is that the Wiz will negotiate a buy out. In which case, the Wiz would pay that amount, but there would be no cap hit.

[HalfSmokes]

Hopefully they can get out of it. The contract is crippling, but the contract without Gilbert playing is even worse

[ronnynat]

Arenas is probably going to get off w/ a misdemeanor. I don't think the Wizards will be able to void his contract.

[JMW IV]

rumor going around twitter is that gilbert owns more guns than duke nukem, and the guns he brought to the arena are only the tip of the iceberg.

[ronnynat]

^ Yeah, he's a gun collector. Read that a few months ago. Not a big deal, IMO.

[ZIM4MVP]

What? Yes it does matter. You can't bring weapons into the Verizon Center, loaded or unloaded.  You  can't carry around or stored  unlicensed gun(s) in DC or the Verizon Center.  It's the law. Additionally, NBA has very strict rules about players in possession of fire arms. 

So suspened Javaris Crittenton, Delonte West, Stephen Jackson, etc.

[ZIM4MVP]

if gil hadnt been joking around about the issue so blatantly and instead took it seriously, he would still be playing.

mind fact.

Exactly, my point is David Stern needs to either suspend when the violation happens or after the case is closed, not when the biggest jokester in the NBA makes fun of the situation causing you to get sand in your vagina

[wpa2629]

^ Yeah, he's a gun collector. Read that a few months ago. Not a big deal, IMO.

Arenas is a collector in general. Jerseys, shoes, sports memorabilia, etc, My dad use to collect guns and swords, had an authentic Winchester rifle in mint condition and an authentic Samarai sword. Had them displayed in a glass case. They were so ornamental. I remember growing up thinking how cool they looked.

[sportsfan882]

great performance tonight. 42-22 in the 2Q

[PANatsFan]

Arenas is a collector in general. Jerseys, shoes, sports memorabilia, etc, My dad use to collect guns and swords, had an authentic Winchester rifle in mint condition and an authentic Samarai sword. Had them displayed in a glass case. They were so ornamental. I remember growing up thinking how cool they looked.

He's not collector if his guns are obtained illegally and stored illegally. He's a criminal.

Not your Dad, Arenas

There was a guy on Pawn Stars that had an 1840's musket that turned out to still be loaded. They decided to keep it that way as it was more valuable. How in the world would you store that thing? Pointed right at a cube of ballistics gel?

[wpa2629]

He's not collector if his guns are obtained illegally and stored illegally. He's a criminal.

Not your Dad, Arenas

There was a guy on Pawn Stars that had an 1840's musket that turned out to still be loaded. They decided to keep it that way as it was more valuable. How in the world would you store that thing? Pointed right at a cube of ballistics gel?

Well, Arenas is a collector, whether or not he's a legal collector of guns remains to be seen.

That musket sounds pretty interesting. Have no idea how you would store that thing

[HalfSmokes]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/01/13/AR2010011304260.html?hpid=topnews

Prosecutors and attorneys for Wizards guard Gilbert Arenas were in plea negotiations this week that could have Arenas in court on gun charges as soon as Thursday, according to law enforcement sources.
...
But the negotiations would ensure that Arenas would not go to jail, one of the sources said.

If he ends up being allowed to plea to a misdemeanor, I wonder if they will be able to get out of the contract. If not they are screwed; they've pretty much burned the bridges by erasing any memory of him like he was some soviet premiere and his contract makes him untradeable.

[ronnynat]

If he ends up being allowed to plea to a misdemeanor, I wonder if they will be able to get out of the contract.

From what I've read, they would not be able to void the contract.

[wpa2629]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/01/13/AR2010011304260.html?hpid=topnews

If he ends up being allowed to plea to a misdemeanor, I wonder if they will be able to get out of the contract. If not they are screwed; they've pretty much burned the bridges by erasing any memory of him like he was some soviet premiere and his contract makes him untradeable.

Doubt very seriously they get the contract voided. It's very difficult to do. I would be very surprised if a buyout isn't negotiated. Regardless, Gil's days in DC are over. It's such a shame, so much potential thrown right out the window.

[HalfSmokes]

Doubt very seriously they get the contract voided. It's very difficult to do. I would be very surprised if a buyout isn't negotiated. Regardless, Gil's days in DC are over. It's such a shame, so much potential thrown right out the window.

If you're gilbert and you're still owed ~$80 million, would you take a buyout?

[wpa2629]

If you're gilbert and you're still owed ~$80 million, would you take a buyout?

May not have a choice really. Arenas can be suspended forever without pay by the NBA because he did bring the guns into the locker room and Stern was none too pleased with the hi jinks that followed, regardless of their intent. Stern may not be able to legally keep him from getting paid, but he can keep him from ever taking the court again. Stern pretty much has Arenas over a barrel, plus Stern was a huge Abe guy, so he probably feels compelled to throw the Wiz a bone. Wouldn't surprise me at all if he gives Gil an ultimatum, take a buyout, or never play in the league again.

[PC]

Jamison needs to traded ASAP.  His stock isn't going to get any higher.

[PANatsFan]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/01/14/AR2010011403502.html

Gilbert fading off into the distance.

[wpa2629]

Holy Hell, things just keep getting worse and worse. I think all of this sucks so bad.

http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/sports/Arenas-to-plead-guilty-to-felony-gun-charge_-source-says-8764065-81561862.html

[PANatsFan]

Holy Hell, things just keep getting worse and worse. I think all of this sucks so bad.

http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/sports/Arenas-to-plead-guilty-to-felony-gun-charge_-source-says-8764065-81561862.html

WPA, what sucks? He's a criminal, a gun offender no less. Buh-bye. He brought guns into a place where there are tons of small children. He left them lying around, unsecured, then he used them in a joke. A JOKE! I bet the NRA bigwigs would like to have a word with him, as Karl Malone said, responsible gun owners don't pull this garbage.

This isn't a gun control issue. Arenas is a grade A moron and good riddance.

[wpa2629]

WPA, what sucks? He's a criminal, a gun offender no less. Buh-bye. He brought guns into a place where there are tons of small children. He left them lying around, unsecured, then he used them in a joke. A JOKE! I bet the NRA bigwigs would like to have a word with him, as Karl Malone said, responsible gun owners don't pull this garbage.

This isn't a gun control issue. Arenas is a grade A moron and good riddance.

You don't find it sad when a 28 year old man throws his entire life out the window? Really? REALLY? I think it's awful. I think it's awful in every sense of the word. Arenas is a grade A moron, no doubt about it. But do you really believe he's a dangerous gun toting maniac? I don't. I believe every word when he says it was a stupid joke gone totally wrong. Yes he's a moron, yes, he showed ridiculously poor judgment and yes I hope as a Wizard fan the contract is voided. But I don't want to see him behind bars at all.  I want to see him get the help he needs.

How quickly people forget that he's the guy who gives his jersey away at every game, he's the guy that brought dozens of jersey's to the All Star game and gave them away to kids, he's the guy who financially supported a child who lost his parents in a fire, he's the guy who bought 100s of thousands of dollars of supplies and personally delivered them to the Armory for the Katrina Victims, he's the guy who's donated millions to DC public schools. He's also the guy who had three knee surgeries and worked tirelessly for two years to get back on the court.

Maybe you're fine with him going from the top of the world to behind bars, but I find it very sad.

[The Chief]

WPA with some common sense and compassion