Washington Wizards Thread (2009-2010)

[CatsEye]

Abe Pollin brought a gun to the arena every night.

               He did not. He had bodyguards,and security staff    

[sportsfan882]

Arenas suspended for the rest of the year

ps: Greg Oden is an ogre

[JMW IV]

Arenas suspended for the rest of the year

but we'll see Crittenden on the court soon enough.

yeah, that's fair.

[sportsfan882]

nope. he's also suspended for the remainder of the season.

[The Chief]

How are they able to suspend them without pay?  Doesn't that violate his contract?

[HalfSmokes]

How are they able to suspend them without pay?  Doesn't that violate his contract?

nope, from what I heard on the radio Wizards actually have to pay his salary to the NBA front office

The Commissioner shall have the power to suspend for a definite or indefinite period, or to impose a fine not exceeding $50,000, or inflict both such suspension and fine upon any Player who, in his opinion, (i) shall have made or caused to be made any statement having, or that was designed to have, an effect prejudicial or detrimental to the best interests of basketball or of the Association or of a Member, or (ii) shall have been guilty of conduct that does not conform to standards of morality or fair play, that does not comply at all times with all federal, state, and local laws, or that is prejudicial or detrimental to the Association.

http://www.nbpa.com/cba_exhibits/exhibitA-excerpt.php

edit, the salary goes to charity

http://members.cox.net/lmcoon/salarycap.htm#Q58

[The Chief]

nope, from what I heard on the radio Wizards actually have to pay his salary to the NBA front office

Well that seems like a conflict of interest.

[ZIM4MVP]

                He did not. He had bodyguards,and security staff   

That also carried........

[imref]

they are reporting that Arenas agreed to the suspension and won't appeal.  The Wizards are waiting to see if Arenas is sentenced to jail time, if he is, then they can void his contract.

[CatsEye]

they are reporting that Arenas agreed to the suspension and won't appeal.  The Wizards are waiting to see if Arenas is sentenced to jail time, if he is, then they can void his contract.

              Oh yea........Cheers to justice...........Whose laughing now Arenas..........What an Arrogant Moron.............Absolute Moron... 

                I bet we won't see his butt again in a Wizards uniform....

[CatsEye]

 According to the radio this morning, Ted Leonsis and the Linc. Holdings group can not reach agreement with the Pollin family on the sale of the Wizards, Verizon Bldg., etc. Difference was reported of about $100 million between what was offered, and what was expected for the sale.
   Latest is it will be put on the market by the Pollin family to other bidders. Leonsis and his group no longer have first rights to buy.
    I wonder if the Lerners are in the market for a Basketball team......

    
  

[CatsEye]

That also carried........

                And that still carry...big, big guns, and billy clubs, and pepper spray, and can yell  really loud ............. "HALT - put your hands where I can see them"........but I am sure you are well aware of that..........am I bringing back memories, yet.....ahh the good old days....                      
     

[HalfSmokes]

According to the radio this morning, Ted Leonsis and the Linc. Holdings group can not reach agreement with the Pollin family on the sale of the Wizards, Verizon Bldg., etc. Difference was reported of about $100 million between what was offered, and what was expected for the sale.
   Latest is it will be put on the market by the Pollin family to other bidders. Leonsis and his group no longer have first rights to buy.
    I wonder if the Lerners are in the market for a Basketball team......

 

this is going to get really ugly

Under the agreement, Leonsis has 10 business days from the day discussions begin to reach a deal to buy the rest of Washington Sports. That negotiating period expired Jan. 20, at which point an appraisal process was to follow. Leonsis signed an appraiser this week; Tagliaferri declined to comment on whether the Pollin estate had hired an appraiser.

If the appraisers for each side cannot agree on the value for the team, they will select a third appraiser to broker a price.

Sources said Leonsis thinks that the third appraiser would probably set a price acceptable to both sides. He also thinks that the third appraiser's assessment would bind the Pollin estate to sell at that price. The sources said Leonsis thinks that the only time the team can be put on the market is if he passes on the third appraiser's price.

Even then, the Leonsis camp said, his investor group would have the right to match any outside offer. Or he could sell his 44 percent of the Wizards and Verizon Center to the new buyer.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/01/27/AR2010012704352.html

I wonder how hard it would be to line up financing if you're biding on 56% of an asset, but may be forced to buy 100%?

[CatsEye]

 NBA COMMISSIONER DAVID STERN STATEMENT ON GILBERT ARENAS AND JAVARIS CRITTENTON

"The NBA has conducted a thorough investigation of events relating to this matter. It is not disputed that, following an argument on the team's flight home from a game in Phoenix, both Mr. Arenas and Mr. Crittenton brought guns to the Verizon Center locker room and – with other players and team personnel present or nearby – displayed them to one another in a continuation of their dispute.   The players engaged in this conduct despite a specific rule set forth in the collective bargaining agreement between the NBA and the Players Association prohibiting players from possessing a weapon at an NBA facility, and reminders of this prohibition given annually by the NBA to players both in writing and in person. The issue here is not about the legal ownership and possession of guns, either in one's home or elsewhere.  It is about possession of guns in the NBA workplace, which will not be tolerated.
  I have met separately with Mr. Arenas and with Mr. Crittenton.  Both have expressed remorse for their actions and an understanding of the seriousness of their transgressions.  Both have volunteered to engage in community service in order to turn the lessons they have learned into an educational message for others.  I accept fully the sincerity of their expressions of regret and intent to create something positive from this incident. Nevertheless, there is no justification for their conduct.  Accordingly, I am today converting Mr. Arenas' indefinite suspension without pay to a suspension without pay for the remainder of the 2009-10 season, and am also suspending Mr. Crittenton without pay, effective immediately, for the remainder of the 2009-10 season. "

WIZARDS STATEMENT ON NBA SUSPENSION OF ARENAS & CRITTENTON
  "The NBA announced today that they have suspended Gilbert Arenas and Javaris Crittenton for the remainder of the season.  We understand and fully support their decision.  Both players violated D.C. laws and NBA rules by bringing guns into the locker room.  Their poor judgment has also violated the trust of our fans and stands in contrast to everything Abe Pollin stood for throughout his life.  It is widely known that Mr. Pollin took the extraordinary step of changing the team name from "Bullets" to "Wizards" in 1997 precisely to express his abhorrence of gun violence in our community.  We hope that this negative situation can produce something positive by serving as a reminder that gun violence is a serious issue.  We look forward to putting this unfortunate incident behind us and once again focusing our full attention on playing exciting basketball in front of our great fans at Verizon Center."

Ernie Grunfeld, President, Washington Wizards Irene Pollin, Principal Owner, Washington Sports and Entertainment (WSE) Robert Pollin, Chief Executive Officer, WSE James Pollin, President, WSE

        So say we all.................

[The Chief]

Dude, you don't like them, we get it.  You can get off your horse now.

[CatsEye]

Dude, you don't like them, we get it.  You can get off your horse now.

         When will you realize it is not a matter of like or dislike....but.......Okay Dude, one horse being sent back to the barn.........   

[The Chief]

          When will you realize it is not a matter of like or dislike....but.......Okay Dude, one horse being sent back to the barn.........   

I understand that, but it's not like anyone was defending Arenas' actions or advocating gun violence

[CatsEye]

I understand that, but it's not like anyone was defending Arenas' actions or advocating gun violence

                 About advocating gun violence or violence per sec........I dunno, you do have CoachKlein on this forum..........
                                         
                                                                                                         

[HalfSmokes]

That photo is from the summer of 2008, the day the Washington Wizards and Gilbert Arenas agreed to what must seem, now, like the worst contract in NBA history. It was for $111 million, of which about $80 million is still owed.

And now both sides have every reason to hate that contract. For the Wizards, Arenas has missed games with repeated major injuries, declined as a player and, of course, with his crackpot personality and his guns, has made the team an international laughingstock -- even going so far as to sully the anti-gun legacy of the recently deceased owner, Abe Pollin.

For Arenas, after the NBA's suspension has been determined he's now not getting paid at all for the remainder of this season, yet the contract weds him to a team that has distanced itself from him in every way imaginable -- right down to removing his likeness from around the arena. People close to Arenas have been saying that he does not want to play for Ernie Grunfeld any longer.

The only natural thing is to assume that the Wizards and Arenas will find a way to part ways. But can they?

Tough to trade
There has been talk about the Wizards finding a trade partner willing to take on Arenas. Front office sources say they can't imagine any team would take on his contract. Among the things working against Arenas:
He is one of the NBA's worst defenders. Synergy Sports tracks every NBA play. At the time of Arenas' original suspension, he was rated the worst defender among the 107 players with at least 300 plays as an on-ball defender.
John Hollinger has demonstrated that tall players age better than short players. Listed at 6-4, but measured at just over 6-2 in socks when he was drafted, Gilbert Arenas is in the category of smaller players who usually need athleticism to thrive. At 28, Arenas is at an age when a lot of players begin slowing down.
The health of Arenas' left knee is uncertain. In the two seasons prior to this one, he played a total of 15 games, through a series of surgeries. This season he was averaging 23 points and seven assists, which are exceptional numbers, but well below the elite level he played in 2006-2007, and even then his field goal percentage was low. Those injuries appear to have robbed him of much of the explosiveness that defined his most productive years.
The six-year, $111 million contract he signed in 2008 is one of the biggest in NBA history, and extends through the 2013-2014 season.
The economy is bad and money is tighter than it has been. And in addition, there are noises that the next collective bargaining agreement could be the most restrictive ever for salaries, which could make this indulgence more painful as time wears on.
Some superstars age gracefully into becoming role players, which may be a way for Arenas to stick around. However, thus far in his career, he has shown no such inclination.

The only glimmer of hope: Several teams are clearing cap space to get LeBron James this summer. Most or all will swing and miss. If one of those teams that misses is eager to show fans the world did not pass them by, Arenas has some star power and some statistics. And if you're far enough under the cap to sign LeBron James, you're far enough under the cap to make a lop-sided trade for Gilbert Arenas.

Who wants a buyout?
In general, people who are owed $80 million tend to do just about everything they can do keep that money. But Gilbert Arenas is a free thinker. And he's reportedly miffed at Ernie Grunfeld. Does that mean he's eager to move on? Eager enough to say goodbye to his money? The answer appears to me that Arenas might be a little nuts, but he's not crazy. The Washington Post's Michael Lee writes:
The same source said that during the meeting [Wednesday with David Stern], Arenas expressed concern about the possibility of having the remainder of his four-year, $80-million contract voided, to which Stern replied, "That would be left up to the team." He also informed Arenas that member of the Wizards organization had yet made an inquiry about voiding his contract to the NBA's legal department.



Arenas has been living his life, building expensive swimming pools and the like, planning on making $111 million over six years. Then this suspension comes along, costing him more than $7 million in lost income. If he is to accept a buyout, he would have to endure the financial pain of a second surprise income hit.

Why would he do a thing like that?

Meanwhile, consider the realities that will drive the Wizards' decision. They can:
Pay Arenas a ton of money to play basketball, which he's still does pretty well.
Do something like the Pacers did with Jamaal Tinsley last season, where they pay him that same ton, not to play basketball at all.
Pay Gilbert Arenas a slightly smaller ton of money to play for somebody else, even while he continues to tie up Washington's salary cap (per NBA rules).

That last one is the buyout, and it is far from perfect.

It seems to me that the only way Arenas would go for a buyout is if it's close to the full amount he's owed, which is in the neigborhood of $80 million even after the hit he's taking this year. Meanwhile, if I were the Wizards I would only agree to a buyout that came at a huge discount -- as Arenas' contract be tying up cap space until 2014 either way.

The Void
NBA contracts have a clause that allows teams to void the contracts if players "at any time, fail, refuse, or neglect to conform his personal conduct to standards of good citizenship, good moral character (defined here to mean not engaging in acts of moral turpitude, whether or not such acts would constitute a crime)." This would seem to be an easy way for the Wizards to part ways with Arenas, should they choose. It has also been suggested that if Arenas is imprisoned and can not honor his contract next season, there may be another legal way to void the deal.

Not so fast, say legal experts. ESPN's Lester Munson points out that the NBA's collective bargaining agreement provides specific punishments for gun crimes. Should the team face the Players' Association before an arbitrator, Munson says the arbitrator is unlikely to accept that Arenas needs some sanction beyond what the rules already call for. You can see the logic: The rules say he can be suspended and fined for this. And yet that's not nearly enough punishment?

Meanwhile, NBA salary cap expert Larry Coon explains on The New York Times' website that voiding contracts it a team strategy that could make things tricky for the League in negotiating the next collective bargaining agreement. He writes:
The current collective bargaining agreement is set to expire in 2011. Both sides are already gearing up for the negotiations, and the league will be seeking a number of concessions from the players. One of these could be altering the nebulously-worded morals clause, giving the teams a clear set of criteria for terminating a player’s contract.

The league is still chagrined by the Golden State Warriors’ attempt to void Latrell Sprewell’s contract in 1997, after Sprewell attempted to choke Coach P.J. Carlesimo. This action was overturned by the league’s arbitrator, who ruled that Sprewell did not violate the morals clause.

Given this history, the league could find itself in a no-win situation should the Wizards attempt to void Arenas’ contract. It would certainly be grieved by the players’ association on Arenas’ behalf. Should Arenas prevail in the subsequent litigation, it would be a severe blow to the league.

But even if the league prevails in litigation, their negotiating position would be weakened. A victory would send a message that the current language in the morals clause is sufficient and not in need of revision.

The fourth option
Every one of these options is unappealing in its way, which inspires a thorough examination of the final option: Making amends.

Here's where it matters that, despite his new reputation as a gunslinging maniac, those close to Arenas see him as a decent human being who has made some mistakes. I don't think you'll find any of his colleagues at Wizards headquarters are repulsed by the idea of working alongside him. David Stern said today, after meeting with Arenas, that he believes the player is genuinely contrite, and that's before he learns about his sentence and possible incarceration.

Which means there are some seeds of reconciliation.

Gilbert Arenas mending fences with the Wizards, and Wizard fans, may seem unlikely. But it's hard to envision any scenario that's more likely.

http://espn.go.com/blog/truehoop/post/_/id/12645/stuck-together-gilbert-arenas-and-the-wizards

[CatsEye]

 That  Arenas is miffed at Grunfeld is a distraction, a smoke screen with mirrors. It doesn't matter. After all by next season there will be new owners of the Wizards, and the whole scenerio will change.  Of course if Arenas gets jail time - that would change the scenerio on his contract too.

   But my interest is now focused on the developing story of who will bid on the Wizards and Verizon Center and be the new owners? And if not Leonsis and his group, as assumed, then who - and what impact will it have on the teams (including the Capitals) playing at the Verizon Center.
    This could really play out to a big freakin drama with a lot of changes as a results. I know for one thing, that the idea that there would be Wizards and Capital season ticket plans combined, if Leonsis was at the helm, is out the window....
                                                   

[HalfSmokes]

   But my interest is now focused on the developing story of who will bid on the Wizards and Verizon Center and be the new owners? And if not Leonsis and his group, as assumed, then who - and what impact will it have on the teams (including the Capitals) playing at the Verizon Center.
    This could really play out to a big freakin drama with a lot of changes as a results. I know for one thing, that the idea that there would be Wizards and Capital season ticket plans combined, if Leonsis was at the helm, is out the window....
                                                   

I think the bigger story/side angle is will Leonsis litigate and hold up the sale. That would leave the team rudderless through one of the biggest off seasons in recent history

[tomterp]

Ted presents his side of the story:


http://www.tedstake.com/

It hasn’t been my desire to comment on the status of the discussions between Lincoln Holdings - the partnership group I’m involved in that owns the Washington Capitals and Washington Mystics and WSELP, which owns the Wizards, the Verizon Center, and the Washington-area Ticketmaster franchise. Yet with the news reports out there this morning, it probably makes sense to clear some things up. The first thing I’d like to point out that I think is getting lost in all of this is that I am part of WSELP, too. My partners and I already own 44% of WSELP; that means we already own nearly half of an NBA team, the Verizon Center and the Ticketmaster franchise. So when I hear people talk about this or that happening with WSELP, I’m not sure they understand that I am part of WSELP, a big part of WSELP!

Ten years ago, when Abe Pollin and I forged our partnership, we not only created a set of rights for me as a partner in WSELP, but we also agreed on a orderly process for Lincoln and me to acquire the Pollin family’s share of WSELP when he passed away. The process we agreed to, set out in an agreement that Abe and I both signed, was that if his heirs and my partners and I could not agree on a valuation of the team, we would start an appraisal process designed to arrive at a fair market value for the Pollin family’s share of WSELP (including the Verizon Center and the Wizards). The idea was to make it possible for us to do this transaction at a price that was fair to both sides. I’m not sure how or why someone would object to a process that is simply designed to arrive at a fair market value, so I was very surprised to read in the paper today that the Executors of Mr. Pollin’s Estate are attempting to find a way around the appraisal process Mr. Pollin put into place for my partners and me-and only my partners and me — to pay fair market value for the portion of the WSELP properties we don’t already own. We were even more surprised to see that a memo was circulated to WSELP employees (and keep in mind I already own 44% of WSELP) that didn’t even mention the appraisal process that Mr. Pollin agreed to more than 10 years ago and that the Pollin estate (through their lawyers) have committed to in writing. I’m sure this must have been an oversight on their part.

My partners and I are already very involved in the workings of the Verizon Center, and the teams that play there and keep in mind, we already own nearly half of the Wizards and the Verizon Center. On top of that, the Capitals play 41 regular season games there, as well as pre-season and playoff games, and the Washington Mystics play a minimum of 17 games. We have an extensive knowledge of sports team ownership and economics, and are proud that among the teams that play at the Verizon Center, the Capitals are doing the best financially. The Capitals are one of the fastest-growing teams in all of sports, we’ve created a very healthy business model, which is sustainable and strong. We sell out every game. We generate fantastic TV ratings, are a league leader in merchandise sales, and our sponsorship sales are growing. In fact, in every metric of our business, we’re growing.

Over the years that I’ve been the principal owner of the Capitals, I’ve learned a lot about sports team ownership. It was from Abe Pollin himself that I learned owning a team is a public trust. I have learned that owners have a responsibility to do everything in their power to build a great team that can achieve immortality for their fans by striving to win championships, and I hope with the Caps I’ve shown that that I’ve learned a great deal about the right way to build a winning team. I would like to restore a winning tradition to the Wizards, and help the team - and its fans in the Washington area - achieve the rewards that come from competing for a championship.

I am very confident this process will move forward in the manner Mr. Pollin and I agreed to in 1999. The last thing the Wizards need now is more uncertainty. My partners and I are confident in the rights we have, and will make sure to protect them.

In the first phase of the orderly process Mr. Pollin and I agreed to conduct by which Lincoln Holdings could acquire the share of WSELP we don’t already own, we suggested a price that would have amounted to one of the highest prices ever paid for an NBA team. We did that with full knowledge of the marketplace and an intimate view of the operations of the Wizards and Verizon Center.

The Pollin Estate didn’t agree to sell at that price, which of course was their right. That simply meant that we now move to the appraisal process. We have appointed an appraiser to set a value for WSELP, as required by the Agreement Mr. Pollin and I signed in 1999. Earlier this week, the Estate’s lawyers told us in writing that they are in the process of hiring an appraiser and assured us that they intend to pursue the appraisal in good faith. As the Agreement makes clear, if their appraisers and ours differ on a valuation, a neutral, third appraiser will be chosen to come in and establish fair market value and then Lincoln Holdings has the sole right to purchase the properties at the appraised price. Let me say that again so that it’s clear: at the end of the appraisal process established in my agreement with Mr. Pollin, there is only one person or entity that has the right to buy the outstanding share of WSELP: My partnership, Lincoln Holdings. The point of the appraisal is to establish a Fair Market Value for WSELP, that’s what the Agreement says and I’m willing and able to hold up my end of the deal. I should also note that in addition to the appraisal right I just described, Lincoln has many other rights, including Rights of First Refusal, Tag-Along rights and other related WSELP partnership and Lincoln purchase agreement rights.

Since this is, I hope, the only time I’ll be speaking out until the appraisal process is completed and we have an opportunity to acquire WSELP for the appraised price, I do want to clear up one other matter that has been in the public. Lincoln Holdings is very well capitalized and the Capitals are financially succeeding as a stand-alone company. We have very little debt against our ownership position in our teams, and zero debt against our 44% WSELP position. The Caps are not only playing great on the ice but doing very well financially.

We have been willing to take on the acquisition of WSELP even knowing that the Wizards are losing money this season and facing challenges that were also reported today. We are willing to do this because we want the Washington community to have multiple teams vying for championships. Wish us luck!

[CatsEye]

Ted presents his side of the story:
http://www.tedstake.com/

                Murphy's Law turtle, Murphy's Law..............."Just when you think nothing can go wrong, all Hell breaks loose......."                 

[PC]

There is no end to the humiliation for this team...

Is this team actually going to lose to New Jersey?   

[PC]

Incredible.

This team had to go through this sh*t just to be the worst team in the history of the NBA...