Photobucket

Just a couple of seasons ago, a person could claim that Washington Wizards point guard Gilbert Arenas was one of the best players in the league without hesitation. Sure, Agent Zero has never been a part of the upper echelon of talent that includes the likes of LeBron James, Kobe Bryant, and Tim Duncan, but he did manage to carve his own talented niche in the NBA.

And then the injury bug bit Arenas in one of the worst ways.

After suffering knee problems in 2006 and 2007, Arenas barely played the ’07-’08 season—appearing in only 13 games (including the postseason). It is now October and Arenas will have to wait several months before he can be on the court again, after his third knee operation in one-and-a-half years.

To make matters worse, Arenas refused to speak to reporters on the Wizards’ media day regarding his knee injury, resulting in a $15,000 fine. While Mr. Hibachi claims it was due to his desire to have the media focus on the Wizards' young talent, it is a little fishy that he did not share too many details regarding his latest surgery.

The fact of the matter is that even the biggest Gilbert Arenas supporters (myself included) have to be worried that he may never be the same player after this latest operation—and not in a good way. That is not exactly the best scenario to occur, especially when the Washington Wizards recently banked $100 million and some change to secure Agent Zero’s services.

So here is the $100 million question:

When Arenas returns, do the Wizards get Agent Zero, the cold blooded assassin—also know as the man who has averaged 23 points and 5.5 assists for his career, or a former All-Star that’s a mere shell of his former self (aka Chris Webber mid-2000s)?

Luckily, Arenas at 26 years of age, is considerably younger than the recently retired Chris Webber, who was never the same after a slew of knee problems.

Only time will tell. Until then, the Wizards will have to tough it out without their 100 million dollar man.

At least they still have a healthy team captain in Antawn Jamison….

Oh wait, they don’t have him either.

It’s going to be a long fall for the Washington Wizards and Gilbert Arenas. Hopefully, Arenas can come back at least close to his All-Star form—even if that means shutting it down this season.

The Wizards can’t afford to have Arenas re-aggravate his knee injury any further—for 100 million reasons.