Gilbert Arenas Showing Good Progress

Gilbert Arenas is showing great progress as he tries to make a comeback after having three left knee surgeries in the last three years.

Arenas and center Brendan Haywood have both been out the entire season for the Washington Wizards, though they took part in some shooting drills during Monday's practice. The team has yet to set a timetable for either's return.

Arenas has missed majority of the season, due to a procedure he had done in September to clear out some debris in his left knee.

"I'm out there feeling like the old Gilbert Arenas again. I'm running, jumping, dunking, feeling good. No pain, no swelling. My balance is back, my speed is back: the only thing I have to get used to again is being around other bodies out there on the court. I'm working on getting timing back. The only thing I'm not doing is playing in games."

When asked was he going to return this season Arenas said

"I don't want to promise anything, I'm not even ready to think about that right now," Arenas said. "The way I look at it: I rushed back twice and got hurt again twice so this time, I'm going to take my time and make sure. I came back quick twice and it didn't work for me or the team. I'm just going to keep practicing on it, make sure it's all the way right and then go from there."

Last season the Wizards were impatient with Arenas and got him back on the court way to soon.As a result, he was forced to make his short comeback come to an end, shutting it down in Game Five of the NBA Playoffs against the Cleveland Cavaliers.

This season the circumstances are different the Wizards are having a lottery season, and they can take there time and make sure Arenas is out their 100 percent.

Wizards GM Ernie Grunfeld said he expects both Arenas and Haywood to play some part of this season. Whether it's 15, 10, or just five games, he wants to see how the team looks when they are healthy.

Arenas, who signed an $111 million contract this summer, in recent weeks played some two-on-two but has yet participate in full-contact drills or full practice.

Antawn Jamison would love to have these guys back so the Wiz can make a push next season.

"My main thing is getting the guys healthy for next year," he said. "This year is what it is. It would be an added bonus if Gilbert or Brendan (could) come back this year just to get a few games under their belts, but it's about the future of the organization.''

What would define success for the Wizards this season is:

1. Making sure you know what young guys you can keep, and not.

2. Getting  Arenas back and win some games.

3. Staying healthy.

4. Having some momentum going into the offseason.