NBA Trade Rumors: Washington To Move Gilbert Arenas and Face Roster Uncertainty
The Wizards are in the midst of one of the most exciting offseasons in recent history. In the last few months alone, the team has won the first pick in the draft lottery, welcomed Ted Leonsis as full owner of the team, and netted three first-round picks including John Wall. The future looks bright at a glance, but one glaring problem still remains.
Gilbert Arenas is due to make $80 million over the next four years if he plays his contract out in Washington.
Luckily, there is a prevalent rumor circulating that the Orlando Magic are interested in the maligned guard. Any deal would be a win-win for Washington at this point. The Wizards get out from under a hefty cap hit and the Magic earn a good player to help them through the playoffs where their role players failed.
Word has it, such a deal would require Dwight Howard's approval on whether Arenas would "fit in" or not.
The prospective deal would send Arenas to Orlando, which would send Vince Carter to Washington. There would likely be other pieces involved, but they would all come the Wizards' way because of the inequality of the one-for-one deal.
For a team with six players under contract and four draft picks to sign, the Wizards could use the extra bodies.
Say what you want about Carter's playing style and his age, but he only has one year left on his contract. Once that contract expires, there will be more cap space for smaller free agent building blocks in the future.
Carter is more of a real shooting guard than Arenas. His skills have him at a point where he can hang on the perimeter and wait for passes from his slashing point guard counterpart—Wall in this case.
Beyond talk about Arenas and the new draftees, everyone is focused on the impending free agent class set to hit the market in a few days.
The one issue many fans should be taking with the Wizards this offseason is owner Ted Leonsis' statement the team would not seek involvement in the talent-laden free agent pool.
Any other year, I would agree with Leonsis' blueprint for the team. Build through the draft and fill in the blanks with a free agent or two. But with names like LeBron James, Chris Bosh, Dwyane Wade, Dirk Nowitzki, Carlos Boozer, and Amar'e Stoudemire out there, it's impossible to count the Wizards out of the running no matter what their plan is. These are players that, for the most part, can come in and help a team compete immediately.
If it comes down to it, I think a guy like Rudy Gay would be right at home in Washington.
Gay is a small forward who is younger and doesn't have the injury history that Josh Howard has recently amassed. Howard's contract has a team option, but it's unlikely Washington will exercise it following his ACL injury. Gay is a good option at small forward, but may be a man on a mission for the big paycheck this season could offer him.
The issue with any free agency involvement is the current state of the roster. Without re-signing anyone, the Wizards will have 11 players under contract if you factor in the four draft picks, six returning players, and new addition of Kirk Hinrich. Wall, Arenas, Andray Blatche, and JaVale McGee are the likely starters, but who moves into the small forward spot?
Do the Wizards intend to start newly-drafted Trevor Booker at small forward? Will they bring back some of the 10-day contract players from last season to fill out their roster for cheap?
It seems nearly impossible to assemble a legitimate starting five as the roster is currently constructed.
There are a lot of questions facing the front office of the Wizards, and there a lot of blanks left to fill before this team can make it back to winning ways, the playoffs and beyond. Whether a deal for Arenas comes to fruition remains to be seen. The only thing coming out of Orlando is a move for Arenas remains a "definite possibility."
