NBA Rumors: Breaking Down Potential Destinations for Gilbert Arenas

With the NBA's amnesty window closed and Baron Davis reportedly off the market, the league's bargain-basement hunters, particularly those looking for backcourt help, will turn their attention to one Gilbert Arenas.

That's right, folks. It's time for Free Agent Zero to take center stage. Arenas is back on the open market now that he's cleared waivers after the Orlando Magic ate the $62.4 million left on his combustible six-year, $111 million deal.

According to ESPN insider Marc Stein, Arenas' wish list basically boils down to the Los Angeles Lakers, the New York Knicks, the Miami Heat and wherever Dwight Howard ends up, which could bring the New Jersey Nets into the picture.

So, which team will land the mercurial guard, who, at one point, was one of the elite scorers in the game before injuries and suspensions robbed him of 211 games since the 2007-08 season?

Lakers

At this point, the Lakers would seem to be the best, if not the most obvious, fit for Arenas. The Los Angeles native (and one-time Grant High Lancer) would help the Lakers fill the void at backup shooting guard left behind by Shannon Brown, who ditched LaLa Land for a one-year deal with the Phoenix Suns.

Certainly, Gil would fit in perfectly amongst the drama that seems to engulf the Purple and Gold at every turn. He might even be crazier than Metta World Peace, who's at least had enough sense not to bring firearms into an NBA locker room.

Even if the old Ron Artest did have a soft spot for Henny at halftime and brawling with fans in the stands.

Whether the Lakers want another attraction for their three-ring circus—between Kobe Bryant's divorce, Lamar Odom's departure to Dallas and Pau Gasol's trade potential—is another story entirely, one that GM Mitch Kupchak may have little interest in tackling.

Knicks

New York would seem to be out of the running now that Baron Davis is purportedly on board, but don't underestimate just how desperate the Knickerbockers are for guards.

Davis may well be out until March with recurring back problems, leaving a shell vaguely resembling Mike Bibby, 2-guard Toney Douglas and rookie reach Iman Shumpert to handle the ball in Mike D'Antoni's up-tempo, point-guard-predicated offense.

Like I said, the Knicks are desperate for guards. That isn't likely to change unless they either realize that their Big Three of Carmelo Anthony, Amar'e Stoudemire and Tyson Chandler is much better suited for former Knick Phil Jackson's Triangle or they bring in another ball-handler on the cheap.

And seeing as how hiring the Zen Master and attempting to institute the most complicated offense known to man is prohibitively expensive and difficult at this point, the more likely option would seem to involve GM Glen Grunwald reaching out to Gil.

B-Diddy be damned.

Heat

Miami is in a predicament not unlike that found in the Big Apple, though at least the Heat can ask Dwyane Wade and LeBron James to bring the ball up and share it, if need be.

Putting that sort of pressure wouldn't be ideal for Wade's knees nor for Bron Bron's off-the-ball abilities.

Nor for Mario Chalmers and rookie Norris Cole, for that matter.

The Heat proved last season that they don't need much more than a few warm bodies outside of their Big Three to win the Eastern Conference, though that doesn't mean Pat Riley will necessarily turn down a helping hand if he can find one.

At the very least, Gil checks out as a better, more versatile version of Eddie House, who happens to be a member of the Heat, with the potential to put up 20 points and dish out four or five assists on a good night.

That sort of production would undoubtedly be a welcome addition to a team whose talent level drops off all-too-dramatically from its core of superstars.

Nets

Agent Zero isn't likely to seriously consider playing in New Jersey unless DH12 ends up there.

Apparently, half a season spent on a sinking ship was time enough for Arenas to secure a sturdy grasp of Howard's Superman cape.

Otherwise, Gil would have little reason to play for the Nets. Without Howard, New Jersey would be lucky to reach the playoffs, leaving Arenas to fight for scraps behind Deron Williams with Jordan Farmar and Marshon Brooks on a mediocre team. 

Would Arenas really give up his newfound freedom for that? Not likely.

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