Lakers Rumors: Why Los Angeles Would Be Wise to Avoid Gilbert Arenas

Recently-waived Orlando Magic guard Gilbert Arenas has narrowed down the teams on his wish list and not surprisingly, the Los Angeles Lakers are one of the teams he would like to sign with.

Despite Arenas wanting to play in Los Angeles, the Lakers would be wise to stay away from him.

Other teams on his list include the New York Knicks, Miami Heat and whichever team acquires Dwight Howard.

Those teams may or may not have interest in Arenas, but he's one guy the Lakers shouldn't aggressively pursue.

A few years ago maybe, but not now.

Arenas was once a guy that averaged over 25 points per game for three straight seasons, but his game has taken the turn downward ever since.

Thanks to a lengthy suspension and several knee surgeries, Arenas has appeared in just 117 of a possible 328 regular-season games since signing that monster $111 million contract that eventually got him waived by Orlando via the amnesty clause.

On the court, Arenas is a shoot first type of point guard that might not mesh well with Kobe Bryant and a pair of talented big men in Pau Gasol and Andrew Bynum.

Off the court, he's been trouble in the past. Things have been very sensitive in Laker Land of late. Given Lamar Odom's exit and Pau Gasol's uncertain future with the team, bringing in uncertainty in Arenas may be playing with fire.

Right now Arenas is a gamble. While the Lakers certainly want to do something that makes it look like they're trying to improve the team, it might be wise to let someone else roll the dice on Arenas.