Arenas may return for final five games

[Andrew]

According to a snippet in this article, anyway.

While the Celtics' regular-season finale at Boston April 15 may not mean much to them, it could mean a lot to injured Wizards star Gilbert Arenas. Arenas has yet to play this season after having surgery on his left knee, but an NBA source said he is expected to be ready late in the season, perhaps for Washington's final five games. Arenas has been practicing on and off since Feb. 16. While it might seem questionable for him to return this season for an injury-plagued team that has one of the NBA's worst records, the reasoning is that it will help him gain confidence in the knee before the offseason.

I think it's noble of him after what he said earlier this year about not wanting to return to a struggling team (a case of honesty not necessarily being the best policy, at least out in the open like that) and the reasoning is fairly sound but with five games left, it doesn't seem worth the risk. If he is willing and able to return for those final games so be it and more power to him, it's his career and his choice after all but at this point of the season I'd say it's better to avoid the risk and rehab through to next season where he can return fully recovered.

I admire his drive and the sentiment, but if I were him I'd be playing it safe given all the problems he's had the last couple of years. No need to risk that over five games at the end of the season. If there were 25, 20, maybe even 15 games left and he was ready then sure, but at this point I say err on the side of caution.

[puttincomputers]

i wonder if he would have any fantasy value

[Lamrock]

I think Arenas' time as a star in the league is over, but I think this is a big mistake. He has made two bad comebacks now, and him coming back for the Wizards' final 5 losses can't help matters. He should come back next season when the Wizards have a chance to lose to the Cavs in the first round again.

[bowdown]

still cant believe they signed him for 111 million. even if he was healthy cmon now.....

[Lamrock]

He wasn't healthy when they signed him.

[NovU]

Almost everyone thought he was getting paid more than what he deserved when he was signing, but then Rashard Lewis also signed a bigger contract than we thought. Let's see if he can provide like when he was healthy.

Last remaining games should be interesting to see whether he can still provide or not. Props for his decision. That's a brave one.

[nba_baller]

Wasn't he expected back in Jan/Feb?

[Prev]

I agree with the dude that Arenas role as a star is over.

[Modifly]

To be frank, playing those last 5 games isn't worth the risks. Hell no. Who knows what could happen, he may injured his dodgy knee again in those 5 games and the biggest thing is, why take the risk? You have just gone through an 8 months rehab and the season is coming to a close. Why not let it heal over the offseason, give it a couple more months and be really confident that it's in good shape? If he decides to play those 5 games then he definitely have every right to do so and may he succeed. If not then he's finally making a wise decision.

[puttincomputers]

maybe he is considering retiring?

[NovU]

He's been practicing for months now, and he was due to come back earlier. It seems he took enough time for injury to heal up so I don't think recovery is pretty much behind an issue at this stage. It's rather nice for him to consider playing a few games before the season is over. If he can generate some positive notes, the WAS will have something to build upon or something to look forward to for next season. He could have just given up but insteand he chooses to play for the team so I think that's respectable whether he still can play at high level or not.

[Andrew]

Wasn't he expected back in Jan/Feb?

I believe so but much like last year it's been pushed back as his recovery and rehab has seemingly taken longer than first expected.

I don't entirely disagree with the suggestion that his days as a star are over, that certainly is a possibility we can't rule out but at the same time I don't think we can fairly rule out a return to All-Star form if he returns healthy and stays healthy. A lot of people had Amare Stoudemire written off after surgery but he made a successful comeback in his first full season afterwards. It's not unreasonable to suggest Arenas could do the same, though I think to have the best shot at it he should write this season off and aim to come back at 100% next season.

maybe he is considering retiring?

Anything's possible but I doubt it at this stage, there's been no indication of that. I'd say it's more a case of them being very cautious in the wake of the surgery and initial injury and a reluctance to get him back out there when the season has long since been lost.

[JaoSming]

He has too many "what if"'s to quit now. I mean, of all the crap that I have heard of the guy, I think he'll do anything he can to comeback and prove all you people who say he isn't a star anymore wrong.

Although, I didn't really think he was a big star to begin with, but whatever, I love a 2 sized guard playing Point.

[Andrew]

Agreed, he talks a lot but with that chip on his shoulder he seems to be a pretty driven individual.

[Andrew]

Wizards’ Arenas on track to start Saturday

Sounds promising. Nine games isn't much better than five I suppose but after all the setbacks, returning earlier than expected - even if it is just a week - is perhaps an encouraging sign. I'm guessing he won't be in All-Star form so it won't really be fair to judge his future based on this short run but we might see flashes of the player we saw up until his injury last season.

[shadowgrin]

He just ran out of material to write in his blog that's why he's returning.

[Andrew]

Possibly, but he's a gamer so he should have plenty of barely newsworthy topics to blog about.

[Clueminati017]

He just ran out of material to write in his blog that's why he's returning.

He did say that he's not going to be blogging anymore because he ran out of material. Maybe he should've done what Chris Bosh is doing. Go on YouTube and act a fool.

[Modifly]

Arenas registered 15 points and 10 assists tonight. Those are pretty impressive for a guy that hasn't played in more than a year and have had three surgeries on his knee throughout those period. We'll have to wait and see what kind of numbers he put up in the long term though, a game's stat cant speak just yet.

[Andrew]

Tough night from the field as he went 3/12 and had a desperation three that would've won the game swatted by Kwame Brown but not too shabby indeed given how long he's been out. His numbers will probably be fairly ordinary in this final stretch especially if he only ends up playing 25-30 minutes per game but if his shot starts falling and he can still get to the line like he did against the Pistons, things look promising for next season.

[shadowgrin]

Still, Kwame Brown swatted him. Just for that reason, he should just call it quits for this season and rest himself up.

[Matthew]

Although, I didn't really think he was a big star to begin with, but whatever, I love a 2 sized guard playing Point.

In terms of popularity he was definitely a star. Fans loved him. But this contract has the potential to go down with the Larry Hughes one as the worst signings in NBA history.

Either that or next season Butler, Jamison and a healthy Arenas go back to playing how they used to and they challenge for the 4-6th seed in the east.