Gilbert Arenas officially opts out

[Andrew]

Wizards’ Arenas opts out of final year of contract

Well, he said he would and he did. Does anyone see him leaving Washington? I think the Wizards are the only ones likely to give him the money that he wants, though if he does leave I see it being through a sign-and-trade to get him where he wants to go with the money he's after.

[Matthew]

Yeah, I think he's gone. I can't see why Washington would want to pay him more then 10 million a season after they played better without him.

[Patr1ck]

Yeah, I think he's gone. I can't see why Washington would want to pay him more then 10 million a season after they played better without him.

I completely agree.

What teams have the cap room to pick him up in the offseason barring a sign and trade?

[Jackal]

The first team that comes to mind (and perhaps it's not even the case) is Seattle?

Durant & Arenas + 4th pick?

[BIG GREEN]

I think money and fame is the most important thing to this guy as opposed to winning the championship. I espect him to embrace a mediocre team where he'd the man once again like he used to have with washington. His ideal fit imo....would be with a playmakers like paul, nash or lebron who would pass the ball to him almost whenever he needs it. He's not a point guard in the traditional sense.

[Sauru]

I think money and fame is the most important thing to this guy as opposed to winning the championship.

you said everything that needs to be said right there. this man is pure ego

[GoHornets]

I think he will sign with a very bad team, let's say Memphis or Seattle.
He will turn it into a mediocre team, but once again he won't make it, so he'll opt out again...

[dansensei]

it will be easier for the wizards to let arenas go after they realized that the team could pretty much compete without him. i guess that the injury to arenas helped the wizards realized that they have other talents in that team than just arenas alone, like butler and jamison...

[Wacky Bibe]

he's going westward for sure.

[Matthew]

Would seattle even be interested in him?

[Wacky Bibe]

don't think so..i think they are settling for younger players with strong knees..

[Martti.]

If Miami doesn't resign Marion, they'll sign Arenas and draft Beasley. A nice team right there. Although I'm pretty sure they won't follow that direction.

[Laxation]

God I hope Washington pay him a lot.

A lot of washington fans want Arenas, but since Butler doesn't play well with him - they would trade him.
If detroit traded for Butler, it'd be fantastic...

[Matthew]

Who does Detroit have they can offer for Butler?

[Laxation]

Prince + Maxiell or Dyess even.

I dunno what contract Butler is on

[Matthew]

Butler is a stud that continues to get better. That would be a horrible trade.

[The X]

Prince + Maxiell or Dyess even.

I dunno what contract Butler is on

Butler I think is getting around $7 mill per year....on only a little more than Artest....Prince is near $9-$10 mill so money wouldn't work....although I don't think Wiz would ever do that trade unless he demanded a trade or his contract was up, but they'd still want some sort of draft pick....if I were Wiz, be better to send Arenas packing, as much as I like him....

[Andrew]

What teams have the cap room to pick him up in the offseason barring a sign and trade?

At a glance Charlotte, Memphis, Philadelphia and Seattle are the only ones who are likely to be in a position to sign him, depending on how much he's willing to settle for. Seattle would probably still have to make a sign-and-trade to pay him what he wants though and Charlotte and Philadelphia will be trying to lock up Emeka Okafor and Andre Iguodala respectively. So I still think if Arenas is leaving Washington, it's going to be through a sign-and-trade which means they won't be walking away empty-handed.

[Sauru]

So I still think if Arenas is leaving Washington, it's going to be through a sign-and-trade which means they won't be walking away empty-handed.

they wont get what people think he is worth though which will cause endless posts on every message board about how the wizards are stupid for trading him for so little, when in reality anything they get for him at this point is a bonus

[joejam999]

I think money and fame is the most important thing to this guy as opposed to winning the championship.

you said everything that needs to be said right there. this man is pure ego

Never liked the guy.

[Laxation]

Prince + Maxiell or Dyess even.

I dunno what contract Butler is on

Butler I think is getting around $7 mill per year....on only a little more than Artest....Prince is near $9-$10 mill so money wouldn't work....although I don't think Wiz would ever do that trade unless he demanded a trade or his contract was up, but they'd still want some sort of draft pick....if I were Wiz, be better to send Arenas packing, as much as I like him....

Rats...

I never thought Wiz would trade him either - great contract, awesome player, but a lot of fans on RealGM are saying that they want him gone.
Now obviously thats not anything to say its going to happen, or anything close to that - I would hope the basketball sense a GM has is way above an average forum poster, but if those people are saying he doesn't fit well with Arenas/Jamison, then maybe he will be on the block.

It would make sense then, to trade Butler for pieces that compliment Arenas, and with such a small contract the only thing that really works is young players and draft picks - something no doubt I can see teams giving up for him.

With such a small contract though, it does kinda wipe the Pistons out of contention, unless theres a 3rd team in there somewhere...

[benji]

I would hope the basketball sense a GM has is way above an average forum poster

You would hope, but Billy King, John Weisbrod, and others seem to want desperately to show you otherwise.

[Sam The Man]

Arenas has previously said he would take less money for a chance to win a ring.
Im not sure if you can sign a mid-level exception for 1 year. But if you can, he might decide to do that, and become a free agent next season. If 2 years is the minimum for a MLE, he could sign a 2 year deal. Wait for the massive 2010 off season I think, when the 2003 draft class will be on Free Agency, and try sign a big deal then, considering many teams have lots of cap room that summer.
He might be able to sign with a LeBron, Melo or Bosh, and try make a 1-2 punch to compete for the championship.

Just an idea...

[Laxation]

Arenas is NOT taking the MLE

You need minimum 2 years, afaik - but you can have a player option for the 2nd

[Matthew]

It comes down to which player the Wizards want to build around: Butler or Arenas. I don't there is any logic behind choosing Arenas when you take last season into account.