Please please please please please.
Will Gilbert Arenas Get Traded To The Orlando Magic Soon?
Pretty please?
Put it this way: There couldn’t have been a better game for Gilbert to have a renaissance performance than this past Saturday against Orlando, the only team for whom an Arenas trade actually makes sense.
And for what it’s worth, if the report from Orlando Pinstriped Post comes to fruition, a deal sending Andray Blatche and Gilbert Arenas to Orlando would be an absolute Godsend.
The Wizards take back Rashard Lewis and Vince Carter, sure, but it brings them a step closer to rebuilding with a foundation that actually makes sense. According to Sham Sports, Vince’s deal is un-guaranteed for 2011-12, meaning his ghastly deal comes off the books after this season. As for Lewis, his deal would continue through 2011-12 at max-level salary, but by 2012-13, he becomes a trade asset, or he can be bought out for $10 million of the $22 million he’s guaranteed.
Two quick points to emphasize looking at the big picture with all this:
- A backcourt with Gilbert Arenas and John Wall has not worked. A lot like the problems the Heat are having in Miami, actually. Rather than work together, it feels like Gil and Wall end up trading possessions where they’re in control. That’s not fatal as far as this season’s concerned, but if you’re the Wizards and thinking long-term, what’s the point of playing this game? They want Wall to be the face of the franchise, not Gilbert. And Gilbert deserves to go somewhere where he can thrive without people asking whether his success stunts the growth of a teammate. In this case, a trade makes sense for everyone involved.
Andray Blatche has been terrible. Back when he signed his contract extension a few months ago, a lot of folks took me to task for hating the deal. And if anyone wondered about my skepticism then, it’s been borne out by the first month’s play from Blatche. He’s the worst defender on the team, he’s lazy, he’s overrated on offense, and he’s also legitimately fat. As long as he’s in Washington, it delays the search for a long-term big man that makes sense. Any trade where the Wizards get rid of Andray Blatche and his four-year contract extension is a step in the right direction.
So, in other words, we’re talking about one year of Vince Carter and 2-3 years of Rashard Lewis in exchange for a do-over on the two worst contracts the Wizards have signed in five years. Wizards fans, does that sound like something you’d be interested in?
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