The Value of (Agent) Zero

Should Gilbert Arenas stay with the Wizards or go on his merry way? It's not really up to us. It may not even be up to him. But that doesn't stop us from weighing the pros and cons.

The pros, according to Sally Jenkins: "Gilbert Arenas is a score-at-will player and an irreplaceable crowd pleaser, and losing him would be a major blow to franchise's fortunes, and popularity."

The cons: "Gilbert Arenas is a shoot-first point guard with a juvenile streak and two surgical cuts on his knee, and the Washington Wizards are just as good without him."

Which statement holds more weight? Readers are just as torn as they've been all year.

Commenter gdavis is still on Team Agent Zero:

gdavis4: The wizards played better this year not because gilbert did not play but because other players played better. Are we saying haywood, stevenson, butler, young and mason only played better because gilbert was out? . . . If your girlfriend goes out of town for a week and you manage to have a good time while she is gone do you dump her?

If you want to continue to have a good time, then yes. But your girlfriend and Gilbert Arenas probably have very little in common (other than the ability to eat 12 hamburgers in one night).

CJ57: First time I have agreed with Sally on anything, She is 100% correct. We are Wiz fans and have suffered unimaginable periods of losing. With EJ and GA, we have at least made the playoffs, and have the potential to go further with a healthy team. Gilbert is not only the heartbeat of this team but of this city. His generosity is unmatched, his youthful exuberance is great for this town whether you like him or not.

"Unimaginable periods of losing?" Somebody get CJ57 a tiny little violin to play.

Beeb1: Yes,this is a good article. Of course we enjoy Gilbert. But as a season ticket holder who talks to alot of other fans, I think you'd be surprised at how many are willing to let Gilbert leave. His defense is sickening. In Ernie we trust! Abe,step aside and let Ted put us over the top.

jdb70: The only person who thinks gilbert is getting a max contract is gilbert and his agent! Wait gilbert is his own agent! Gilbert has huge upside and will stay with the wiz because NOONE will give him a max contract so he'll stay her for the right money and prove all the haters wrong. I'll keep gil, caron and jamison and replace the 12 other stiffs on this team.

Or maybe he will get a max contract and prove you wrong, jdb. We know how Arenas loves to prove chumps like us wrong.

anonymousinva: Why would any team pay a max contract to a guy that has one skill...scoring. He can't/won't defend. He won't spread the ball around and get teammates involved. . . . I like Gil...he's a likeable guy. But this is a business of winning championships. We're not doing that...ever...with him here soaking up $100 mil.

And finally, the award for Most Sensible Post of the Day goes to . . .

wizardman: The Wizards are in a very diffcult spot. I would love to see Gil stay but not more than 12 or 13 million a year. What will help the Wizards is the rest of league. We can only hope that the rest of league will have questions on his knee. I just want the Wizards to win!

What do you think? What should the Wizards do when Arenas opts out of his contract?

By Lindsay Applebaum |  June 3, 2008; 3:22 PM ET  | Category:  Wizards
Previous: Major League Greed | Next: Fastest Man in the Whatever

The comments to this entry are closed.