Despite playing just thirteen games last season — an injury run that rendered my first-round fantasy pick a real bummer — it looks like Gilbert Arenas is going to get a big contract:
According to a league source familiar with the situation, Wizards President Ernie Grunfeld plans on soon offering Arenas a lucrative long-term contract, one that could cover up to six years and could be worth more than $100 million. However, whether Grunfeld and the Wizards are willing to meet the three-time all star guard’s wish for a maximum-level contract — one that would cover six years and pay him over $124 million — remains unclear.
Whether Gilbert deserves such huge money is open to debate — for the record, I say ‘yes’, if only to secure his blogging services for the future — but there’s no doubt it’ll be an interesting negotiation.
You’ve got to wonder how Arenas’ past comments may impact on his negotiating power. His agent can’t have been pleased with this:
‘If somebody offers you $12 million and you think you’re worth more than that, somebody should punch you in your face if you turn down that money. What if you get hurt and you can’t play basketball again? You just lost $60 million. You just threw away a great lottery ticket. That’s what people don’t understand.’
Yep, that’s a straight-up invitation to low-ball. And considering his injury woes — and Arenas’ very public proclamation that he’ll a) take less if Antawn Jamison wants more and b) he’ll accept $12 million dollars — you’d be surprised if he took home a maxed-out contract.
(But then, the Magic did give a sharp-shooting second option with limited defensive abilities a $110m+ contract. The NBA: Where Otis Smith Happens).
Posted By: Anton
1 response so far ↓
washwash // July 1, 2008 at 11:53 am
eh they could do better. elton brand would work.
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