November 21, 2008 10:30 am  |  32 Comments

Arenas Wouldn’t Mind a Last Place Finish for the Wiz


by Marcel Mutoni

While rehabing his knee, Gil has also kept busy doing other things. He honored the new prez with a tattoo, he’s been blogging of course, and he found the time in his schedule to sit still for a few hours while someone immortalized him in wax.

Arenas has also spent some time philosophizing about the bind his team, the Washington Wizards, is currently in. They have an ugly 1-8 record so far on the season, and the way Gilbert sees it, tanking the rest of the year wouldn’t be the worst idea in the world.

From the Washington Post:

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“This year, with me and Brendan [Haywood] out, some of the veterans are like, ‘Man, I don’t even know what to think of this year,’ ” Arenas said.

“And I told ‘em, ‘If this is one of those years we don’t make the playoffs, we’re one of those teams that’s in last place the whole year — you know that’s what happened to San Antonio and that’s how they got Tim Duncan. If that happens with us, it’s for the better.”

Arenas will likely get killed by the media and Wizards fans for adopting this line of thinking - even if it was said in jest - but is he so crazy for suggesting such a thing? I don’t think so.

Even if the Wiz don’t land a sure-fire Hall of Famer in next year’s Draft, where’s the harm in trying their luck in Lottery Land should the team continue to fall on its face this season?

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This story is filed under: NBA, The Wire, Top News

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  • Torrance Posted: Nov.21 at 10:35 am
    They’ll need help no matter what if they want to become a contender. And the lottery might be their best shot. That’s one ugly tattoo, btw.

  • Gerard Himself Posted: Nov.21 at 10:37 am
    yeah Mutoni, it’s called tanking.

  • Tanny Posted: Nov.21 at 10:38 am
    He can’t write about some fight with his girlfriend instead Gil is really just ruining for his teammates and the fans

  • riggs Posted: Nov.21 at 10:42 am
    i used to defend him……..sot so much now.

  • riggs Posted: Nov.21 at 10:42 am
    *not…tgif.

  • Z Posted: Nov.21 at 10:44 am
    I’m tired of Gil.

  • Jess Posted: Nov.21 at 10:47 am
    me too…..

  • Lexas Posted: Nov.21 at 10:47 am
    I think alot of players feel that way but just dont say it, the beauty of NBA lottery though is that just because your the worst team in the league doesnt mean you’ll get the best pick like in the NFL, you just have a good chance which is a good way of preventing teams to want to loss as a ways of getting a good pic, but yeah the Wiz need a Tim Duncan or any kind of Big man period.

  • niQ Posted: Nov.21 at 10:59 am
    who are they trying to tank for? Blake Griffin?

  • Ball Dont Lie Posted: Nov.21 at 11:10 am
    lolTAT

  • B. Long Posted: Nov.21 at 11:19 am
    Oh Gilbert…

  • Lz - Cphfinest3 Posted: Nov.21 at 11:22 am
    Gill is a symbol, a bright beacon, for everything that’s wrong with the NBA. Even if I somewhat understand his stance, it’s totally disrespecting his teammates saying it out loud. As selfish and attention craving as a spoilt child, that’s Gill.

  • Winslowalrob Posted: Nov.21 at 11:23 am
    Gilbert is a warrior poet. Although its odd that whenever the Wiz are poised to do well in the draft, the draft class is wack…

  • jdubbs29 Posted: Nov.21 at 11:30 am
    The last time the Wiz drafted #1, they chose…Kwame Brown. I think the next year the Cavs got Lebron. The curse of Lez Boulez is alive and well and this long suffering Wiz fan is settling in for another 30 years of futility.

  • Mo Charlo Posted: Nov.21 at 11:38 am
    two years ago, this team was a dark horse for the championship. It’s just sad is what it is.

  • Keith Posted: Nov.21 at 11:50 am
    I agree with Lexas.
    Gil is just trying to put a positive spin on a season that has started horribly. The Wiz will be alright and challenging for the 8th seed again just as soon as they get everyone healthy.

  • capostat Posted: Nov.21 at 12:11 pm
    if basketball fans are not so impressed by his comments, just imagine what his teammates privately think. I don’t know, it just seems this guy readily undermines his team’s efforts when his being I/R makes it convenient. He’s not saying anything new about getting high lottery picks, but you’re 9 games in, and you’re saying these things after you havent even played a game. Again, I can’t help but wonder what his teammates think.

  • Cizzo Posted: Nov.21 at 12:36 pm
    Play it out win or lose, things will go how the’re going to go anyway deal with it.

  • DDB Posted: Nov.21 at 1:04 pm
    I hope they tank…draft Tyreke Evans and he takes Gilbert’s spot!

  • davidR Posted: Nov.21 at 1:09 pm
    im sure if you’re gils teammate, you’re used to this kinda isht. so i really dont think they care too much about what he says

  • ClydeSays Posted: Nov.21 at 1:19 pm
    What he didn’t say “Now that the Wiz have forked over $111 million dollars to me & my ghost of a knee, the only way we can improve is through the Lottery…. So let the TANKING begin!”

  • mat smith Posted: Nov.21 at 1:44 pm
    he should have to shutup till he plays again, its got real boring

  • ML Posted: Nov.21 at 2:13 pm
    This is one of those things Gil should keep to himself. Yes, the Spurs got Duncan out of a similar situation, but the fans don’t wanna hear that junk so early in the season. And for what? Ricky Rubio?

  • Russ Bengtson Posted: Nov.21 at 2:18 pm
    Tyler Hansbrough!

  • chris Posted: Nov.21 at 2:31 pm
    I hope they do get first pick, draft rubio and trade gil.

  • Teddy-the-Bear Posted: Nov.21 at 4:43 pm
    Jennings and Arenas in the backcourt.

  • Double R Posted: Nov.21 at 5:53 pm
    What’s the requirement for getting a wax figure of yourself?

  • JE Posted: Nov.22 at 4:35 pm
    makes sense, but if that’s how he feels, it would be kind of stupid for him to play at all this season.

  • Justin Posted: Nov.22 at 9:18 pm
    People should take Jordan’s example when he hurt his foot and they wanted to rest him the entire year to get a better draft pick. Jordan said “not a chance” and came back to help get them to the playoffs. Athletes these days are so ready for the easy route on everything it’s sick

  • Dude Posted: Nov.23 at 3:40 am
    Hey Arenas, gtfo of the league.
    Screw you and your lack of respect for the game.
    I don’t think there’s a worse clown than you in all of basketball.

  • Slobodan Chutzpah Posted: Nov.24 at 7:26 am
    Everyone needs to get over themselves. Arenas is still the same enjoyable character he always was. He said out loud what many people are thinking — so effin what?

  • rav Posted: Nov.24 at 8:07 am
    what he means is that if he’s not there he wants the team to suffer but when he’s back they start winning and he becomes a god-like figure - this is why a team will never win with him as their main man

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