Saturday, January 28th, 2012 at 10:56 am  |  61 responses

Report: Lakers Interested in Gilbert Arenas


A Hoopsworld report late Friday night has hoops fans’ imaginations on overdrive. The story alleges that the Lakers—who could use another scorer—have expressed interest in unrestricted free agent Gilbert Arenas. If Agent Zero is ready to play and has access to minutes, he could significantly improve a contender’s title aspirations: “The Los Angeles Lakers have expressed interest in Gilbert Arenas, according to sources close to the situation. The 30-year-old is an unrestricted free agent after being amnestied by the Orlando Magic last month. No signing is imminent, but the Lakers have reached out to the veteran point guard. League sources say that Arenas would love to join the Lakers. He grew up in Los Angeles and is interested in playing for his hometown team. He believes that he can contribute in Los Angeles’ backcourt, which currently features an aging Derek Fisher, injured Steve Blake and inexperienced Darius Morris. Arenas and Blake played together for two years with the Washington Wizards.”

  • Add a Comment
  • Share
  • RSS

Tags: , ,

← Older Comments
  • ARL31

    Not a good idea. This guy is washed up and has a bad attitude. You take risks like that if a team is already a contender and has veterans and a coach that could control loose cannons like Gil. You don’t add guys like that to a problem-riddled team and expect them to improve things.

  • anynomous

    @shutup You can harp on the same “OLD LAME” issues that ppl have concocted in order to justify AI`s continued absence from the nba but the truth is if the nba was a league primarily based on talent Iverson would be playing right now. Yeah, Iverson definitely has to take some blame (which he has done) for his current position but his alleged “Selfishness” has been widely overplayed as the culprit. “Stubborness” is a better word to describe his unwillingness to adapt to newly defined roles in detroit and memphis. A “detroit stubborness” that originated from a broken promise made to Iverson directly from the head coach (Curry) that he would not be benched after averaging 26-6 the previous season in denver. A “memphis stubborness” that originated from the frustration of a lingering hamstring injury which resulted in a lack of fitness entering the season and a subsequent benching. An “overall stubborness” that originates from his love for the game which he has ALWAYS zealously illustrated by wanting to play ALL 48 minutes. So, I don`t believe “Selfish” is the right way to describe Iverson. “Selfishness” is single-handedly shooting your team outside of playoff contention which is what kobe has somehow managed to do this season. For example, eventhough LA has an obvious size advantage in the post over every team, they find themselves struggling against the bogutless-bucks.

  • anynomous

    For the sake of agreeing, I have nothing but respect for kobe`s game but I`m not going to give overdue credit when it is not warranted. In accordance, the driving force behind the lakers last 3 final appearances and 2 championships was the acquisition of gasol from memphis. Period. Prior to that, the lakers were no where near contention as they couldn`t even get out the 1st round of the playoffs. It doesn`t take a genius to see that gasol was the differene-maker. He allowed odom to go to the bench where he strived, took pressure off of a young, still developing bynum, and became the consistent post presnce that the lakers needed. Not to mention him making LA the tallest frontcourt (7-0 & 7-5) in the league. He was the solution to all of their problems and the result was was 2 more titles for an already decorated organization. Of course, kobe still held the title of the best player on the team but he was certainly not only key to success.

  • shutup

    I completely agree Gasol put them over the top, but to say Kobe wasnt the driving force is just silly, and for the record I dont like the Lakers or Kobe for that matter, I admire Iverson and what he has accomplished, In a one on one matchup in their prime I would pick Iverson to win 9-10 times. But as far as nba careers have gone Kobe has had the better individual career. I never said Kobe did it alone, but I’m not into arguing what could’ve been, I like to debate what has actually happened. I agree Iverson has had a bum rap, but Memphis took a chance on him, and whether it was selfishness or stubbornness or stupidness, Iverson couldnt and wouldnt accept his newly found role on the Grizzlies or in the NBA. Iverson always had an issue with his coaches it’s just he was such a pure talent that they had to deal with it, as his skills diminished the neccesity to appease him did too. (Practice?, are we really talking about Practice?)

  • bdogg

    very bad idea with a capital B! i thought la was not desperate…that is basically throwing the towel in..period!!!

  • anynomous

    @bdogg I think having fisher as a starter is the definition of being desperate. The lakers have glaring, eye-popping weaknesses at the 1 and the 3 – fisher/blake and barnes/artest (b/c I aint calling him metta). What would you like them to do? Wait until things get better?

  • http://www.triplejunearthed.com/dacre Dacre

    Allen Iverson should be back in the league and either starting at PG in NYK or LAL, SG in PHX or 6th man on any 3-5 other randomly named teams you could care to mention

  • Da-Meat-Hook

    The last thing NY needs is a shoot-first pg

  • http://bedotwater.bandcamp.com BE.water

    who in Los Angeles is 7 foot 5?

  • anynomous

    @BE.water Technical error. bynum is 7-0. @dacre Thank you. Insane that AI was not considered by NY. The knicks have bibby, an oft-injured baron davis, and douglas making up their backcourt. WOW. No wonder they`re struggling. The nba is a total disappointment. There are too many teams overpaying mediocre/good players while settling for other players with lesser talent.

  • http://yahoomail.com Paux

    no pls not gilbertttt!!! jose calderon, mo williams, dwill, rodrigue beoubuas (i dont know the name the young guy in mavs.) theirs alot to choose from! lakers have no chance to win it all this year is they dont upgrade that bench.

← Older Comments
Advertisement