Gilbert Arenas Announces Intention to Opt Out in 2008

In the summer of 2003, Gilbert Arenas was reported to have decided his next NBA destination, his current team the Washington Wizards, by flipping a coin. After three All-Star appearances and scoring outburst aplenty from their young star, the Wizards may have to hope for another lucky toss in 2008.

One of the league's highest scorers, Arenas announcement that he would opt out of his contract next summer is sure to take some by surprise. His current contract, a six-year 65 million dollar, includes a clause which allows him to leave the team a year early. Even with a guaranteed high salary awaiting him for the 2008-09 season, Arenas seems more interested in another long-term deal.

For now it seems as if Gilbert is using this charade to gain more leverage with the Washington Wizards. With his talent and accomplishments, it is no surprise that he would want to be one of the highest paid in the league. At the same time, the outspoken All-Star has been unhappy with his team's overall talent and, like many other superstars, seeks to win above all else.

If Washington lost Gilbert Arenas, they would be losing a lot. Arenas has averaged near thirty points a game for the past two seasons and has made the All-Star team for the past three. He has been a clutch player in both the regular season and the playoffs, most notably hitting a forty-foot three pointer to tie a playoff game in regulation. And more importantly, he has been the face of a franchise that has long needed one. His charitable efforts and fan interaction are among the best in the league and his personality makes him more exciting to watch than most.

Of course last season ended in pain and misery for the young phenom as he was unable to play in the postseason due to a knee injury. Gilbert still has to play one more season for the Wizards before he can opt out and a drastic drop in performance would not be good for his market value in the NBA. But with the work ethic and competitive attitude Arenas has, it seems unlikely that he wouldn't bounce back from his summer surgery.

It should come as no shock that the best move for Washington would be to work out an extension with Arenas as soon as possible. Gilbert has long displayed a mind for the unusual and the last thing any team should want to do is leave their franchise players' fate up to chance. After all, the Wizards already took their chances with a coin and came out the victor once before. Are they willing to bet their franchise that heads comes up again?

Source: http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=2899563&name=FPT-2899563-061011&srvc=sz