Hooped Up

Have you seen all the NBA jerseys in the stands at the Beijing Olympics?  Chances are you have and here are the top 10 jerseys you are likely to see continuously throughout the Olympic games. Please don’t say that you can’t believe Yao Ming is 10th on the list in his own country.  

Players are players and jerseys are jerseys.  

2007-08 Top Selling Jerseys in China:

1. Kobe Bryant, Los Angeles Lakers
2. Kevin Garnett, Boston Celtics
3. Tracy McGrady, Houston Rockets
4. Paul Pierce, Boston Celtics
5. Allen Iverson, Denver Nuggets
6. Gilbert Arenas, Washington Wizards
7. LeBron James, Cleveland Cavaliers
8. Dwyane Wade, Miami Heat
9. Dwight Howard, Orlando Magic
10. Yao Ming, Houston Rockets

Gilbert Arenas agreed to a new contract with the Washington Wizards that pays him $111 million US over six years.

Arenas reportedly took less than first offered in order to give the club some flexibility to sign other players.

“[They] offered me the max, and I’m basically giving back $16 million,” Arenas said to the Washington Times from China where he’s doing a promotional tour for a shoe company.

“This is line with what I’ve been saying the whole time. You see players take max deals, and they financially bind their teams.

“I don’t want to be one of those players and three years down the road your team is strapped and can’t do anything about it.”

CBC

Gilbert Arenas said he opted out of the final year of his contract with the idea he would remain with the Washington Wizards. When NBA free agency officially opens at midnight tomorrow, Arenas will have an opportunity to show he was sincere. 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.

Washington Post

Much like Sam the Record Man, Gilbert Areans said it and then did it. The Hibachi officially opted out of his contract with the Washington Wizards today and will be a free agent July 1.

Although Areans is looking to be paid the max, he has said he would take a pay cut in order for Washington to resign Antawn Jamison who will also be a free agent on his blog.  

In limited action because of two operations on his left knee this season.The three-time all-star averaged 19.4 points, 5.1 assists, 3.9 rebounds, 1.8 steals and 32.6 minutes in 13 games.

Hooped Up

The real question in all of this is will Gilbert get a max contract, coming of a serious injury that derailed him this year in the playoffs.  He has already said that he would take a pay cut in order for management to sign Antawn Jamison, but he might be better off taking a pay cut somewhere else with a team that will contend for a crown. 

While Gilbert Arenas still plans to opt out of his contract, making him an unrestricted free agent, he will not do it until the June 30 deadline, the Washington Post is reporting.

When asked why he planned on waiting until June 30 to opt out, Arenas wrote, “I just want to wait.”

Arenas was cleared to begin rehabilitating his surgically repaired left knee over the weekend, and expects to make a full recovery in time for training camp.

Washington Post

 

Should Marion opt to leave, the salary-cap space gained would allow Riley to cast a big line into a ripe free agent pool that will include the likes of Elton Brand, Gilbert Arena, Allen Iverson and others. Those options, plus a likely top-three draft pick, mean the Heat could be a contender again quickly. Riley’s motivation in this trade was plain, the need for it underlined by the horrid 9-38 record Miami has after losing at Detroit on Wednesday night.

Arizona Republic

Gilbert Arenas said yesterday he plans on opting out of his contract after this season. He said the Wizards are his top option but he is willing to go elsewhere. “I want a new contract for the longevity of it and get another six years at the end of this deal,” said Arenas, who is making $11.9 million this season. “I don’t know what’s going to happen. I could have signed an extension this year, but it wasn’t going to make sense for me. If my own team doesn’t take me, I’ll go somewhere for a lot less to win a championship.”

Boston Globe