I’m still trying to formulate my thoughts on the latest development in the injury saga.  Rather than try and rush out something that doesn’t make sense, I’ll instead give you some thoughts from a wide array of sources.  I’m not saying that I agree with everything opinion posted here, but I think it’s important to get a feel for what people are saying:

First, the news on the situation:

• Wizards Insider
  
• Washington Post
• Washington Times
• ESPN

Now, opinions on the matter:

“Predicting an NBA athlete’s recovery from knee surgery can be tricky; there are positive outcomes (Amaré Stoudemire, Jason Kidd) and there are negative ones (Penny Hardaway, Chris Webber). But any time a player’s knee has to be probed three times, it significantly reduces his chances for a full recovery.

That’s not a medical opinion. That’s just common sense.”  Chris Mannix – SI.com

“There were all these chances for one of the parties to insist on having surgery earlier.  It could have happened in May.  It could have happened in early August.  It could have even happened in July after the contract was finalized, though you can imagine the kind of outrage that news would have received.  Any of the parties could have insisted on surgery.  Arenas could have seeked a second opinion in May.  The doctors could have operated in May or in August.  Grunfeld could have insisted himself on the surgery when he first heard about Arenas’ rehab struggles.  Finally, Arenas could have not be his usual stubborn self when he first started struggling and just gotten the procedure over with.”  Pradamaster – Bullets Forever

“I can’t help but feel like I’m over reacting….but I also can’t help feeling like the shock of this all could have been avoided by being let down in doses along the way. Just calm down (I’m telling myself), this team is full of gamers and a month is only about 14 games. Besides, Arenas said, “I probably could’ve gotten by without it, until June, but if I went to do something spectacular, it probably would have buckled under on me,” and I only want the best that Gil has to offer.”  Truth About It

“When they signed Arenas, the Wizards were thinking long-term. Their core should be together and productive longer than Boston’s or Detroit’s. But in the near future, with Arenas making $177,000 per game this season, it’s an expensive experiment. And all we’ll learn during the first part of the season is whether Arenas spent his new money upgrading his wardrobe.”  J.A. Adande – ESPN

“Let’s face it, Gilbert probably won’t be right this season. Who knows if he’ll ever be right again? But if he can come back in time for Game No. 27, jump on the scorer’s table while LeBron throws chalk, score 50 points and then take a bow at center court….well, at least we’d have something.”  Dan Steinberg – DC Sports Bog

“It’s only a month of the first half, which doesn’t matter, except for when it does. See also Ellis, Monta. And let’s not forget that with the Celtics not quite old yet, the Cavs having made some improvements, the Pistons seamlessly bringing on their youth movement, Miami bearing nuclear arms, and Toronto reformulating itself, the East is no longer a place where teams can bide their time and fumble around till they get their footing.”  Bethlehem Shoals – Sporting News

“The idea that the player who lit up the arena and gave the District’s hoopheads hope is now crippling its future simply because he’s on crutches months after signing a $111 million deal and will be out for probably yet another month?

It just goes to show what he meant to everyone in the first place.”  Mike Wise – Washington Post

“Tough break for Wizards fans. But, as Lucky Day shrewdly observed in the Latin American classic ¡Three Amigos!, each of us has an El Guapo to face. For some, shyness might be their El Guapo. For others, a lack of education might be their El Guapo. For the Amigos, El Guapo was a big, dangerous man who happened to be the actual El Guapo. And now it appears that a gimpy left knee has become Agent Zero’s El Guapo.”  Basketbawful – Deadspin

“The last time the Wizards had a problem with floating debris, they traded him to L.A. for Caron Butler.”  Gourmet Spud – Deadspin commenter

“He envisions a return to games in December, though I suspect that’s a best-case scenario. It means that Arenas will miss at least 14 games this coming season, the number the team plays in October and November. Earlier this Summer, Arenas signed a 6-year $111 million contract to stay in Washington and, hopefully, play basketball games.”  Spence – DC Pro Sports Report

“Everyone just relax. This team will be fine without him for a month or so. It’s a washout. They put saline solution in there to washout his knee. That’s all it was. It was going to be a little while before he was 100. This will help him get closer to 100 sooner.”  igetbucketsson – Bullets Forever commenter

“Why’s everybody tripping out?”  Gilbert Arenas