To have more flexible cap room to sign their own free agents, the Miami Heat traded draft picks and $16 million dollar trade exceptions to the Toronto Raptors for Chris Bosh and Cleveland Cavaliers for LeBron James. Teams with a trade exception have up to a year in which they can acquire more salary in other trades than they send away. Gilbert Arenas is scheduled to make just under $18 million this season. If the Raptors or Cavaliers are willing to take on the big contract, both teams have the assets to pull off a deal that could land them Arenas for virtually nothing, enabling the Wizards to get out of the remaining years of Arenas’ deal and to rebuild with John Wall.

The Washington Wizards finished the 09-10 NBA season 26-56 in a horrific season, which their star player, Gilbert Arenas, was suspended for the season and core players Antawn Jamison, Caron Butler and Brendan Haywood were traded. All hope is not lost though. Gilbert Arenas, Al Thornton, Andray Blatche, Nick Young, JaVale McGee and Quinton Ross all figure to be back next season. They will have two picks in the first round of the draft, including a high lottery pick. Mike Miller and Josh Howard have indicated they would like to come back and if the Wizards can sign Shaun Livingston, a backcourt of Livingston and Arenas could be fun to watch. The most promising news is that the Wizards will have close to 19 million in salary-cap space this offseason where their are some big free agents, including Joe Johnson, Amar’e Stoudemire, and Rudy Gay. Possibility for a new owner, Ted Leonis, who also owns the Washington Capitals, hopes to bring in a different vibe to the city and increase sales of basketball tickets. Realistically, next season figures to be a rebuilding year and one has to wonder how much more the fans will endure. It can’t get any worse than this season, right?

With the trade of Caron Butler to the Mavericks and rumors that Antawn Jamison may also be sent packing before the trade deadline, it is clear that the Wizards are looking to start over and rebuild. Will the Wizards look to void the remaining four years and $78 million contract of Gilbert Arenas or trade him to another team in the offseason?

If so, what team would you like to see Gilbert play for next season?

Former Gilbertology writer JakeTheSnake sums up the Gilbert Arenas vs. Tony Kornheiser battle quite nicely over at Bullets Forever so we’ll just say: a picture is worth a thousand words.

The NBA draft lottery is Tuesday and the Wizards have a good shot at one of the top 2 picks. Most draft experts have Blake Griffin , 6-10 sophomore power forward, from Oklahoma and Ricky Rubio, 6-4 point guard, from Spain as the top two prospects.

The Wizards would love to get Griffin, but if they don’t land the #1 pick, how would you feel about a backcourt of Ricky Rubio and Gilbert Arenas? Can they co-exist or would you rather the Wizards draft another player, such as Hasheem Thabeet, Jordan Hill , or James Harden?