What does this mean for the Orlando Magic and Gilbert Arenas? Arenas would be the most likely candidate to get off the books for the Magic since he is being paid an enormous amount of money coming off the bench. It could help give the Magic the ability to resign Dwight Howard. If Arenas is released, what team would you like to see him play for next season (if there is a next season)?

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?

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?

Participants for the event have yet to be announced but may I suggest Gilbert Arenas for consideration.

Some reasons for his nomination:

• Gilbert is a former All-Star and a fan favorite. Who wants to see a no name 12th man playing?
• Gilbert may be too injured to play in a game but he’s not too injured to be able to shoot
• The Wizards need some representation during the All-Star weekend

And finally, he can make crazy one-handed shots:

and between the leg trampoline dunks:

If you got any other valid reasons, feel free to leave a comment!

At the end of the book, Free Darko focuses on the “Myth of the Next.”  Throughout the history of the NBA, players have been labeled as the reincarnations of great players that have come before them.  Of course, Michael Jordan is the player that’s drawn the most comparison.  Everyone from Kobe Bryant to Harold Miner has been labeled as the “Next Michael Jordan” with varying results.

The thing is, no comparison is ever and more times than not they create a standard that can never be lived up to which inevitably leads to disappointment.  Still, the comparisons continue to be used because it’s easier than writing a scouting report.

In the Myth of Next section, several players who have served as the model for future players have been examined as well as the players who had to follow in their shadow.  When it comes to Gilbert Arenas, five players were identified as players who fit the Myth of the Next Gilbert Arenas (MONGA) mold.

The first and most obvious player to fit the mold would be Monta Ellis, who like Gilbert was drafted in the second round by the Warriors and ended up winning the Most Improved Player of the Year Award in his second year.  FD also identifies Luther Head, Troy Bell, C.J. Miles, and Lou Williams as players who have been stuck with the MONGA tag and it’s hard to disagree with any of those choices.  Certainly, not all of those players have lived up to that hype, but the comparison was used with all of them at different times leading up to the draft.

Since it doesn’t look like these comparisons will end any time soon, we might as well take a look at the next crop of players that will get the MONGA tag.

Jerryd Bayless – Like Monta Ellis, he’s the easy pick.  When you’re a combo guard coming out of the University of Arizona wearing #0, the comparisons are hard to ignore.  However, with a Summer League MVP under his belt and some nasty highlights to call his own, it doesn’t look like it will be long until he creates his own myth:

Jeff Teague – I mentioned him a few days ago but with his team currently at #1 in the nation, it seems like a good team to bring him up again.  Aside from wearing 0 like Arenas, Teague also possesses blazing speed, a strong crossover, a penchant for getting his hand on the ball (2.1 steals per game) and he’s shooting over 52% from 3 point land.  He’s currently 13th on NBADraft.net’s 2009 mock draft.  Plus, the kid can get up:

Lester Hudson – Playing at Tennessee-Martin, Hudson doesn’t get the same kind of pub that a guy like Jeff Teague gets, but once you see his numbers, they’re hard to ignore.  The 6-3 guard is currently averaging 27.4 points per game on 46% shooting and 34% from downtown, 7.1 rebounds, 3.8 assists, and 2.7 steals per game.  Right now, it looks like he’ll be a second round pick, if he’s drafted at all, but he’s certainly someone worth keeping an eye on in the future.