Gilbert Arenas: ‘I’ll Take the Pay Cut’
Since Washington’s team doctors won’t allow him to make any noise on the basketball court, Gilbert Arenas, as he is wont to do, is making plenty of it off the floor.
The latest from Arenas is that, while he still plans to opt out of his current deal this summer and (supposedly) ask for a max deal, he’s willing to accept a pay cut so that teammate Antawn Jamison gets taken care of.
“Just sign Antawn first, and I’ll take the pay cut,” Arenas said. “That way, we can keep the team intact. I want him to be a done deal first, then I’ll go after that.”
This might be one of [Jamison’s] last contracts, and hopefully I’ll get another one. At the end of the day, if I don’t, I know I did the right thing.”
Jamsion, 31, is making $16 mil this season and is reportedly looking for a deal that would pay him somewhere in the neighborhood of $10 mil in its first year.
Arenas’s reputation among the basketball-viewing public - perhaps deservedly to some extent - has taken a hit this season as some fans have been turned off by his attention-seeking ways. If he’s serious about this whole pay cut business, and with Gilbert you never really know, it could be the first step towards repairing his once-sterling image.
40 Responses to “Gilbert Arenas: ‘I’ll Take the Pay Cut’”
Mar.31 at 9:06 am
Ken says:
Jamison deserves it, and this gives them a good chance to win. Good move.
Mar.31 at 9:10 am
Lz - Cphfinest3 says:
Let’s see him take the cut before getting to excited, Gill’s not exactly the reliable kind. Wiz’z would be better of without him.
Mar.31 at 9:10 am
Holly MacKenzie says:
I love it and love Gil. They’ll be dangerous if they can keep their core intact, I hope it happens.
Mar.31 at 9:18 am
Eboy says:
First smart thing he’s said in ages.
Mar.31 at 9:21 am
Russ Bengtson says:
Here’s an idea–don’t opt out?
Mar.31 at 9:21 am
will says:
No he won’t.
Mar.31 at 9:22 am
iLL wiLL says:
Gilbert is going to the Clippers.
Mar.31 at 9:34 am
what says:
If you have a blog, aren’t you by definition seeking attention? Why are people just now realizing that he is an attention-seeker?
Mar.31 at 9:34 am
what says:
Oh yeah also, I am very disappointed that an Isiah Rider arrest no longer even merits a post on Slam apparently.
Mar.31 at 9:39 am
maio says:
Ray Allen hits threes, Isiah Rider gets arrested.
Mar.31 at 9:49 am
Squirrel7 says:
Just another thing to keep people talking about him…….
Mar.31 at 9:58 am
rav says:
didnt he say a while back that he’d take the minimum?
Mar.31 at 10:13 am
d.Y. says:
nice point about the blog what. JR Rider arrested again? WhoopDeeDamnDoo.
Mar.31 at 10:18 am
Sesa says:
Holly, the Wizards’ so-called core right now doesn’t include Arenas
Mar.31 at 10:32 am
Logan Light says:
Wow, taking a pay cut AND paying his publicist to come up with that bit of wisdom? How will he ever live? Looks like Gilbert will be saying goodbye to that pressurized tent…
Mar.31 at 10:56 am
Captain America says:
Gil needs to have his head examined. He is so irrational and erratic. It’s not the money per se, but is he really sane?
Mar.31 at 11:26 am
Zee! says:
Opt out, let jamison re-sign, then you re-up and let your game talk for you and stfu.
Mar.31 at 11:40 am
RV says:
so are chuckty hayes and steve novak attention seekers, also? They have blogs. The only reason gilbert is out there is because people consistently want to hear what he’s got to say, its like anything else in this world, any product won’t be advertised continously if people aren’t buying into it
Mar.31 at 11:40 am
RV says:
chucky*
Mar.31 at 12:11 pm
Tom says:
The Wizards will never get anywhere until they get a good center.
Mar.31 at 12:19 pm
Mark Z says:
I’ll believe it when I see it. I think Gil goes to whatever playoff team offers the most.
Mar.31 at 12:37 pm
BxBaller says:
To all those who say that the Wizards are better off with out Gilbert, are just dumb. They’re at best a medicore team without him, and with him, they could be as good as Cleveland or better. Good move by Gilbert by taking the pay cut.
Mar.31 at 1:21 pm
TMT says:
Boozer gate anyone?
Mar.31 at 1:23 pm
The Notorious King says:
that is a great move by agent zero
Mar.31 at 1:55 pm
Riverz says:
This is a case of us reading to much into it. Gil says he’ll take pay cut to stay with trash ass Wiz to help teammate and team he’s attention seeking? But Kobe demands trade from legendary Lakers now he’s everybody’s MVP. Sorry for dragging Kobe’s name like that,but it’s just how we chose to perceive the player. There is absolutly nothing wrong with Gil weighting his opts because the Wiz damn sure will. Its not like he the one piece for them a ring.
Mar.31 at 2:13 pm
Jess says:
I dont see why they would lock up Jamison first….
Mar.31 at 2:13 pm
Jess says:
why they wouldnt**
Mar.31 at 2:17 pm
daniel says:
i was thinking…what if the magic somehow got gilbert? would that be possible in any way? turkoglu, lewis, arenas, howard, thats real strong.
Mar.31 at 2:21 pm
daniel says:
back to this though, people forget the wizards were 1st in teh east last year before gilbert went down, ahead of detroit and everyone else. i think this is a good move by gilbert
Mar.31 at 2:31 pm
WhaHuh says:
too many haters smh
Mar.31 at 3:26 pm
rav says:
“i was thinking…what if the magic somehow got gilbert? would that be possible in any way? turkoglu, lewis, arenas, howard, thats real strong” they’d probably have to give up lewis or turk for that to happen
Mar.31 at 4:25 pm
jeremy says:
It would be cool rav,sure,but there aint no way that they could…they would have to get rid of Rashard Lewis…thats polly not gonna happen…it wuld be awesome thogh…
Mar.31 at 4:29 pm
jeremy says:
I respect Gilbert a lot more now…it takes a classy person to do something like that…kudos man…Wizards might challenge in the East next year when hes fully recovered…by the way Ill Will,if he was goin to the clippers,why did he take the pay cut in the first place?Hes stayin in Washington…you can bet on that.
Mar.31 at 7:22 pm
jman says:
Gil we love you in D.C. no matter what dem haters say. Hope to see you on the Court Friday against Miami.
Mar.31 at 10:05 pm
tealish says:
Classy move? Dumb move?
I don’t know. Why opt out for a pay cut? Who does that. How about not opting out for that MAX DEAL, and let Antawn take care of himself.
Maybe this is a legitimate move by Gil to be a good guy, but it makes no sense.
Mar.31 at 10:45 pm
RV says:
i guess he wants to opt out so he can control his future and not be locked in, probably wants to make sure of what teammates he’ll have
Apr.1 at 12:04 am
Dacre says:
I think this is a nice move on Gilberts part…he’s always been a gentlemen in my book. I just have a beef with a professional athelete that seems to take his career as an after-thought ever so often. He’s a TEAM MATE in the true sense of the word.
Apr.1 at 12:05 am
Dacre says:
….and he’s coming to realise that he’s over paid…?
Apr.1 at 2:10 am
hursty says:
that makes tealish a dumb@ss, if he honestly thinks that will happen. jamison is just as important as Gil if not more, Gil doesnt have to opt out. He can though. IF he doesnt get the money he wants, he still gets the original contract + a trade to wherever he wants-good team or bad. OR he can stay with the wizards on the 16 or so million he’s on right now.
Apr.2 at 3:46 am
Ty says:
This is probably the smartest and most thoughtful thing that Gilbertology has said in the past year or so as far as NBA Live, I mean as far as basketball is concerned. Or he could have a guilty conscience cause maybe Antawn Jamison realizes it might be time to get the hell out of town!?. Sorry Caron cause it damn sure ain’t your fault.