It’s time to end the Agent Zero show for this season.
Gilbert Arenas is frustrated over the Wizards smartly not rushing him back from knee surgery after returning too soon earlier this season. But, the right thing is to think long term and not the last few weeks of the season when the risk of further injury is too much.
This doesn’t sit well with Arenas, who sounds like a petulant child at times. The more Arenas is around, the more me-me-me seems to be all I hear. He misses the limelight. Oh well, so do a lot of people. Live with it.
The whole drama really seems upside down. It should be the Wizards urging Arenas to risk his knee for the team. Agent Zero should not want to risk his chance for a mega-contract when becoming a free agent his summer. Another injury could cost Arenas tens of millions of dollars. For what — maybe a couple more wins?
The irony of positions taken by the team and Arenas make this so perplexing. But, the Wizards are doing the right thing. Arenas needs to take a deep breath and realize the team is looking out for him. That doesn’t happen to often in life whether you’re an athlete or an accountant.
Go play your video games, Agent Zero, and hopefully we’ll see you again in September.
The added irony is the Wizards don’t really need Arenas right now. Oh, you can always use a great player, but not one returning in the final stretch drive after missing 62 games so far. By the time Arenas gets his “swagger” back, the season will be done.
Further, at what price to team chemistry will it cost to re-acclimate Arenas? The Wizards are back in the groove since Caron Butler’s return. They seem headed for the fifth seed and a first-round playoff meeting with nemesis Cleveland for the third straight postseason. It would be nice to catch Cleveland for fourth seed and home playoff advantage, but trailing by three games with three weeks remaining isn’t easy to overcome. The best team will win the series no matter the home court anyway.
No, the bigger worry is not letting Philadelphia or Toronto catch Washington over the remaining weeks and pittingWashington versus Detriot in the first round. If the Wizards bend to Arenas and rework the lineup, does it cost them a critical game and bring a first-round ouster?
The Wizards arebetter sticking with a lineup that’s good enough to reach the postseason in another injury-riddled year. A healthy team might have contended for the NBA title. Now they must settle for a series victory or two and maybe next year with Arenas try for more. For now, the smart money means Agent Zero stays in street clothes.
Rick Snider has covered local sports since 1978. Contact him at [email protected].
