Gilbert Arenas’ contract becoming the pivot of an Amnesty clause in new CBA – NBA Update
Gilbert Arenas, the bad boy of NBA, is in dire straits again.
This time though, he isn’t guilty of bringing a weapon in the locker room.
Gilbert has not been very active in the labour negotiations during the NBA lockout, but his name has constantly been brought up in the talks between the players union and NBA owners. The reason for which he is in the spotlight
is none of his fault though.
Still wondering?
Let the suspense end then. When Gilbert Arenas emerged on the scene as NBA’s Most Improved Player in 2003, it was a common consensus that the young shooting guard is a special talent.
That consensus was right.
In the years that followed, Arenas established himself as a star and became part of three All-Star games. With success, fame followed and with it, came a huge contract with the Washington Wizards.
He lived up to his contract for five years and after having it rough in the 08-09 season, things were going rather smoothly for him in 09-10, until he decided to turn himself into a villain. The gun incident took place and Arenas’
reputation was never the same. So was his game.
He was banned for 50 games by NBA and the very next season, Arenas was shipped to Orlando. In his last season with Orlando Magic, he looked out of fuel and ended with a poor average of 8 points per game.
However, the one time All-Star guard still has three years and a massive $62.4 left on his deal and the Magic have to bear the brunt.
With all the talk in the labour dispute circled around money in the last four months or so, it comes as no surprise that Arenas’ name was taken out loud when an amnesty clause, which provides the team leverage to shed an awful
contract was discussed in the lockout meeting.
Although he is only 30 and fit to play for another 5-6 years, but who would be so imbecile to pay him $19 million the coming season, $21 million next season and around $22 million in the 2013 season?
This situation is a repeat of what happened in the 1998-99 lockout. The only change is that Allan Houston has given way to Gilbert Arenas.
That time the owners failed to have their wish, but the way things are going, it seems that they will not budge this time around.
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