7/18 ESPN Insider - Wiz waiting on Arenas

[OutletPass]

Wizards waiting for Arenas' decision
By Terry Brown
NBA Insider
Friday, July 18
Updated: July 18
11:10 AM ET



Also see: New Free Agent Watch | Updated Depth Charts

Gilbert Arenas could very well be the most wanted NBA player in America.

Not only have several teams shown interest in the restricted free agent this offseason, including his latest suitors in the Washington Wizards, but also San Francisco law enforcement officials after Arenas was picked up for carrying a concealed weapon while driving in the area.

Gilbert Arenas
Point Guard
Golden State Warriors
Profile


2002-2003 SEASON STATISTICS
GM PPG RPG APG FG% FT%
82 18.3 4.7 6.3 .431 .791



"The event that took place over a month ago will not have an effect on our continued pursuit of Gilbert and trying to convince him and his representative that this is the best place for Gilbert to continue his budding career," Warriors chief operating officer Robert Rowell said to the Washington Times.

The problem for Golden State, though, has little to do with the law. It's the salary cap that's keeping the Warriors from offering more than their $4.9 million exception to the point guard. When this whole process began, Arenas and his agent proclaimed the bidding would begin at $9 million per season. Since then, a few teams have fallen out of the running and a new one, the Wizards, have entered it.

Both Ernie Grunfeld, the general manager, and Eddie Jordan, the head coach, have followed the young star from D.C. to Los Angeles trying to convince him that their multi-year deal starting at $6 million is the best deal. The Wizards have also extended the deal of shooting guard Jerry Stackhouse for four yeas to ensure that Arenas has a quality running mate for many more years to come.

"We had a nice meeting with Gilbert and we're going to continue to talk," Grunfeld told the Washington Post. "We're going to talk to other free agents that are out there as well."

Arenas, who won the league's Most Improved Player Award last season, is scheduled to speak with the Clippers tonight and then Warriors at least one more time before making a decision.

Which brings us back to the unloaded .40 caliber gun found in Arena's back seat while he was driving in San Mateo County. It was unloaded and while the guard doesn't have a license to carry the weapon in California, he does in Arizona.

"As they go, it was not an inherently dangerous situation," Chief Deputy District Attorney Stephen Wagstaffe said in the Contra Costa Times.