Untitled Page

Gilbert Arenas News & Rumors

Sources: Gilbert Arenas clears waivers
December 12
ESPN.com
 
"Gilbert Arenas is officially an unrestricted free agent. NBA teams were notified after 6 p.m. Sunday that Arenas, released by the Orlando Magic on Friday through the league's amnesty clause, has cleared waivers, according to NBA front-office sources. Under the new amnesty provision, teams with salary-cap space have first crack at placing bids on players such as Arenas and New York's Chauncey Billups once they are released via amnesty. But Arenas' agent Dan Fegan, sources said, successfully convinced teams that showed interest in lodging a bargain bid on the former All-Star that Arenas was determined to make his own choice about where he wants to resume his career. It certainly didn't hurt"
Magic waive Gilbert Arenas
December 10
Orlando Sentinel
 
"Almost a year after the Orlando Magic made a risky trade to acquire Gilbert Arenas, the team has cut him loose in an attempt to make their salary-cap and luxury-tax figures more palatable. The Magic announced Friday that they have waived Arenas and designated him as the franchise's amnesty player. Arenas will receive about $62 million over the next seasons. The Magic will pay all of that unless a team makes a bid on him in a modified waiver-wire process. Using the amnesty clause means that Arenas' remaining salary will come of off the team's salary-cap and luxury-tax totals immediately."
Orlando Magic use amnesty provision on Gilbert Arenas
December 9
Orlando Sentinel
 
"Almost a year after the Orlando Magic made a risky trade to acquire Gilbert Arenas, the team has cut him loose in an attempt to make their salary-cap and luxury-tax figures more palatable. The Magic announced Friday that they have waived Arenas and designated him as the franchise's amnesty player. Arenas will receive about $62 million over the next seasons. The Magic will pay all of that unless a team makes a bid on him in a modified waiver-wire process."
Magic Waive Arenas Via Amnesty
December 9
NBA.com
 
"The Orlando Magic have waived guard Gilbert Arenas and designated him as the team's amnesty player, President of Basketball Operations/General Manager Otis Smith announced today. Arenas (6'4", 215, 1/6/82) played in 70 games with both Washington and Orlando last season, averaging 10.8 ppg., 3.9 apg., 2.7 rpg. and 1.06 stlpg. in 25.7 minpg. He was acquired by the Magic on December 28, 2010 from Washington in exchange for Rashard Lewis. In 49 games with Orlando, Arenas averaged 8.0 ppg., 3.2 apg. and 2.4 rpg. in 21.8 minpg."
The pros and cons of using the amnesty provision on Gilbert Arenas
November 29
Orlando Sentinel
 
"Will Gilbert Arenas remain with the Orlando Magic, or will he be waived using the amnesty provision included in the tentative labor agreement? Magic officials cannot comment. David Stern's lockout gag order remains in effect. How will amnesty work? And what are the pros of using the amnesty clause to waive Agent Zero before the 2011-12 season? What are the cons? How amnesty will work: An NBA memo obtained and published by SI.com explains the amnesty provision. Each team is permitted to "amnesty" one player during the life of the CBA. He must be under contract now, and his release must occur before a season begins. The amnesty provision's benefit is simple: The player's entire salary would"
Amnesty Clause flexibility could give Gilbert Arenas a chance
November 1
Orlando Sentinel
 
"In Sunday's NFL action, Michael Vick threw two touchdowns for the Philadelphia Eagles, Frank Gore ran for 134 yards for the San Francisco 49ers, and Steve Smith totaled 100 receiving yards and a touchdown for the Carolina Panthers. Vick spent three years away from football because of legal trouble. Gore's knee has been reconstructed twice. Smith is 32 and coming off two bad seasons. It's possible to overcome time away from the game, knee problems and ineffective play and still be a productive professional athlete. In the case of the Orlando Magic's Gilbert Arenas… well, he's battling it all. He missed most of 2009 because of a suspension, he's underwent three surgeries on his left knee and"
A 'supertax' might end Gilbert Arenas' tenure with the Magic
October 4
Orlando Sentinel
 
"Gilbert Arenas might be entering his final weeks as a member of the Orlando Magic. As my colleague Brian Schmitz wrote over the weekend, and as the Orlando Sentinel and other publications have speculated for months, an amnesty clause in a new collective bargaining agreement could prompt the Magic to cut Arenas loose. Let's take a closer look as to why the Magic might be compelled to release the former All-Star guard. In three words: luxury tax savings. According to an ESPN.com report, NBA franchise owners might be willing to give up a hard salary cap in a new deal if a so-called "supertax" is created instead. A supertax essentially would take the dollar-for-dollar luxury tax system"
Gilbert Arenas is saying goodbye to Twitter, but questions remain
August 31
Orlando Sentinel
 
"One of the stranger chapters in Orlando Magic history is about to end. Gilbert Arenas says he's shutting down his controversial Twitter account for good. Try to take a look at the @agentzeroshow Twitter feed, and you'll find nothing. Not only has he deleted every one of the tweets he posted over the last several months, but he's also deleted the account altogether. He's said he'll be done on Twitter by Sept. 1, and it looks like he's already finished. Over the last few days, he's said his goodbyes, then deleted them. "so i would like to do my thx u's now…too all the fan's that has humor in their lives thx u for understanding my approach to twitte," he wrote. "and for the ppl who just got"
Arenas hopes to block former girlfriend from VH1's 'Basketball Wives'
August 5
San Antonio Express-News
 
"Orlando guard Gilbert Arenas is determined that his former live-in girlfriend Laura Govan won't be able to air her secrets of her relationship on VH1's reality series "Basketball Wives." Arenas has filed a motion seeking an injunction against the television series, hoping to keep his former fiance Laura Govan off the series in the upcoming season. Govan is the mother of four of Arenas' children. With less than a month before the show's Aug. 29 premier, Arenas is doing everything he can to keep Govan off the show, according to the Hollywood Reporter."
Gilbert Arenas is better than Dwight Howard — at planking
June 30
Orlando Sentinel
 
"Dwight Howard and Gilbert Arenas are in a competition to see who is the best. And, brace yourself, I think Gilbert is winning. Not at basketball, but at planking. For the uninformed, planking has become an international craze in which an individual lies face down in funny, unusual places and has their picture taken. Arenas, for instance, has posted pictures of himself on Twitter lying face down inside a grand piano and in the median of an expressway tollbooth. After Gilbert's planking pictures hit social media, Howard took to Twitter with a tweet that read, "Plank waaaaaarrr." He then posted pictures of himself lying face down on top of soda machine, a Rolls-Royce and a riding"
Dwight Howard's view on Gilbert Arenas shows he's no coach
June 21
Orlando Sentinel
 
"A three-time Defensive Player of the Year and runnerup in the MVP voting last season, Dwight Howard was on a roll until he tried to play the part of coach. Howard said recently that Stan Van Gundy didn't use Gilbert Arenas properly after the Magic acquired him last season. Huh? This makes no sense. Arenas was lucky that Van Gundy used him at all the way he played at times. He turned over the ball, shot poorly and couldn't explode playing on a leg he didn't rehab properly. Did Dwight want Arenas to be the starting point guard, putting his buddy Jameer Nelson on the bench? "I don't think our coach used him the right way, but I think he can do a lot of great things for our team," Howard said."
Dwight Howard says Orlando Magic used Gilbert Arenas wrong way
June 19
Orlando Sentinel
 
"As Dwight Howard continues his promotional tour across Europe, he's been very candid while answering questions from international reporters. At an adidas event in Madrid, Spain, Howard criticized Stan Van Gundy's handling of Gilbert Arenas and said he should have a role in the team's personnel decisions. He also talked more about everyone in the organization getting on the same page. Howard on Arenas, who struggled mightily with the Magic while primarily being used as Jameer Nelson's backup: "I don't think our coach used him the right way, but I think he can do a lot of great things for our team. He promised me this summer he was going to get himself better, physically and mentally, so he"
Love it or hate it – that's just Gilbert Arenas being his politically way-incorrect self
June 11
Orlando Sentinel
 
"Gilbert Arenas' Twitter account, which has already earned him a fine from the NBA and massive scrutiny from the media, is something like a mix of Eddie Murphy's Raw, Tosh.0 and Hangover Part II. The other night he live-tweeted a blind date he was on — with pictures — and said the girl's shirt made her look like the "Queen of Zamunda." One of his first posts featured a video of an old man dancing in a thong next to Arenas in South Florida. Arenas has provided his thoughts on girlfriends (which he jokingly refers to as slaves), his urinating habits (hint: he doesn't always use the toilet) and whatever else pops into his head, politically correct or not. He's unpredictable. He's painfully"
Magic's Gilbert Arenas fined for comments on Twitter
June 9
Orlando Sentinel
 
"The NBA has fined Gilbert Arenas for comments made on his Twitter account, NBA spokesman Tim Frank confirmed to the Orlando Sentinel on Wednesday. The league did not specify how much the fine was for or which specific comments violated league rules. When informed of the fine, the Magic point guard took to – you guessed it – Twitter to express his frustration: "yesthe nba has fined me....for being to awesome..so i can give you the shoes for FREE but gotta charge you for the jokes... i cant believe i got fined..how do i explain this to the lady at the bank...this is gonna take another 40mins... or i could just write a check and if theres a lockout just cancel the check it and maybe they will"
Gilbert Arenas fined for comments on Twitter
June 8
Orlando Sentinel
 
"The NBA has fined Gilbert Arenas for comments made on his Twitter account, NBA spokesman Tim Frank confirmed to the Orlando Sentinel on Wednesday. The league did not specify how much the fine was for or which specific comments violated league rules. When informed of the fine, the Magic point guard took to – you guessed it – Twitter to express his frustration: "yesthe nba has fined me....for being to awesome..so i can give you the shoes for FREE but gotta charge you for the jokes... i cant believe i got fined..how do i explain this to the lady at the bank...this is gonna take another 40mins... or i could just write a check and if theres a lockout just cancel the check it and maybe they will"
Gilbert Arenas: New Twitter account "just supposed to be entertainment"
June 3
Orlando Sentinel
 
"Orlando Magic guard Gilbert Arenas wants to clarify something. He said he has created his brand-new Twitter account, @agentzeroshow, to entertain and to make people laugh. Therefore, he explained, people shouldn't take what he tweets seriously. "It's just supposed to be entertainment," Arenas told the Orlando Sentinel in an interview Thursday. "For example, if Denzel Washington does a movie and he plays a bad guy in a movie, he's entertaining you for those two hours you're paying for him. When he's done, he is not that bad officer anymore. He's back to being Denzel Washington. "So if you can choose when to like a movie star, why can't you choose when and when not to like a basketball"
Gilbert Arenas returns to Twitter
June 2
Washington Post
 
"If the NBA Finals are going to be about DeShawn Stevenson and Brendan Haywood losing to LeBron (and Haywood missing open dunks along the way), then really, what better soundtrack could there be than some ridiculous online musings by one Gilbert Arenas. Yeah, Agent Zero chose Tuesday night for his return to Twitter, after more than a year on the shelf. I first learned of this when JaVale McGee wrote that "Pierre heard some rumors that the reckless gil arenas might have a twitter again...," and the news was soon confirmed by former Gilbert blogger-in-chief Dave McMenamin, who wrote "Not sure what's more exciting: A tight 4th quarter in the Finals or Gilbert Arenas coming back to Twitter." As"
Moving Gilbert Arenas to shooting guard makes more sense
May 25
Orlando Sentinel
 
"Unless amnesty allows them to remove Gilbert Arenas and his salary-cap numbers from the books this summer, the Magic will begin next season (whenever that will be) with the same problem. They don't exactly know what to do with Gilbert. It's clear he wasn't tickled with his limited minutes playing behind starting point guard Jameer Nelson last season. And when he did, he was seldom productive, fighting various physical restraints and the relative tight reins placed upon him by coach Stan Van Gundy. Structure has never been Gilbert's thing, off the court or on it. He usually found himself in situations — Golden State and Washington — where he could free-lance and score lots of points by"
Can Arenas, Turk make Magic comebacks?
May 7
Orlando Sentinel
 
"The Magic's fortunes next season - -and maybe the future of the franchise - just might rest on the comebacks of Gilbert Arenas and Hedo Turkoglu. If they can recapture their abilities - physically and mentally - the Magic can improve on their 52-win season and go farther in the playoffs. The offseason is critical for Arenas, especially. He needs to return as fit and flexible as possible. He says he will work dilgently with famed Chicago-based trainer Tim Grover. His left knee, surgically repaired three times, is the key to him restoring some semblance of the explosiveness that made him one of the NBA's top scorers. If Arenas wants to make GM/mentor Otis Smith look good - it was Smith who"
Otis Smith wants Gilbert Arenas, Stan Van Gundy relationship to improve
April 30
Orlando Sentinel
 
"Gilbert Arenas, who has displayed frustration about his sporadic playing time since joining the Orlando Magic in December, needs to improve his relationship with Orlando Magic coach Stan Van Gundy, Magic GM Otis Smith said Friday afternoon. "There's some growth there that needs to happen as it relates to him," Smith said of Arenas. "Their relationship is going to have to get a little bit better. The relationships in the locker room with one another is going to have to continue to get better." Arenas averaged a little more than 16 minutes per game in five playoff games, and he missed Game 3 altogether because Van Gundy opted to use Hedo Turkoglu as the team's backup point guard. Arenas, who"
Gilbert Arenas believes he's shown what he can do with extended minutes
April 29
Orlando Sentinel
 
"Over the last few weeks, Gilbert Arenas felt as if he had something to prove. Not to fans. Not to his teammates. Not even to himself. But to coach Stan Van Gundy. Arenas now hopes he has demonstrated what he can accomplish when he receives extended playing time. "It's just hard sometimes to produce in really short periods of time unless you're used to it," Arenas said a few hours before the Magic tipped-off Game 6 of their playoff series against the Atlanta Hawks at Philips Arena. "It's easy if you're like Jamal Crawford, who's used to it and when he comes in, the offense is straight going to him. Me, I've got to go in and adjust to everything else, and by the time I adjust, I'm back out.""
Van Gundy says Gilbert Arenas definitely will play in Game 5
April 26
Orlando Sentinel
 
"After scoring 20 points and playing a key role off the bench Sunday night, guard Gilbert Arenas definitely will play when the Orlando Magic host the Atlanta Hawks in Game 5 Tuesday night at Amway Center. "I'm not stupid!" Stan Van Gundy said after the Magic completed practice today. "Yeah, he's going to get his opportunity again tomorrow. There's no question. I think that he played great. I've tried to say this in his defense all year: If you look, last night with J-Rich out, he knew he would get more extended minutes. So I think he plays more — I'm not going to say 'relaxed' — but more confidently that he doesn't have to worry that it's going to be a four- or five-minute stint. "I'm not"
It's time for Gilbert Arenas to save Magic general manager Otis Smith's job
April 24
Orlando Sentinel
 columnist Mike Bianchi
"This could be your big chance, Gilbert Arenas. Tonight's the night. Don't blow it. Starting shooting guard Jason Richardson has been suspended from tonight's crucial Game 4 of the Magic's playoff series against the Atlanta Hawks. This could be the opportunity you've been waiting for, Gilbert, to get back into the rotation and earn that $18 million salary Magic fans believe is the biggest waste of money since frozen coffee drinks. "He's got to play well …" Magic coach Stan Van Gundy said Saturday when I asked him what it would take for Arenas to get back into the Magic's regular rotation. "There will be more perimeter playing time open up with Jason Richardson's suspension. Gilbert will get"
Fightin' Magic could be forced to use Gilbert Arenas
April 23
Orlando Sentinel
 
"If the NBA suspends shooting guard Jason Richardson today, the Magic might have no choice but to roll the dice with Gilbert Arenas, whom they have benched. Arenas didn't play in Game 3, and in fact, neither did another back-up point guard, Chris Duhon. Curiously, the club said Duhon had a sprained ankle. So the Magic played with just one point guard in a Game 3 loss - Jameer Nelson - with 6-10 small forward Hedo Turkoglu playing point forward at times. That's what it's come to. This team is disintegrating before our eyes - and all around Dwight Howard. Now Stan Van Gundy - who said he played Nelson too many minutes Friday - might have no choice but to play Arenas as either a point guard"
Gilbert Arenas might be worse Magic acquisition than Grant Hill
April 22
Orlando Sentinel
 
"Could Gilbert Arenas turn out to be a worse Magic signing than Grant Hill? As the Magic prepare for tonight's Game 3 against the Atlanta Hawks, I'm starting to wonder if Arenas, the highest-paid player on the Orlando Magic, will ever be a factor for this team. A good friend of mine predicted a couple of weeks ago that Arenas would do something to win a game for the Magic during these playoffs. Well, that might difficult since Arenas might not even play meaningful minutes the rest of these playoffs. Magic coach Stan Van Gundy said Thursday he is unsure whether he will continue to use Arenas as the team's backup point guard. "I don't know what we're doing," Van Gundy said. "I haven't"
Gilbert Arenas may lose backup point guard job — at least temporarily
April 21
Orlando Sentinel
 
"A demotion may be in the offing for the Orlando Magic's Gilbert Arenas. Asked after practice Thursday whether he would continue to use Arenas as the team's backup point guard in Game 3 against the Atlanta Hawks on Friday, Stan Van Gundy said he hasn't made a decision. "I don't know what we're doing," Van Gundy said. "I haven't decided exactly what we're doing. I know Jameer's going to play a lot of minutes. I know we're going to use J.J. [Redick off the bench], I know we're going to use Q[uentin Richardson] and I know we're going to use Ryan [Anderson]. "As far as what we do at the backup point I'm not totally sure.""
Arenas expected to have precautionary MRI on right knee today
April 12
Orlando Sentinel
 (scroll down)
"Gilbert Arenas did not play because he experienced lingering knee soreness. Problem is, it's not his left knee — the knee he injured in April 2007 and underwent three subsequent surgeries — that concerned him Monday. Arenas told the Orlando Sentinel that his right knee has bothered him since March 28. "With both knees being a little sore, I decided just 'rest me' so I can go into the playoffs 100 [percent]," Arenas said. Arenas added that he expects to have an MRI exam on his right knee today as a precautionary measure."
Gilbert Arenas still working to find comfort at shooting guard
April 9
Orlando Sentinel
 
"With J.J. Redick injured, Jason Richardson battling some minor knee tendinitis and Quentin Richardson suspended for the next two games, the Orlando Magic will be forced to play Gilbert Arenas significant minutes at shooting guard over the last three games of the regular season. That's a good thing, because the Magic and Arenas need all the practice they can get with Arenas at the two. Despite Arenas' 25-point outburst while starting alongside Jameer Nelson at Charlotte on Wednesday, Arenas has been largely unproductive playing shooting guard with the Magic this season. He's far more comfortable and effective - relatively speaking, anyway - with the ball in his hands early in possessions,"
It's time to praise Gilbert Arenas
April 8
Orlando Sentinel
 columnist Briam Schmitz
"Everybody and their mother has been on Gilbert Arenas' tatooed back since he arrived. His shooting has been wayward, his turnovers maddening and his explanations for his ailing left knee undermining his game…well, they've been creative. Today, I come to praise Gilbert. He pulled himself and his game together Wednesday night against the Charlotte Bobcats, scoring 25 points and hitting six 3-pointers. He also hit the go-ahead 3 to snap a 96-96 tie to begin OT and the Magic never trailed again. He has felt tremendous pressure since arriving and struggling. It was good to see, considering Gil is going to be a huge factor in the playoffs …or not. They might not start the postseason with J.J."
Magic guard Gilbert Arenas rediscovers his shooting stroke
April 8
Orlando Sentinel
 
"Struggling Gilbert Arenas posted his best offensive game since joining the Magic in mid-December, scoring a season-high 25 points Wednesday night, highlighted by 6-of-11 shooting from 3-point range. Arenas started on fire, making his first five shots. He took the place of SG Jason Richardson (left-knee tendinitis) in the lineup. The relaxed atmosphere - the Magic already clinched home-court advantage on Tuesday night --- appeared to ease Arenas, who has felt pressure during his shooting slump. He came into the game shooting just 25.6 from 3-point land and 33.5 percent from the field. VIDEO: Apopka man teaches karate in his garage for free Arenas' sixth 3-pointer broke a 96-96 tie to start"
Gilbert Arenas says he'll work out with renowned trainer this summer
April 1
Orlando Sentinel
 
"Guard Gilbert Arenas said he plans to spend much of this upcoming summer in Chicago working out with renowned trainer Tim Grover in an attempt to strengthen his troublesome left leg. Those plans must be a huge relief to Orlando Magic officials. A lockout after June 30 would prevent teams' strength and conditioning coaches from supervising their own players, so the Magic almost certainly would be delighted if Arenas follows through on his pledge. President of Basketball Operations Otis Smith has said for weeks that the upcoming summer will be critical for Arenas as he continues his recovery from a major left-knee injury suffered in April 2007 and three subsequent surgeries. For now, though,"
Dwight Howard, Gilbert Arenas question officiating while Stan Van Gundy stays silent
March 29
New York Daily News
 
"Stan Van Gundy was speechless for a change, Dwight Howard was contrite, but adamant, and Gilbert Arenas was shaking his head. Van Gundy, the Magic's outspoken coach, simply had no words when asked three times about the officiating after Monday night's 113-106 overtime loss to the Knicks. "Nothing you can do about it now," Howard said about fouling out in OT and picking up his 17th technical of the season. "I just went up for the rebound. I mean, it's OK." Clearly, it was not OK with Howard at the time. He was whistled for his sixth foul with 1:17 to play. Arguing the call, Howard flipped the ball into the backcourt, drawing his NBA-leading 17th technical. "Anytime you roll the ball down"
Van Gundy hasn't decided who will start if Jameer Nelson sits
March 28
Orlando Sentinel
 
"Orlando Magic coach Stan Van Gundy said he hasn't decided who will start at point guard if Jameer Nelson can't play Monday night against the Knicks because of a sprained left knee. Gilbert Arenas is the obvious choice, as he practiced with the first team and is more skilled than Chris Duhon, but Van Gundy insisted the decision hasn't been made. His reasoning? "Part of it is balance," Van Gundy said. "We've got our better offensive players all on the floor at the beginning. We've gotta have some balance off the bench, and Gil's probably the best off player we'd have off the bench. If we're going to start them all, we might not have as good of balance." And: "If you start him, then is it"
Magic GM welcomes point-guard controversy involving Gilbert Arenas
March 23
Orlando Sentinel
 columnist Brian Schmitz
"Here's Magic General Manager Otis Smith's dream, which initially sounds like a nightmare: Smith hopes Gilbert Arenas causes a major controversy. That's right. Gilbert's no stranger to dark headlines, of course, but Smith is talking about him stirring things up on the court, not the gun range. Smith wants to see Arenas create waves in Orlando by challenging Jameer Nelson for the starting point-guard job next season — or even seizing it from Nelson. This scenario sounds far-fetched now, given Gilbert's struggles since arriving in a mid-December trade. "I'm OK with having a controversy with players fighting for a job," Smith said. "That's a good problem to have. I'll deal with that issue.""
Gilbert Arenas questionable, JJ Redick out Monday vs. Cavs
March 21
Orlando Sentinel
 
"Orlando Magic guard Gilbert Arenas, who was a late scratch from the lineup against Denver on Friday because of a sore left calf, didn't practice on Sunday and is questionable for the Magic's game at Cleveland Monday night. Arenas' calf felt tight and stiff before practice. The calf occasionally tightens up because of muscle weakening from his three knee surgeries — that's why he's always stretching his left calf on the sideline during games. He'll test the leg before Monday's game and decide from there."
Gilbert Arenas confident he'll be able to practice Sunday
March 20
Orlando Sentinel
 
"Orlando Magic guard Gilbert Arenas felt confident that he'll be able to practice Sunday after he sat out Friday night's game against the Denver Nuggets because of a sore left calf muscle. The muscle flared up after Friday's shootaround, which Arenas said was taxing physically. "I'll be fine," he said. "I just didn't have enough time to recover." The calf gives Arenas problems intermittently. The difficulties are related to the left-knee injury he suffered in April 2007 and required three subsequent surgeries. Part of the problem, Magic officials have said, is that Arenas didn't keep up his leg rehab work in the months before his trade from the Washington Wizards. General Manager Otis Smith"
Gilbert Arenas explains why he sat out Friday's game
March 19
Orlando Sentinel
 
"For the second time this month, the Orlando Magic's shootaround was too much for Gilbert Arenas' left calf and he was scratched from the lineup hours before gametime. Arenas' left calf was too tight to play Friday night against the Denver Nuggets. His calf occasionally tightens up as a result of muscle weakening from his three knee surgeries. He missed the Magic's March 1 game against the New York Knicks with the same condition. "It was a rough practice," Arenas said after Friday's game. "It just didn't recover after practice today. We went for about an hour, two hours." Arenas participated in Friday morning's shootaround - err, practice, as he jokingly calls Stan Van Gundy's"
Otis Smith puppy love for Gilbert Arenas bites Magic
March 16
Orlando Sentinel
 columnist George Diaz
"Maybe one day Gilbert Arenas will be all he can be as a basketball player. That will also be the day I return home to my native Cuba to overthrow Fidel Castro. No senor _ File it under not going to happen. Arenas is damaged goods. Duh, you say? Tell that to Magic GM Otis Smith, who seems to find Arenas as irresistible as one of those puppies in the pet store window. The problem is that Arenas has been damaged good for a while, back to the days he was playing for the Washington Wizards. You didn't have to be a sleuth to figure it out: Due to various injuries, Arenas played in only 13, 2 and 32 games for the Wizards before the 2010-11 season, when he was suspended for most of the season for"
A Golden reunion for Orlando Magic's Gilbert Arenas, Jason Richardson
March 12
Orlando Sentinel
 
"Gilbert Arenas and Jason Richardson were sitting next to each other in the locker room, just like old times. They were talking about their days as rookies a decade ago with the Golden State Warriors, who they faced Friday night. "Remember that girl who used to cut our hair?" Arenas said, nodding to J-Rich. "Yeah, I heard she has five kids now or something," laughed Richardson. "We're getting old, man." Arenas and Richardson have played against the Warriors since leaving the club many times in their careers, but never as teammates."
Jameer Nelson, Gilbert Arenas expected to play Thursday vs. Heat
March 3
Orlando Sentinel
 
"The Orlando Magic will utilize the services of both of their point guards Thursday night against the Miami Heat. Both Jameer Nelson (ankle) and Gilbert Arenas (sore left calf) practiced on Wednesday afternoon and will play regular minutes tonight against the Heat. Nelson, who briefly left Tuesday's game against the Knicks after rolling his ankle, said the ankle feels a little sore but it wouldn't affect his play against the Heat. Arenas' situation is a bit more complicated. He was a last-minute scratch from the lineup Tuesday, even after participating in that morning's shootaround, because of soreness in his left calf. Arenas said his calf muscles tighten up occasionally as a result of his"
Will Orlando Magic's Gilbert Arenas' game arrive in time for NBA playoffs?
February 20
Orlando Sentinel
 columnist Brian Schmitz
"Magic GM Otis Smith has referred to Gilbert Arenas as a "sleeping giant." Well, Gil needs to wake up. And if he doesn't, how can coach Stan Van Gundy possibly give him the same amount of playing time in the postseason? Judging by the way Arenas has played since arriving in a trade, Van Gundy will have to lean heavily on Jameer Nelson as his playoff point guard --- unless something changes in these last 25 games. Arenas has averaged only 7.9 points, shooting 34.5 percent, including 25 percent from 3-point range in 30 games. Arenas has played 21 minutes per game. But if he doesn't progress, shouldn't Van Gundy keep him at about 10-13 minutes per game, giving Nelson about 35? Nelson averaged"
Lewis, Arenas reflect on new circumstances
February 16
Washington Post
 
"His image still covers banners hanging on light posts surrounding Amway Center, and his former coach credits him with helping the $480 million hoops cathedral the Orlando Magic calls home get built, so it was impossible for Rashard Lewis to return, less than two months after he was traded, without getting a little sentimental. "It definitely brings back a lot of memories - of trying to win a championship," Lewis said as he gazed at the giant high-definition scoreboard hanging above the arena floor. Lewis won't be able to face his former team when the Washington Wizards play their final game before the all-star break, with right knee tendinitis forcing him to miss his third consecutive"
Gilbert Arenas, Laura Govan star in Basketball Wives of the Orlando Magic
February 11
Orlando Sentinel
 columnist Mike Bianchi
"Got an e-mailed press release a few weeks ago from a publicist representing Laura Govan, the former live-in ex-fiancé of Gilbert Arenas. The publicist was shopping a story about what a terrible person, father and boyfriend Arenas is and how he abandoned his kids on Christmas and left the family destitute. Here's a couple of excerpts from the press release: "This Christmas season Laura Govan became Santa Claus and was forced to scramble for presents. Gilbert Arenas left her and four of his children (three kids and one baby on the way) without even a greeting of Merry Christmas over the phone and no money for the holiday season for presents for the children. Govan was cut off from any"
Gilbert Arenas keys 4th-quarter run, Magic take 101-85 win over Clippers
February 9
Orlando Sentinel
 
"For several weeks now, Orlando Magic fans have wondered whether the team acquired damaged goods when it traded forward Rashard Lewis away for guard Gilbert Arenas. An arthritic left knee has limited Arenas, so much so that even commentator Jeff Van Gundy — the younger brother of the Magic coach — recently said on national television that the Magic might need to sit Arenas for a stretch to get Arenas healthy. What occurred Tuesday night won't end the questions about Arenas' knee, but it gave the Magic a badly needed victory. Arenas keyed a critical fourth-quarter run to spur the Magic to a 101-85 win over the Los Angeles Clippers at Amway Center. "It means a lot, because that's where I was"
The artist formerly known as Gilbert Arenas
February 7
CBSSports.com
 
"Gilbert Arenas was once one of the most prolific scorers and entertainers in the NBA. On Sunday, he missed all seven of his shots from the field and all of his explanations in the locker room afterward, too. Maybe that's because the entertainer formerly known as Agent Zero really has zero feel for how he's supposed to fit in with the Orlando Magic. "I expected to struggle a little bit because I have to learn how everyone plays," Arenas said after going scoreless in a 91-80 loss to the Celtics. "I'm the point guard. I've got to learn where everybody wants the ball, how they move, where they like it, where they dislike it. So I can't be as aggressive as I want to. I can't just go down"
Magic dealing with Gilbert Arenas' baggage
February 6
Orlando Sentinel
 
"Gilbert Arenas was traded to Orlando on Dec. 18. His baggage has finally arrived, as predicted, as feared. It showed up on the Magic's doorstep, perfectly in keeping with the crazy, complicated and combustible Arenas tradition. Who else but Gilbert Arenas would be served court papers while walking to the locker room at Amway Center during halftime of a game? The Magic just happened to join Arenas' nasty custody/child support fight with his ex while it was already in progress. This bizarre battle royale includes three kids and one on the way, a lottery-like money grab and Gil's dead pet sharks, whom he claims were murdered. Is it any wonder Arenas got lost heading to the team's airplane"
Orlando wins in Gilbert Arenas's return to Washington
February 5
Washington Post
 
"There was so much buildup and emotion, so many story lines, and so many questions as the Washington Wizards faced the Orlando Magic for the first time since the teams completed a trade seven weeks ago. Many wondered how the fans would respond to Gilbert Arenas as he returned to the building he practically owned for more than seven seasons, how Nick Young would react as he matched up for the first time against his "big brother," and how Rashard Lewis would handle facing a team he once helped reach the NBA Finals. But as the game unfolded, Arenas was welcomed with a mix of boos and a standing ovation, Young repeatedly hung his head after missed jumpers and Lewis got way too many reminders"
Arenas plays well in final quarter of loss to the Memphis Grizzlies
February 2
Orlando Sentinel
 
"Even in defeat, even after missing one key free throw, Gilbert Arenas played one of his better quarters as a member of the Orlando Magic. Arenas played the entire fourth quarter of the team's 100-97 loss to the Memphis Grizzlies on Monday. His stat line wasn't too eye-catching — he had seven points on 3-of-6 shooting, three assists and one turnover — but in this case, stats don't tell the entire story. He served as a sparkplug as the Magic clawed back from a 14-point deficit to tie the game 96-96 with 2:15 left in regulation. Arenas was at his most dangerous when he drove toward the basket and kicked to wide-open shooters at the 3-point line. The tactic nearly gave the Magic a comeback"
When will Gilbert Arenas finally become a factor for Magic?
January 31
Orlando Sentinel
 columnist Brian Schmitz
"The weather Sunday for Orlando called for partly sunny skies, high 73, low 52. With only a slight chance of Gilbert Arenas ever changing. You can't but help like this particular side of Arenas. When he says the health of his arthritic left knee depends on the weather or airplane-cabin pressure --- it's now listed day-to-day --- you just have to laugh. I mean, my Grandpa said he could predict cold or rain by stiffness in his big toe, but he was a farmer. He wasn't an achy NBA player passing himself off as a human Doppler. (Stories on Google say there are no cohesive research studies linking weather and joint pain and…. I can't believe Arenas made me look.) It's Gilbert being Gilbert. Arenas"