By Sam Amico
ProBasketballNews.com
A high-ranking Western Conference executive with knowledge of the situation has told Pro Basketball News that both the Los Angeles Lakers and Los Angeles Clippers plan to "strongly pursue" Washington Wizards guard Gilbert Arenas this summer. Arenas is signed through 2009, but has said he will exercise the early termination option in his contract and become a free agent.
Arenas missed the end of last year and has played
in just eight games this season following two knee
operations.
While the Wizards would be able to sign him to a
longer deal than any other team (seven years
compared to five), the source told PBN they may
be hesitant to offer him the maximum contract
-- mostly because they've managed to stay in the playoff race without him.
"They value (Caron) Butler and Antawn Jamison at least as much, probably more at this point," the source said. "They want to build the team around them."
The source added, "That doesn't mean the Wizards will let Arenas walk for nothing. But if the Lakers and Clippers push for him as much as expected, it's likely to result in a sign-and-trade."
If that's the case, the Lakers may be willing to part with forward Lamar Odom and guard Derek Fisher, and/or a few bench players, according to the source (Odom's contract expires at the end of next season).
Meanwhile, the Clippers have reportedly been trying to deal forward Corey Maggette and "would be willing to trade the entire team if it meant pairing Arenas with Elton Brand (also out for the year with a knee injury)," the source said.
According to the Washington Post, the most the Wizards could offer Arenas this summer is a three-year extension worth no more than $70 million. But any deal wouldn't begin until his original contract expires in 2009. "Once he opts out, Arenas would be eligible to sign a maximum contract covering six years and worth between $90 and $100 million, depending on the salary cap," the Post wrote.
