Tag Archives: Gilbert Arenas

The Trade

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My last pixels on Gilbert Arenas.

I have always been a supporter of Gilbert Arenas. As a fan and now as an owner.

My responsibility is to help craft a team that is a winner and is built to last.

We have to make an environment that is great for our fans and for our players and for our partners.

I was always hopeful that Gilbert would help our team in its rebuild process.

I have been unabashed in noting that we have to rebuild around our core of young players.We will suffer though a lot of pain but we will be stronger for it. The rebuild will take along time for us to get to where we want to be – an elite team. Building a truly special team has lots of risk – in any fashion imaginable – as noted in this New York Times article. Click here.

The facts are the facts with Gilbert playing huge minutes for us. We were in basically last place in the East.

He has intimated that he would feel more comfortable playing for a contender and not playing as a mentor to young players. He needed a fresh start and I wish him well in this next phase of his career.

The trade helps us to accelerate our rebuild.

Our young players will now get more minutes in the back court. They will be the focus of our attention. And development. It will be apparent to all what we are trying to do with our team.

With the trade we add a two time All-Star front court player. He is long and skilled. And has played on a winner.

From a financial standpoint, we actually pick up salary short term but in the long term, we save cap space. We save significant dollars and we add flexibility in a time frame where we will know how our rebuild is progressing. And what we need to improve.

As you saw last night at the game against Miami, the team responded well to the trade. We played with enthusiasm; with grit; and with an all-for-one and one-for-all attitude.

I wish Gilbert Arenas well. I honestly do. I thank him for all his good work in our community and for his contributions on the court for our franchise.

I warmly welcome Rashard Lewis to our city and to our team. I know he will help us in many ways.

I thank the team for playing so hard last night and I was so sad to see us lose such a close game to the Heat. We deserved a better fate last night.

Double NOT Fun

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We haven’t won a game in what seems like forever - Capitals and Wizards.

It isn’t much fun. It is double angst. Double barrel email venting.

I am not comfortable.

That is the truth about it.

We need to double down; have empathy; show patience; and show leadership qualities.

I signed up for it. I know what I am in for all around.

Whatever that means. Read this one.

Good for Gilbert – Good for Us

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A nice victory in front of a home crowd, a small but loyal crowd. Thank you for the support.

We played with energy and intensity. We closed out a win and withstood their runs.

Lots of young players got minutes. Other role players got additional minutes. Three players scored twenty points or more.

We played with poise at the right times and we cruised to a win.

We have to overcome injuries and day to day setbacks. That is all a part of becoming a team.

I am proud of the progress we are seeing in Gilbert Arena’s health and play on the court. It is also wonderful to see him smile and play with charisma and with a bit of swagger.

A good win and happy night. Onward.

Gilbert’s Back But We Lost

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One step forward – one step back.

We have an opportunity to atone tonight at 7:00 pm against the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Back to back games are tough but it offers us an opportunity to regroup quickly.

Our coach now has more options and can manage minutes more efficiently.

Gilbert is a natural scorer and will help us offensively out of the gate.

I am happy to see him back on the court and smiling.

I am sure our fans will re-embrace Gilbert, too, tonight as he helps us to improve the team and accelerate our success with our rebuild. He is a fine teammate and is highly regarded by his teammates. His on court presence will now be felt positively by us all. I will be up and cheering tonight when he enters the game.

See you all tonight-. We have a chance to get well with home cooking.

And I Have Been Put Through the Test!

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Please watch this nice video from Chris Wallace’s show of yesterday.

Wow - my email is flooded with folks from our community showing support of our teams. Thank you.

I am also receiving resumes; charitable requests; screenplays; pleas for help and money and gifts from all over the country.

As I do read and respond to all of my email, it will take some time to plow through it all. To date, more than 450 sincere and long emails. I don’t outsource any of this work. I do it all myself.

When you read the subjects - this are not something to joke about. Dan - one day come into my office and read these emails beside me. See what the real world is thinking. It will open your eyes to things other than sports.

I Will Be There Tonight – Will You?

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Pre-season Game 1 is tonight for the Washington Wizards.

There may be some special guests in the house. Tune in.

The game should be a fun one as our coach test drives different looks and line-ups and lets the players run and work on new sets.

Come on out and enjoy NBA basketball.

There is too much talk about noise. The game is where the signal occurs.

I don’t care if Gilbert Arenas has a beard down to his knees as long as he is healthy; happy; ”coachable”; and is a great teammate - which I believe he is – all is good in my book. I know he is one heck of a terrific player.

Yi had a great time at the Caps game last night, too. We are building a positive and fun culture. It was his first time at an NHL game. Thank you to the sold out crowd last night for welcoming Yi to Washington, DC. That was very nice of you. Go Caps! Go Wizards!