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Gilbert Arenas To Play In BIG3

February 14th, 2019 at 8:39am CST by Luke Adams

The BIG3 has added another notable name to its roster of players, announcing this morning (via Twitter) that former NBA guard Gilbert Arenas is joining the league for the 2019 season.

Arenas, one of the NBA’s most memorable characters over the last couple decades, hasn’t played in the league since 2011/12, but is still just 37 years old. In 11 NBA seasons, the man known as Agent Zero averaged 20.7 PPG and 5.3 APG, earning three All-Star nods during his time with the Wizards. He also spent time with the Warriors, Magic, and Grizzlies.

In addition to his on-court achievements, Arenas is remembered for an off-court altercation involving then-teammate Javaris Crittenton. The two players brought guns into the Wizards’ locker room and, according to an account from Caron Butler, an argument over gambling debts resulted in Crittenton pointing one of those guns at Arenas. Both players earned lengthy suspensions due to the incident.

The BIG3, a three-on-three league which already featured former NBA players like Baron Davis, Nate Robinson, Rashard Lewis, Carlos Boozer, Stephen Jackson, and Kenyon Martin, has been adding to its player pool in recent weeks. Lamar Odom, Daniel Gibson, C.J. Watson, Steve Blake, Carlos Arroyo, and Royce White are among the newest additions to the BIG3.

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Eastern Notes: Pistons, Olynyk, Teague, Arenas

October 30th, 2016 at 10:57pm CST by Arthur Hill

Don’t rule out the possibility of extensions for the Pistons‘ Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Reggie Bullock before Monday’s deadline, tweets Keith Langlois of Pistons.com. Coach/executive Stan Van Gundy said today that he doesn’t expect the deals to get done, but GM Jeff Bower remains in contact with the agents for both players in hopes of getting something in place under the wire.

There’s more tonight out of the Eastern Conference:

  • Kelly Olynyk is hoping to be cleared for practice without restrictions this week in his return from offseason surgery on his right shoulder, tweets ESPN’s Jeff Goodman. The Celtics‘ fourth-year center plans to be ready for game action within two weeks.
  • New Pacers point guard Jeff Teague is trying to figure out the cause of his disappointing start, relays Nate Taylor of The Indianapolis Star. Indiana was counting on a spark from Teague when it unloaded George Hill to get him from Atlanta in a three-way trade. But Teague has shot just 20% from the floor in his first three games and has allowed opposing point guards Deron Williams, Jeremy Lin and Rajon Rondo to combine for 52 points and 29 assists. “It’s way different than any team I’ve played on in the past,” Teague said. “We’ve got a lot of talent, but it’s just different. It just is. Everything is different, the concepts; everything is totally different. I’m just trying to get used to it.”
  • The Magic will make their final payment on Monday to former All-Star Gilbert Arenas, writes Tim Bontemps of The Washington Post. The high-scoring guard was waived by Orlando in 2011, but the franchise has continued to pay on his $111MM contract. Arenas no longer counts against the Magic’s salary cap.
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Pacific Notes: Jones, Russell, Chalmers, Grizzlies

March 14th, 2016 at 12:04pm CST by Chuck Myron

Tyus Jones has already played in more games since the All-Star break than he played before it, as the Timberwolves have decided it’s time to let last year’s 24th overall pick learn on the court. Ricky Rubio, a subject of deadline trade talk whom Jones is trying to eventually replace as Minnesota’s starting point guard, sees “great things” ahead for the rookie, observes Jim Souhan of the Star Tribune.

“He can really score the ball. I think he’€™s learning how to control, and play in this league,” Rubio said. “€œIt’€™s not like college. He’s learning how to play and he’s not afraid. That’€™s one of the main things you ask of a rookie. Don’€™t be afraid.™”€™

See more from the Western Conference:

  • Much consternation has surrounded the limited playing time Lakers coach Byron Scott has given No. 2 pick D’Angelo Russell this season, but the combo guard is seeing 31.4 minutes per game since the All-Star break compared to 27.1 minutes per game before it, and he’s upbeat about the future, notes Mark Medina of the Los Angeles Daily News. “€œIt’€™s all about the opportunity,” Russell said. “€œEverybody has a different route toward reaching their potential. Some people bloom early and some people bloom late. If I’€™m a late bloomer and I’€™m around this league for a long time, I would prefer that.”€
  • Mario Chalmers was popular within the Grizzlies organization, as Chris Herrington of The Commercial Appeal, who believes his early-season acquisition was a plus for the team, writes in his Pick-and-Pop column. Chalmers cleared waivers after tearing his Achilles tendon last week.
  • The Grizzlies have filled gaps in their roster with such wizened veterans as Gilbert Arenas, Jason Williams and Keyon Dooling in past years, so the recent signings of Ray McCallum, Alex Stepheson and Briante Weber represent a shrewd pivot toward finding stopgaps with potential future value, Herrington argues in the same piece.
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Eastern Rumors: Arenas, Stephenson, Bucks

April 24th, 2014 at 12:30pm CST by Chuck Myron

Gilbert Arenas reiterated on SiriusXM NBA Radio today that he’s still holding out hope for an NBA comeback, as USA Today’s Jeff Zillgitt tweets, and that echoes Arenas’ comments from December. The Magic are probably rooting for his return to the league, since that could allow them to use set-off rights to recoup a small portion of the millions they still owe him on his amnestied contract. While we wait to see if Agent Zero, still just 32 years old, makes it back to the Association, here’s more from the Eastern Conference:

  • Sean Deveney of The Sporting News heard from a GM around the beginning of February who expected Lance Stephenson to receive offers with eight-figure annual salaries, but an executive now tells Deveney that the soon-to-be free agent will probably command only $7-8MM a year.
  • Outgoing Bucks owner Herb Kohl borrowed money from the NBA a total of five times in 2009 and 2010 to help keep the team going, reports Rich Kirchen of the Milwaukee Business Journal. Kohl told Kirchen that he’s spent more than $100MM of his own money on the team during his nearly three decades of ownership.
  • Casper Ware‘s multiyear contract with the Sixers extends through 2016/17, but the team only inked Adonis Thomas through the end of 2013/14, according to Mark Deeks of ShamSports (Twitter link).
  • Eric Dawson, who spent preseason with the Hawks this past fall, is headed to play for Heilongjiang Zhaozhou Feng Shen of China’s second-tier league, according to Sportando’s Emiliano Carchia. Dawson has also spent time in the D-League and Iran this season.
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Odds & Ends: LeBron, Lowry, T’Wolves

December 26th, 2013 at 9:22pm CST by Ryan Raroque

Fresh off of winning the Associated Press’ 2013 Male Athlete of the Year award, LeBron James spoke in depth about being a role model off the court and having a higher calling outside of basketball in addition to how he’s continued to mature in life. With the possibility of hitting free agency once again since 2010’s “The Decision”, the Heat superstar couldn’t avoid another inquiry about what could happen this summer (Tim Reynolds of the Associated Press). Not surprisingly, LeBron didn’t elaborate on much:

“I’m so zoned in on what my task is here this year that it’s hard to think about anything else…A guy the other day asked me what I’m going to do for New Year’s, and I haven’t even thought about that.”

With that aside, here are more of tonight’s miscellaneous news and notes from around the league:

  • Eric Koreen of the National Post examines the trade/free agent value of Kyle Lowry, especially now that the Raptors appear to be thriving since trading Rudy Gay to Sacramento. Koreen argues that talent-wise, Lowry is worth the price of a first-round pick for teams looking to acquire him. On the other hand, if he finishes the season in Toronto looking to stay, then the asking price could start around at least $8MM annually, similar to what Jeff Teague and Brandon Jennings garnered as restricted free agents last summer.
  • Sitting at 13-15 through 28 games, the Timberwolves are on par with what president of basketball operations Flip Saunders had expected at this point. Saunders explained his stance to Charley Walters of the Pioneer Press: “Of the record, when the season started, I thought we’d be right where we’re at, or maybe 14-14, 15-13…I thought that was a very realistic goal. But we haven’t finished games like I thought we would be able to do right now.” Saunders also pointed to the team’s road-heavy schedule early on as well as the fact that many of the core players don’t have much experience with each other as reasons why he’s optimistic about brighter days ahead this year.
  • Prior to this season, Trail Blazers coach Terry Stotts compiled an NBA head coaching record of 148-217 over 365 games, with just one playoff appearance and a first-round exit to boot. This year, Stotts is enjoying an .821 winning percentage in Portland in what is currently his most successful season to date thus far. In a special article for ESPN.com, Daniel Nowell discusses Stotts’ long road to becoming an NBA coach.
  • Taj Gibson is repaying the Bulls’ investment in him, writes K.C. Johnson of the Chicago Tribune (Subscribers only).
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Gilbert Arenas Aiming For 2014 Comeback

December 25th, 2013 at 3:15pm CST by Luke Adams

DECEMBER 25TH: Arenas confirmed to TMZ.com that he is indeed training in the hopes of making a comeback in 2014. According to Alex Kennedy of HoopsWorld (Sulia link), Arenas is aiming to return to the NBA as early as this season.

DECEMBER 13TH: Despite a few fall rumors that suggested the Clippers were eyeing Gilbert Arenas as a possible camp invitee, Arenas himself has exhibited little interest recently in returning to the NBA, expressing a preference to play in China instead. But while Arenas may not play in the NBA in 2013/14, he also hasn’t ruled out trying to make a comeback. In an interview with Dan Favale of Bleacher Report, the former All-Star indicated he’ll try to make a team for the 2014/15 season.

“Next summer, I’m going to train really hard and then try to make a team,” Arenas said. “I’m going to try to come back.”

Arenas went on to suggest a few teams he thinks could use his services in the short-term, including the Knicks, Bulls, and Lakers, but assuming he’s eyeing a summer comeback, those specific clubs may no longer have backcourt holes that need filling.

The longtime Wizard hasn’t appeared in an NBA game since the 2011/12 season, when he played in 17 contests with the Grizzlies. However, he’s still just 31 years old, and showed last season in China that he can still put the ball in the basket. In 14 games for the Shanghai Sharks, Arenas averaged 20.7 PPG and 7.3 APG. Assuming he’s in basketball shape during the 2014 offseason, it wouldn’t be a surprise if he at least received a camp invite from an NBA team.

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Southeast Notes: Arenas, LeBron, Heat, Magic

October 23rd, 2013 at 4:57pm CST by Luke Adams

As we noted earlier today, Gilbert Arenas will be paid through 2016 by the Magic, despite the fact that his amnestied contract was set to expire after the 2013/14 season. NBA sources confirmed the arrangement to Brian Schmitz of the Orlando Sentinel, who says the Magic used the stretch provision to extend Arenas’ payment schedule. I’m not sure that’s accurate, since that specific provision only applies to deals signed under the new CBA. But in any case, Schmitz reports that the revised payment plan shouldn’t affect any free agent plans the team has.

Here are a few more notes from out of Southeast Division:

  • LeBron James will earn more than $19MM in 2013/14, but he could still be the NBA’s most underpaid player, as Larry Coon details in an Insider-only piece for ESPN.com.
  • Speaking to reporters, including Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sun Sentinel, Pat Riley referred to the Heat as a “development team” and called the Sioux Falls Skyforce (Miami’s D-League affiliate) a perfect fit for the Heat. A handful of Miami’s camp invitees are expected to end up in Sioux Falls next month.
  • In a pair of columns for the Orlando Sentinel, Josh Robbins examines the fight to earn a roster spot for two Magic camp invitees, Romero Osby and Solomon Jones. Assuming Orlando doesn’t release or buy out Hedo Turkoglu within the next few days, Osby and Jones could be battling against each other and against the team’s other invitees for a single roster spot.
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NBA Teams Still Paying Amnestied Players

October 23rd, 2013 at 10:30am CST by Luke Adams

In an interview with TMZ.com, Gilbert Arenas revealed that while his amnestied contract would have come to an end next summer, the Magic will continue to pay him through 2016, having agreed to spread out his $111MM salary across two additional years. Arenas’ admission is interesting not only because that type of information isn’t typically reported, but also because paying him an eight-figure salary through 2016 could affect how much Orlando spends elsewhere.

Arenas is one of several amnestied players still being paid through the 2013/14 season, and his arrangement with the Magic shows that we don’t know exactly what agreements were made between teams and players when clubs used their amnesty clauses. For instance, when the Sixers released Elton Brand via amnesty in 2012, he only had one year remaining on his contract, meaning Philadelphia is likely no longer on the hook for his salary. However, if the club agreed to spread out his payments, like the Magic did with Arenas, it’s possible that the Sixers’ debt to Brand hasn’t been entirely extinguished.

What we do know is that many amnestied players had contracts at least through the 2013/14 season, so their former teams are almost certainly still paying their salaries. Here’s a breakdown of the amnestied players, besides Arenas, who are still being paid by old teams this season. The year the player’s amnestied contract ends is noted in parentheses:

The following amnestied players’ contracts have expired, so presumably their teams are no longer paying them, unless they agreed to stretched-out payments like Arenas did:

Hoops Rumors’ Amnesty Tracker was used in the creation of this post.

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Lakers Notes: Johnson-Odom, Boateng, Buss

September 25th, 2013 at 10:21am CST by Luke Adams

As we heard over the weekend, the Lakers have yet to start negotiating a contract extension with Kobe Bryant, which is hardly a surprise, given the new CBA. Veteran extensions have become virtually non-existent since the lockout, and given the uncertainty relating to Kobe's recovery from Achilles surgery, there's no reason for either side to rush into contract discussions.

Here's more on the Lakers:

  • Ramona Shelburne of ESPNLosAngeles.com reports (via Twitter) that she has heard Darius Johnson-Odom and Eric Boateng mentioned as possible camp invitees for the Lakers. However, nothing has been finalized yet.
  • Gilbert Arenas and Kareem Rush have also been spotted working out recently at the Lakers facility, according to Shelburne, but she says not to read too much into that (Twitter link).
  • Jim Buss and Jeanie Buss have been the ones making headlines lately, but their younger brother Jesse Buss is also involved with the team, and spoke to Laker Nation about his role with the NBA team and its D-League affiliate. Among other topics, Buss addressed the challenge of scouting for a franchise that always has a win-now mentality, and discussed the outlooks for rookies Ryan Kelly and Elias Harris.

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Gilbert Arenas Plans To Play In China

September 24th, 2013 at 2:06pm CST by Luke Adams

We heard a week ago that the Clippers may be inviting Gilbert Arenas to training camp, but it doesn't sound like the former All-Star is interested in auditioning for an NBA roster spot. Asked by HipHollywood.com about the Clippers rumor, Arenas denied that he'd be joining the team, indicating instead that he plans to return to China for the coming season.

"I went to go work out at the Clippers facility about two months ago," Arenas said. "I guess I did well enough for them to invite me [to camp], but I want to go to China so I can come home faster…. With China, I get to go and still play and then I can get back home and spend more time with the kids. I get to be home in February and enjoy the family. I don’t need the NBA money, I have enough of it."

This isn't the first time Arenas has expressed a fondness for China's shorter season, which ends not long after the NBA's All-Star weekend. Playing for the Shanghai Sharks earlier in 2013, Arenas indicated that he intended to spend the spring with his family, rather than trying to catch on with an NBA team after returning from China.

"Thirty-two games a year," Arenas said at the time. "Maximum 36 minutes. That’s all I need at this point in my career. So as long as China teams want me, I’ll be here."

As for whether teams in the CBA have interest in Arenas, that remains to be seen. But the 31-year-old played well in 14 games for the Sharks last season, averaging 20.7 PPG and 7.3 RPG, so I'd be surprised if he didn't attract a few suitors.

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