NBA: 2009 Season Discussion Thread **Playoffs (page 6)**
01-06-2010, 08:30 PM
#121
NEW YORK (AP)—Washington Wizards guard Gilbert Arenas(notes) was suspended without pay by NBA commissioner David Stern on Wednesday for behavior that made him “not currently fit to take the court.”
A day after Arenas was photographed before a game in Philadelphia pointing his index fingers, as if they were guns, at his teammates, Stern warned the three-time All-Star that his conduct will “ultimately result in a substantial suspension, and perhaps worse.”
Arenas is under investigation by federal and local authorities after admitting to bringing guns to the locker room. Stern originally planned to wait to take action, but he tired of Arenas’ behavior.
With each game he misses, Arenas will lose about $147,200 of the $16.2 million he will earn this season in the second of a six-year, $111 million contract. The punishment came on his 28th birthday.
“I feel very badly that my actions have caused the NBA to suspend me, but I understand why the league took this action,” Arenas said in a statement through his attorney. “I put the NBA in a negative light and let down my teammates and our fans. I am very sorry for doing that.”
Arenas added that he had called Stern to apologize.
“While I never intended any harm or disrespect to the NBA or anyone else, my gun possession at the Verizon Center and my attempts at humor showed terrible judgment,” he said. “I take full responsibility for my conduct.”
Arenas originally said he brought four guns to the Verizon Center because he wanted them out of his house after his daughter was born. But two officials within the league who have been briefed on the investigation have told The Associated Press that the incident stemmed from a dispute over card-playing gambling debts and a heated discussion in the locker room with teammate Javaris Crittenton(notes). The New York Post, however, reported that the two teammates drew weapons on each other.
Arenas said in a statement on Monday that he took unloaded guns from his locker in a “misguided effort to play a joke” on a teammate.
“Joke or not, I now recognize that what I did was a mistake and was wrong,” Arenas said. “I should not have brought the guns to DC in the first place, and I now realize that there’s no such thing as joking around when it comes to guns—even if unloaded.”
Stern said members of the Wizards organization are still being interviewed by law enforcement authorities.
“Some are scheduled for appearance before the grand jury and the investigation is proceeding with the intensity that one would expect for such a serious incident,” Stern said.
A Wizards spokesman said Arenas left the team, which is playing in Cleveland, earlier Wednesday but didn’t know where he was going.
“It’s sad,” Wizards guard DeShawn Stevenson(notes) said. “You don’t want to see a player go down like that. We’re a family, and it hurts.”
The Wizards supported Stern’s decision in a statement attributed to president Ernie Grunfeld and the Pollin family, which owns the team. The late Abe Pollin changed the team’s name from the Bullets because of the violent connotation.
“Strictly legal issues aside, Gilbert’s recent behavior and statements, including his actions and statements last night in Philadelphia, are unacceptable,” the statement said. “Some of our other players appeared to find Gilbert’s behavior in Philadelphia amusing. This is also unacceptable.”
AP Sports Writers Howard Fendrich and Joseph White in Washington, an AP freelance writer Jason Lloyd in Cleveland contributed to this report.
A day after Arenas was photographed before a game in Philadelphia pointing his index fingers, as if they were guns, at his teammates, Stern warned the three-time All-Star that his conduct will “ultimately result in a substantial suspension, and perhaps worse.”
Arenas is under investigation by federal and local authorities after admitting to bringing guns to the locker room. Stern originally planned to wait to take action, but he tired of Arenas’ behavior.
With each game he misses, Arenas will lose about $147,200 of the $16.2 million he will earn this season in the second of a six-year, $111 million contract. The punishment came on his 28th birthday.
“I feel very badly that my actions have caused the NBA to suspend me, but I understand why the league took this action,” Arenas said in a statement through his attorney. “I put the NBA in a negative light and let down my teammates and our fans. I am very sorry for doing that.”
Arenas added that he had called Stern to apologize.
“While I never intended any harm or disrespect to the NBA or anyone else, my gun possession at the Verizon Center and my attempts at humor showed terrible judgment,” he said. “I take full responsibility for my conduct.”
Arenas originally said he brought four guns to the Verizon Center because he wanted them out of his house after his daughter was born. But two officials within the league who have been briefed on the investigation have told The Associated Press that the incident stemmed from a dispute over card-playing gambling debts and a heated discussion in the locker room with teammate Javaris Crittenton(notes). The New York Post, however, reported that the two teammates drew weapons on each other.
Arenas said in a statement on Monday that he took unloaded guns from his locker in a “misguided effort to play a joke” on a teammate.
“Joke or not, I now recognize that what I did was a mistake and was wrong,” Arenas said. “I should not have brought the guns to DC in the first place, and I now realize that there’s no such thing as joking around when it comes to guns—even if unloaded.”
Stern said members of the Wizards organization are still being interviewed by law enforcement authorities.
“Some are scheduled for appearance before the grand jury and the investigation is proceeding with the intensity that one would expect for such a serious incident,” Stern said.
A Wizards spokesman said Arenas left the team, which is playing in Cleveland, earlier Wednesday but didn’t know where he was going.
“It’s sad,” Wizards guard DeShawn Stevenson(notes) said. “You don’t want to see a player go down like that. We’re a family, and it hurts.”
The Wizards supported Stern’s decision in a statement attributed to president Ernie Grunfeld and the Pollin family, which owns the team. The late Abe Pollin changed the team’s name from the Bullets because of the violent connotation.
“Strictly legal issues aside, Gilbert’s recent behavior and statements, including his actions and statements last night in Philadelphia, are unacceptable,” the statement said. “Some of our other players appeared to find Gilbert’s behavior in Philadelphia amusing. This is also unacceptable.”
AP Sports Writers Howard Fendrich and Joseph White in Washington, an AP freelance writer Jason Lloyd in Cleveland contributed to this report.
Bottom line... if I bring a gun to work I get fired and so should he.
01-06-2010, 08:51 PM
#122
Senior Moderator
01-07-2010, 10:59 AM
#125
Senior Moderator
Thread Starter
Arenas is an idiot...he was basically baiting the League to do something. And you'd think after Plexiglass Burress shot himself, Arenas would be smarter than this than to have an incident involving a firearm. 
01-07-2010, 11:18 AM
#126
What Would Don Draper Do?
i always liked his game and his aloofness. i respect him for a lot of the charity work he does, donating money for each 3 pointer he makes, giving shoes and jerseys to kids after games, adopting a young boy whose family died, etc.
but the past few years, he's been acting pretty
what he did is just...dumb. for lack of better words.
not just bringing guns to the locker room. but making shooting motions in front of cameras, etc.
01-07-2010, 03:37 PM
#128
Moderator Alumnus
01-28-2010, 07:33 AM
#129
Team Owner
http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/rumors/p...urn=nba,216208
Stoudemire getting traded for Heat's Jermaine O'Neal?
By Mark J. Miller
There are apparently some who think Amar'e Stoudemire(notes) is starting to lay down and not give 100 percent for the Phoenix Suns so that he'll get traded before the Feb. 18 deadline, according to the Arizona Republic. And there are others who just don't care if that's true or not.
Some of those folks who don't seem to care are in the Miami Heat front office, where conversations have supposedly taken place about possibly sending 14-year veteran Jermaine O'Neal(notes) and his $23 million expiring contract to Phoenix in exchange for Stoudemire, according to the Miami Herald. Eight other teams are apparently interested in adding Stoudemire before the deadline as well.
If Stoudemire stays with the Suns, it appears likely that he'll decide to opt out of his contract and let go of the $17 million that he's guaranteed to make next year if he sticks around.
Some of the folks who are doubting Stoudemire's recent efforts supposedly include a few of his teammates. After all, the 6'10" forward has had five rebounds over the last four games. For a guy who is averaging 8.4 rebounds per game, that's just not right.
By Mark J. Miller
There are apparently some who think Amar'e Stoudemire(notes) is starting to lay down and not give 100 percent for the Phoenix Suns so that he'll get traded before the Feb. 18 deadline, according to the Arizona Republic. And there are others who just don't care if that's true or not.
Some of those folks who don't seem to care are in the Miami Heat front office, where conversations have supposedly taken place about possibly sending 14-year veteran Jermaine O'Neal(notes) and his $23 million expiring contract to Phoenix in exchange for Stoudemire, according to the Miami Herald. Eight other teams are apparently interested in adding Stoudemire before the deadline as well.
If Stoudemire stays with the Suns, it appears likely that he'll decide to opt out of his contract and let go of the $17 million that he's guaranteed to make next year if he sticks around.
Some of the folks who are doubting Stoudemire's recent efforts supposedly include a few of his teammates. After all, the 6'10" forward has had five rebounds over the last four games. For a guy who is averaging 8.4 rebounds per game, that's just not right.
02-08-2010, 01:11 AM
#130
failhard.
They need to replace Eric Gordon in the Dunk Contest with this man right here.
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Congrats to Tyreke Evans for winning MVP honors for the Rookies vs. Sophomores game. 
. No creativity and it seemed like they weren't even trying. :thumbsdow
02-16-2010, 12:41 PM
#142
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Blazers Trade; Travis Outlaw and Steve Blake to the Clippers for Marcus Camby. Should be a good move for us, gives us a legit center for the rest of the season, cant see us resigning him after its all over but hey, rent a center might work 
02-18-2010, 01:51 PM
#146
Senior Moderator
Thread Starter
Bulls Trade Thomas to Bobcats
02-18-2010, 02:18 PM
#148
Senior Moderator
Thread Starter
02-18-2010, 04:03 PM
#150
Engineer
Celtics traded for Nate Robinson...
hopefully this is the shakeup they need...
Nate Robinson trade official: Nate and Marcus Landry for Eddie House, JR Giddens and Bill Walker.
02-18-2010, 04:15 PM
#151
What Would Don Draper Do?
logic says they may miss house's shooting in the postseason.
but imagining a backcourt of nate robinson and rondo (obviously, in spurts and not for the majority) is a bit frightening.
i'm glad they kept ray allen, though. he's been a favorite of mine since his rookie season, and i'm glad he's staying with a contender.
but imagining a backcourt of nate robinson and rondo (obviously, in spurts and not for the majority) is a bit frightening.
i'm glad they kept ray allen, though. he's been a favorite of mine since his rookie season, and i'm glad he's staying with a contender.
02-18-2010, 05:08 PM
#152
Senior Moderator
Thread Starter
Well, with Salmons gone and all of these expiring contracts coming in, do the Bulls have what it takes to sign LeBron...?
02-18-2010, 05:11 PM
#154
Moderator Alumnus
02-18-2010, 09:50 PM
#157
S E L L
02-19-2010, 12:06 AM
#158
What Would Don Draper Do?
hope so too since he's on my fantasy team. 
but i think you'll be pleased with him. he's no kevin garnett, but he's very efficient. reminds me of antawn jamison (when he was very efficient...
but i think you'll be pleased with him. he's no kevin garnett, but he's very efficient. reminds me of antawn jamison (when he was very efficient...
02-19-2010, 08:31 AM
#159
Team Owner
I read that these teams can sign to big FA's:
NY, Miami (keep Wade), Jersey, Washington, Sacramento, Chicago, and I can't remember who else. I think Wade would only go to NY or Chicago if he left. But he sucks in Chicago and NY is really crappy but could sign Bosh and then Wade would follow. I heard we tried to get Stoudamire in a 3 way where Phoenix would get Boozer and Utah would get draft picks and some Heat players. I'm scared but thanks to Riley, Wade, Beasley, and South Beach, people want to come here.
NY, Miami (keep Wade), Jersey, Washington, Sacramento, Chicago, and I can't remember who else. I think Wade would only go to NY or Chicago if he left. But he sucks in Chicago and NY is really crappy but could sign Bosh and then Wade would follow. I heard we tried to get Stoudamire in a 3 way where Phoenix would get Boozer and Utah would get draft picks and some Heat players. I'm scared but thanks to Riley, Wade, Beasley, and South Beach, people want to come here.
02-19-2010, 12:56 PM
#160
^^having no state income tax doesn't hurt either.