WASHINGTON, 9 August 2003 — Michael Jordan has gone but the Washington Wizards have landed the National Basketball Association’s Most Improved Player in hopes of filling the void in their backcourt.
Gilbert Arenas, the starting point guard named last season’s most improved NBA player while at Golden State, became a member of the Wizards yesterday when the Warriors refused to match an offer sheet Arenas signed July 22.
The Warriors took the maximum 15 days to announce they would not match the offer, a six-year deal worth more than $60 million. Golden State wanted to keep Arenas but are nearly five million dollars over the league salary cap.
One day after Arenas signed the deal, the Warriors signed free agent point guard Speedy Claxton, a backup with the NBA champion San Antonio Spurs last season.
Arenas, 21, averaged 18.3 points a game, second on the team behind Antawn Jamison, plus 6.3 assists and 4.6 rebounds. He helped the Warriors improve 17 games to a 38-44 record.
“Gilbert is an outstanding young point guard and we feel fortunate to add a player of his caliber to our roster,” said Wizards new president of basketball operations Ernie Grunfeld, who got the job Jordan wanted after re-retiring.
“He was one of the marquee free agents this off season and we’re pleased to make him a part of a very exciting future here in Washington.”
Arenas joins a rebuilding team which features nine players that are 25 or younger, along with two-time All-Star Jerry Stackhouse.
The Wizards also feature Larry Hughes, whom Arenas replaced as Golden State’s starting point guard two years ago. Hughes signed a three-year deal for $15 million with Washington last year.
The Wizards saw firsthand what Arenas is capable of when he scored a career-high 41 points in a 113-107 victory here on March 23. “Gilbert will have an immediate impact on the growth of this team,” said new Wizards coach Eddie Jordan.
Lakers, Kings to Bring Curtain Down on Busy Preseason
The Los Angeles Lakers and the Sacramento Kings will once again meet in the final game of the NBA’s 116-game pre-season schedule announced on Thursday.
The Western Conference rivals played in the final preseason game last season and were involved in a bench-clearing brawl that resulted in several suspensions.
This year’s game between the two teams will take place on Oct. 24 in Las Vegas.
The Lakers open their exhibition schedule Oct. 7 against the Golden State Warriors in Honolulu and Los Angeles are expected to intensify this preseason in the wake of Kobe Bryant’s legal troubles and with new Lakers Karl Malone and Gary Payton on the floor.
The Dallas Mavericks and the Utah Jazz will open the preseason schedule on Oct. 5 in Mexico City in the first of several international games.
In the other international exhibitions, the Memphis Grizzlies play the NBA champions San Antonio Spurs in Paris on Oct. 8 and then line up against FC Barcelona at the Spanish team’s home court two days later.
