With Gilbert Arenas now out for atleast three months after undergoing two surgeries (including microfracture on a non-weight bearing bone) on Wendnesday, the Wizards look to haunted by the injury bug again, turning their season - which was probaly considered to be a surefire trip to the playoffs at least by many - into an enigma.

Being in and out of the lineup while getting liquid from his knee drained constantly, Arenas was already far from being his dominant self he showed before suffering his initial injury late last season, struggeling with his shooting percentage and lacking his natural lateral mobility.

With the better one of the Wizards Centre pairing (Etan Thomas) already out for at least the season (heart surgery) and 7' 0 rookie Center Olikiy Pecherov recovering from a broken ankle, it is hard to judge where this season will end for the Wizards. When Arenas comes back, after not having been completely back from his first injury while going down again, will it be enough for a playoff-run? Is the Wizard's roster with Antwan Jamison (who had fantastic playoffs last year) and Caron Butler strong enough to keep the Wizards competitive until Agent Zero returns?

In my opinion and as hinted by the playoff-ousting of last year, one of the three main scoring options in Eddie Jordan's Princeton offence isn't enough to overcome the gaping defensive holes this team has. Two of 'em might be enough to at least make the playoffs in the still wide open East...as long as one of them is Gilbert Arenas. But the way things are now and considering that other players are also missing time, I believe that their season is probably done now.

But I am also wondering how this might affect Arenas' vow to opt out of his contract by the end of the season. When message was that he would return well healed and poised to proove that leaving him out of Team USA again for the Panamerica Games was a big, big mistake, I had him as my dark horse MVP candidate and as a sure bet to win the scoring title. I highly doubt that this additional injury would seriously prevent him to find someone offering big money to him, but maybe the list of possible suitors might become a little shorter...if he makes his vow reality. But as far as I understood it, he was fine to resign with Washington (unde different conditions) anyways, so I would assume this makes it even more probable, he'll resign with the Wizards.

What do you think?

---

For more information on the topic, check out:
Coverage by ESPN.com
Coverage by SI.com
Coverage by Yahoo sports
Agent Zero's Blog on NBA.com

Obviously, Caron Butler wasted no time in proving doubters like me wrong, burning the 'Cats for 39 Pts in double OT with Janision joining the fun while dropping 27 and 12 Rebs on Charlotte.

Nonetheless, I'll stick with my opinion that with Arenas out for so long after not eving being completely back to his old self before going down again and probably needing more time than the expected 3 Months to find back to his old form, the best that this Washington squad is an early playoff exit in the first round. But one should never underestimate the willpower of Arenas...maybe he can come back quickly as expected, find his way back into the team and into his shot and put them back on the upper echelon of Eastern Conference teams...which should not be too hard to accomplish.

That's why I asked: What do you think?

Washington won't make the players. This year there are two more teams who will take spots (The Celtics and the Magic.) That means teams from last year won't make it (probably the Heat and the Wizards. I think the Bulls will rebound.)

Butler is a stud and Jamison is very steady, but I don't think those two guys alone are enough.

Who knows what will happen with Arenas's opt-out. He might not do it now because teams could be hesitant to pay him due to this injury. But Gilbert is so unpredictable that who knows what he will do.

Good posts.