Taking all recent luck and franchise history into account, i sure hope i'm not reading about Gilbert signing a max deal in Portland to join Greg Oden to from some type of Shaq/Kobe combo. And if he stays, hopefully Gil getting paid doesn't ruin the teams chances of improving because of salary cap issues

Go, Wiz

If he wants the Wizards to win a title, Gilbert might want to sign a little less than the max so the team has more flexibility.

I guess what is so surprising about this is that Gil said just last year he was willing to take a pay cut so the Wiz could bring in players to help them go all the way. But maybe getting hurt changed his attitude. Don't understand why he made the statement at this time, though.

Re-signing your own players does not count the same against the salary cap as bringing in free agents or making trades. However much the Wiz pay Gilbert, it really won't affect their ability to sign other talent. In fact it will be easier to sign other marquee players if the Wiz retain Gilbert - who wants to play here without him? So relax.

Anyone got Jerry Buss' number?

Signing a max deal does inhibit a team from signing other highly paid players just ask Kobe or KG.

Don't these stories get passed through an editor. There are quite a few errors in this one that make it harder to follow than it should be.

I kind of knew that Gilbert would opt out. I remeber reading an article somewhere in which Gil had said that he had land in VA and that if he was signed here for a length of time that he was going to build a home there. With that being said, he is pretty much doing as D-Wade and Lebron did, thus getting him a maximum contract in terms of money and guranteeing that he wuold be here for longer than 3 years. If he signs an extension it would only be good I think for 3 seasons and it is possible that he could be traded,by then he would be getting close to 30. So, I hear him. I don't take this as a sign that he wants to leave the Wizards, it's more a sign of him taking care of himself and I "ain't" mad at him.

$100 million over 6 years is a little more than what Antawn is making now, so it wouldn't kill our ability to sign free agents.

"If he wants the Wizards to win a title, Gilbert might want to sign a little less than the max so the team has more flexibility."

This is no surprise to me, the NBA is a business and I would expect him to do no less. I mean it's the same thing with Jamison. If someone will give him a long term contract then I don't see him being here next year. Thing is no one is going to give him 20 mil either.

This is my concern going back to the pre-season.....

Eddie Jordan.

What do you think will happen if the Wiz tank it again and he gets fired at the end of the year?

I can just see it coming now. Then the Wiz go into the 08-09 season re-building yet again. That's why they should have canned his a$$ this year.

Don't tell me you don't see it coming George. :)

- Ray

reason #1 he'll never sign in portland is the lack of limelight. portland is not primetime enough for your man, Gil

The biggest limiting factor to how much money the Wizards have to acquire talent won't be Gilbert's future contract, but Abe Pollin's willingness to acquire and pay for championship talent.

Is Gilbert a 6-year, max contract player? For a couple of months this season it definately looked like it, but I think he'll need to show he can carry a team this upcoming season to seal the deal.

Remember when everyone thought Steve Francis was awesome? And Stephon Marbury was awsome? I want to see Arenas dominate this season.

Comments from Ernie Gunfield pertaining to Gilbert is that the Wizards organization seemed to expect Gilbert to opt out next season and they understand his decision. I got the impression that they were going to make him a franchise player if that is what he wants. This is what was said on Comcast sportsnet today.

Oh no Ray I expected it, I can't think there are too many people on here who didn't see it coming.
In light of his comments last year that Lisa referenced, it would be nice if he practiced what he preached and took a little less. Although if one of the other posters are right it looks like he can't because he wouldn't make that much more than he does now.
It just addds to the importance of this summer. This might be the last time for awhile that Wizards have the flexibility to really improve the roster (outside of MLE and the draft) and they need to make this one count.

The Wiz we be sold shortly and the new onwer(s) should expect to have a payroll of least 75 million for the Wiz to complete with the elite teams.

That's hilarious. Gilby said last season that he didn't want to sign a Kevin Garnett or Allen Iverson contract which ends up hamstringing the team where they won't be able to sign other free agents and win championships. Now, he's potentially reneging on his words by saying he'll opt out.

The funniest thing is that he said his injury, the birth of his second child, and being 1 year older really woke him up. I guess making 50 mill more over 3 years vs. making 100 mill over 6 years is the deciding factor on whether or not his grand kids will eat caviar or bread and water. It's like a page out of the Latrell Sprewell book. "My kids gotta eat!!!"

Don't get me wrong. If I were him, I'd do the same thing too, but I sure as heck wouldn't have fed the fans a bunch of bull about "not wanting a KG or AI contract b/c I want to win." I hope these recent actions or words of potential actions will wake people up to realize that a professional athlete is a professional athlete. The money is the bottom line for most of these people.

Money is both line for most of us period! That would include DCWoman88 too.

Jordan has got to be thinking about moving Gilbert to the 2 guard position; and they will be drafting or offering a free agent contract to a point guard. I see Jared Jordan or an even higher selection.

EG has got to draft towards building a solid team, not making Gil happy...the objectives may be different for each

As george stated, it's hardly a ssurprise that he'll opt out. Pretty much any player of similar age and status would do the same thing.

As for the whole idea that signing him to a max deal would prevent the Wiz from buliding a title team... nonsens. It's management's job to put together a winning club and to properly manage the team's finances under the rules of the salary cap and. The idea that signing a guy to max contract somehow inhibits a team from building a winner around him would come as a surprise to the Lakers, Spurs, and Heat.

I love our star player..we really need to pay him more money right?

2 babies and a bruised knee and his life is flashing before his eyes? Or was it the thought of playing for Eddie Jordan again a bit too challenging?

Gosh, 26 yrs old and only make 12 million dollars a year. Have 2 kids, 10 cars, several homes all over the country - east coast/west coast. Could somebody plese help me...I'm destitute!! I've injured my knee at 26 yrs of age. What shall I do, where shall I go? My chauffered limo can't pick me up - to my next video signing. Who will pick up my latest tee shirts? Help me Lord!! I'm desperate and destitute.
hmmmmmmmmm

Ernie..get this team some help please. No more re-building again. At the end of the yr Eddie said those on the court in playoffs were an essentially new team..
Are we looking at same next yr. Say it ain't so.

I love our star player..we really need to pay him more money right?

2 babies and a bruised knee and his life is flashing before his eyes? Or was it the thought of playing for Eddie Jordan again a bit too challenging?

Gosh, 26 yrs old and only make 12 million dollars a year. Have 2 kids, 10 cars, several homes all over the country - east coast/west coast. Could somebody plese help me...I'm destitute!! I've injured my knee at 26 yrs of age. What shall I do, where shall I go? My chauffered limo can't pick me up - to my next video signing. Who will pick up my latest tee shirts? Help me Lord!! I'm desperate and destitute.
hmmmmmmmmm

Ernie..get this team some help please. No more re-building again. At the end of the yr Eddie said those on the court in playoffs were an essentially new team..
Are we looking at same next yr. Say it ain't so.