Gilbert Arenas is out, the Mavs deal with Josh Howard, and who wants Steph and Tinsley?
Gilbert Arenas (photo. Tim Tadder)Coming off three knee surgeries in two years, at what point should we be legitimately worried about Gilbert Arenas‘ future? In the grand scheme of things, if in fact Gil’s self-declared December comeback date from this latest (supposedly minor) procedure is on-point, missing about 15 early-season games when you’re working on a six-year, $111 million contract isn’t that big of a deal. But considering all that’s gone down since Arenas suffered that initial knee injury in the latter part of the ’07 regular season (thanks, Gerald Wallace), the more time he misses on the court, the more you wonder if he’s ever going to get back to the Agent Zero we saw lighting up the League for 50- and 60-point games, dropping 30 a night at his peak. Not to mention that a Wizards team source was quoted yesterday as saying the proposed December return date was “generous.” We don’t want to be overly negative, but we’ve seen this before from Grant Hill, Penny Hardaway and others … For the time being, though, let’s be optimistic and go best-case scenario, that Gilbert just missed a small portion of the season. Do the Wizards need to sign another point guard to fill the gap or roll with Antonio Daniels and Dee Brown? If they want, there are a couple of members of the Talented New York City Point Guards That Nobody Seems To Want Club available in Stephon Marbury and Jamaal Tinsley. Not long after Donnie Walsh claimed Steph would be given a “clean slate” — implying that he’d have a chance to keep his job from Chris Duhon‘s clutches — reports out of NY are now saying Steph might be waived before the season starts. The Pacers, meanwhile, made it very clear they don’t want Tinsley back (they’ve even stopped selling #11 jerseys at the team store), but all they accomplished by telling the world they’d only trade Tinsley and wouldn’t waive him was ensure that they’ll get low-balled in every offer. If you had a choice between Marbury or Tinsley at a more reasonable, market-value price, who would you rather have on your team? … Aside from the Wizards, the Heat and Warriors could be interested in taking on a talented/trouble PG. The Warriors might be content, though. Marcus Williams has reportedly been looking good in offseason workouts, showing up in shape and everything … Looks like the mainstream media caught on to the Josh Howard story yesterday, but the Mavs say they’re already taking care of it. Something about “advanced communication-skills training,” which is probably a fancy way of coaching Josh in the art of, “Shut the f*** up the next time someone pulls out their camera phone.” … Continuing with our ceiling-vs.-basement NBA season previews, yesterday we looked at the Minnesota Timberwolves. Al Jefferson, Randy Foye and Co. will be better than they were a year ago — especially with a healthy Foye, some rebounding help from Kevin Love and some scoring punch from Mike Miller and Rashad McCants — but it might not translate into a move up the Northwest Division standings, where the Jazz, Nuggets and Blazers stand in their way … Remember those old “In Living Color” skits where Jim Carrey would play the guy who acted a fool on-camera behind a TV news reporter? These two clowns have taken things to another level … We’re out like Tinsley jerseys …
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September 18th, 2008 at 5:42 am
smity far away says:
i think it may be time to start worrying about arenas. i was really expectin dude to be ready to hush all the doubters at the start of this year and throughout the seasnon. he still may be able to do that when he comes back but…would have been better for him and his team to be healthy together from jump. would have been better for me if i could sleep too…acceptance…
September 18th, 2008 at 5:42 am
joe says:
josh should grow up
September 18th, 2008 at 5:45 am
ya boy says:
“Advanced communication-skills training” lmao.
He needs ‘discrete plant mamagement training’ AKA when and how much riffa you can safely consume before endangering you job classes.
I’d take tinseley,i’ve seen marbury in action.
He’s the hot chick nobody wants to date.And after a week out with her..you realize why.
she’s a crazy,loopy,homicidal,fluck with an angel face that makes you want to projectile vomit from all the bad memories .
September 18th, 2008 at 5:55 am
solomon says:
there should be an oscar or something for the news cameo of those freakin’ funny dudes…
September 18th, 2008 at 6:13 am
Coop says:
I’d take Starbury if I had to pick between him and Tinsley; Marbury is less injury-prone and more talented. I’d take him on for the vets min in Miami if the season started badly.
September 18th, 2008 at 6:21 am
English Off The Glass says:
yo can we PLEASE not turn this into another Josh Howard black on white thing? im sick of that shit. Id rather we started talkin about Lebron and Brooklyn again.
I gotta say i thort Marbury was a bit of a Joke but after reading that post on him the other day, im trying to look at him in a different light. After i saw that interview where he was HIIIIIGH as a mufugga (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zWxgbyYrT5A) i couldnt take him serious. Ill keep more of an eye on him this year but for a backup guard id take tinsley.
September 18th, 2008 at 6:31 am
ya boy says:
And that talent my friend is what makes me want to hurt the guy.He doesn’t improve a team period.No matter how healthy he stays.
September 18th, 2008 at 6:35 am
Coop says:
Right. But you could say the same for Tinsley.
September 18th, 2008 at 6:35 am
sans says:
I would take Starbury without the $20M price tag. Way before Tinsley. At least Star enjoys passing after breaking the d.
Josh needs to take that week of “shut the fuck up” koolaid with 3 cups of sugar, come out saying nothing to no one. How long until he becomes Smokey to everyone? “smokey for three”…
And, why is it that I know 6 black dudes that go by Smokey? There have to be more nicknames out there…
September 18th, 2008 at 6:37 am
alf (from melmak) says:
just like the song says — its been a long time coming and its good to be back. man, i do miss this site. work is definitely a four letter word.
anyway, am worried about agent 0. dime is right on the money with the comparisons to penny and grant hill. if ever he looses a step or two, there is always the philippines where he was recently welcomed like a rock god.
the t’wolves would be fine this year. they will make noise. there is definite talent in that team. but the jazz will rule the division hands down. if i go out on a limb, utah might even make it all the way to the nba finals. this just might be their year.
am out like two pgs with skills and very bad attitudes.
September 18th, 2008 at 6:39 am
sans says:
no meal allowance bets?
September 18th, 2008 at 6:55 am
ya boy says:
im just saying tha pacers wasn’t shyt to begin with.tinsley had to drag the carcass that was JO,Maquios daniels and co into something cohesive.only real hooper in that squad was granger and dunleavy.not that steph had much to work with but its a heckuva lot more than that.Don’t PG’s bring out the best in others.curry,Zbo,jones,malik rose et al.Im just saying..
but maybe my problem is that i’m choosin between 2 douchebags.
September 18th, 2008 at 7:03 am
miamiVIS3 says:
I’ll take tinsley
and these jersey sales conspiracies are funny to me because they still sell Shaq jerseys here.
September 18th, 2008 at 7:07 am
solomon says:
i’d take starbury… he’s tougher… has less mug shots… more athletic… has still some semblance of “desire” in him…
we’re out like the abuser…
September 18th, 2008 at 7:12 am
yoda says:
they’ve even stopped selling #11 jerseys at the team store
anyone bough his jersey? and id rather have marbury then tinsley. at least, hes healthy (not counting that foot surgery) and there is chane he would listen good coach.
September 18th, 2008 at 7:14 am
Three Stacks says:
I don’t really get why people keep bringing up Josh Howard smoking weed, as if that was some kind of explanation for the things he does and says. I’m pretty sure one’s got nothing to do w/ the other.
More than anything else, what worries me about Gil is that he seems the type that’d be perfectly satisfied kicking back and playing XBox if his injuries become constant problem, especially with 100+ million coming his way.
I’d rather have someone like Steve Blake running my team than either Tinsley or Marbury.
September 18th, 2008 at 7:23 am
ya boy says:
less mugshots..lol.this is what it’s come to.We didn’t even need stern to fluck this up.maan.
September 18th, 2008 at 7:39 am
rodnets says:
Walter “Fabio” Herrmann had 20-9 in the Wiz Bobcats game
September 18th, 2008 at 7:53 am
Smitty313 says:
Agent Zero might be done. And why our they finding out now that his knee needs to be cleaned out. I don’t think they are telling us the whole truth. I hope he’s not the new Penny, or G. Hill.
September 18th, 2008 at 8:34 am
bsteezy3 says:
smity-far-away: I agree with you. I think it may be time to start to worry about Gilbert. Hopefully, he will relax and wait until he’s fully recovered. What I fear is for him to do like the playoffs, and kinda rush back since he wants to help the team, but ultimately it hurts himself.
As far as Josh Howard goes, I’m not gonna try to force anyone to sing the National Anthem, but damn. Don’t say that kinda stuff on someone’s camphone! Everything you say (as a celebrity) will be under a microscope. But even worse, he just gave all the haters of the “hip-hop generation” more ammunition… Well said, DIME–Josh needs to Shut da F up! (at least when he’s on camera!)
September 18th, 2008 at 8:38 am
MJ3008 says:
“Those Dudes” are Richard and Sal from the Howard Stern show. Funny as all hell. But that scene was totally tame for those two.
Ever played a game called “What’s hidden in my pouch?” They have. And can you imagine what the “pouch” is? For god’s sake, I hope not
Oh and Richard once pissed himself at a concert because he “Didn’t want to miss the next song”
Is there any song you would go and piss yourself for?
September 18th, 2008 at 9:03 am
justice says:
Tinsley or Steph tough choice depends on my team needs,Steph won’t get into any legal trouble and that’s a plus but jamal is more of a pure point guard imo..but steph is the better volume shooter and he sets up his teammates better because he is a slasher..it depends on the team..if im miami i go with tinsley…if im the wizards or warriors id take steph cause i need buckets from my primary ballhandler…
September 18th, 2008 at 9:23 am
Atom says:
Marbury has to be one of the last guys I would ever want on my team. I dont care about his skill level. He is an anchor and will sink your ship with his attitude and craziness. Tinsley can at least get other people buckets and run an offense. I can guarantee a Marbury led team will lose more games than the same team with Starbury and his “20 dimes and 15 assist” averages.
September 18th, 2008 at 9:26 am
Atom says:
My bad, I meant: “than the same team WITHOUT Starbury and his “20 dimes and 15 assist” averages.”
September 18th, 2008 at 9:36 am
karizmatic says:
Anyone in their right mind should have known Arenas wasn’t coming back 100% from that knee injury after he couldn’t get back last season TWICE, it was dumb of the Wizards to pay him 111 million, but they aren’t interested in winning, only attracting fans with the antics of their players, going to the playoffs and losing to the Cavs in the first round is good enough for them as long as the money keeps rolling in. If I was GM I wouldn’t have signed him and he could have taken Antawn Jamison with him. They could have been in the running for Elton Brand. If I need a point guard I take Tinsley over Marbury, Tinsley had a decent season before the trouble last year, and Marbury hasn’t had a good season in a couple of years.
September 18th, 2008 at 9:56 am
smity far away says:
i think that as Dime reported a little bit ago (i think) that marbury having a little chip (associated with feeling wronged by people writing him off) on his shoulder should help him elevate his game (his level of play) and prove his worth…
i think marbury is more versatile than tinsely, meaning he could run any system (up-tempo or half-court) but i don’t know if tinsley can run an up-tempo offense. but maybe he can. and also, in my opinion, marbury is a better defender than tinsley is…
September 18th, 2008 at 9:56 am
alf (from melmak) says:
@sans
no meal allowance bets this time. its almost the weekend and i want to have some cash for a movie date and one great evening.
September 18th, 2008 at 10:11 am
schoops says:
I’d take Steph any day over Tinsley. Steph’s definately more talented, maybe not a winner, but Tinsley isn’t exactly pulling in the rings like Russell back in the day.
And the best part is you can always trade Steph and guarentee that your team will be better next year (it’s happened each time he was traded).
Knee surgery after basically not playing and have surgery… not a good sign.
September 18th, 2008 at 10:33 am
that's whats up says:
Steph, definitely. He may be an asshole, but I watched almost every knick game and he always gave a full effort. Even if that effort revolved around chasing the ball down, dribbling down the court and jacking up a terrible shot……he at least went after his rebound (which is more than most do).
If Steph could ever pull his head out of his vagina and start dishing to his teammates he could be a 15/10 a night guy. That’s all-star numbers.
September 18th, 2008 at 10:51 am
JDig says:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nUWudqCfnL0
September 18th, 2008 at 11:01 am
Suciniac says:
Howard needs to take Basic communication skills course cuz Advanced maybe too much for him.
Choosing between Tinsley and Marbury would be like choosing between Bush and Gore.Bush of course would be Marbury because he has more charisma even though he makes a fool of himself non stop.
September 18th, 2008 at 11:14 am
Kudabeen says:
Speaking of Jim Carrey. I was reading an email and someone reffered to John McCain as “Fire Marshall Bill”! I damn near fell out of my chair at the office…LMAO…
I’d take Steph. If he plays for a strong coach who has the total respect in the locker room (Byron Scott, Pat Riley (oh never mind), etc.
If the Knicks are foolish enough to buy Marbury out Their are two teams that I think should be considered as perspective situations to pick him up…Lakers and the Nuggets…Both Teams could use a him. Nuggets have been looking for a bigger PG to play with Iverson…viola!!
May not happen, but I wouldn’t be surprised if it did…
September 18th, 2008 at 12:00 pm
steven says:
AI, Melo, and Marbury on the court at the same time? That’s definitely the making of a bad reality show- for Iverson’s sake- I hope Marbury never becomes a Nugget. I’m of the belief that Marbury has little passion and diminished skills at this point in his career. But with that said I’d never take Tinsley- at least Marbury seriously used to be one of the best pg in the NBA.
September 18th, 2008 at 12:10 pm
P_Dizzle says:
LOL at the Wizards. Arenas just punk’d y’all!
September 18th, 2008 at 3:10 pm
DT says:
Three Stacks said:
“More than anything else, what worries me about Gil is that he seems the type that’d be perfectly satisfied kicking back and playing XBox if his injuries become constant problem, especially with 100+ million coming his way.”
As a Die Hard Wiz Fan, that statement could not be further from the truth. Gilbert’s whole life is basketball (He plays video games so much b/c he has no life other then ball, see daily 3AM gym sessions). He would be miserable if he can’t come back. Proving doubters wrong is what he lives for. As a Wiz supporter I’m going to be optimistic and think Gil is hearing all the talk of how he might be done, and will prove all the doubters wrong, again. While this procedure was a set back, it was the least invasive of all Knee procedures. Truthfully, I can’t say I’m not worried though. It’s just one fans wishful thinking….
September 19th, 2008 at 1:55 pm
smokez4Dayz says:
The ny times had no source or foundation for making that statement. No one from the Knicks have said that. Marbury is in LA working out. The Knicks that are in the Facility are the ones the Newspaper saw, Marbury isn’t going anywhere