Washington Carries on Without Arenas – Wizards vs. Bulls

Arenas Slammed With Felony as Voided Contract Looms

In the latest installment of Gilbert Arenas Is An Idiot, the suspended point guard has been convicted of a felony but reached a plea agreement to prevent serious jail time. If Arenas hadn’t been able to reach a plea agreement who stood to face up to a five years in jail plus a reasonably hefty fine.

The real question for the NBA is what to do with his mammoth $111 million contract. There is a character clause in NBA contracts that allows teams to void deals based on felony charges, but it’s not something that is as easy to pull of as it sounds. Standing in the way of Washington’s ability to exterminate Arenas from their salary cap is a player’s union, Arenas himself and the fact that he reached a plea agreement.

Of course, Arenas doesn’t have much of a leg to stand on. Talent wise, he’s still one of the best players in the NBA, but under coach Flip Saunders, he has failed to produce the kind of returns his mega contract demand. Now the Wizards are trying to deal anchor Antawn Jamison though most teams are targeting Caron Butler as a trade target.

Chicago -5.5 vs Washington >> Join to Bet Now

The next move for Washington will be travelling to Chicago tonight to take on the Bulls. The Wizards have sunk to just 1-4 SU/ATS in their last five games, and travel to Chicago to take on the Bulls on a three-game winning streak. With Jamison and Butler entrenched in trade rumors, the Arenas situation hanging over the locker room and Flip Saunders steering this burning plane in to a mountain, the Washington Wizards are officially a stay-away.

In fact, I’d be playing the Bulls -5.5 so hard tonight if I didn’t want to drink my week away on a Friday night. Arenas on the court wasn’t productive at all. Off the court, he’s decimating a team that has so much potential.

Chicago is coming off a stunning upset of the Celtics, who played without Kevin Garnett. It snapped a serious losing skid against the C’s and has lifted the Bulls to a three wins in a row. It also elevated Chicago to a dangerous home team, as they’ve gone 5-1 SU/ATS in their last 6 games in the United Center.

Washington Wizards vs. Chicago Bulls

Friday, January 15th
United Center, Chicago —8:00pm EST

NBA Betting Line: Chicago -5.5 (198.5)

The Wizards’ lines are hard to digest simply because you don’t know if this team is going to blow up on the scoreboard or revert in to the present day mess that we’re all familiar with. The Wizards are one of the worst rebounding teams in the league, and Chicago’s monstrous efforts on the boards will take away the brunt of second chances the Wizards try to get on Friday night basketball betting.

Second chances are what the Wizards need the most these days. A second chance from Arenas’s contract and a second chance at becoming a contender. For the Wiz, that reality is suddenly a distant dream. The Bulls, however, are living in the moment.

Furious Free Pick: Chicago -5.5 (UNDER)