Wizards’ Bad-News Season Gets A Little Light
March 26th, 2010- By Daniel James
It’s been a rough year for the Washington Wizards, to say the least.
Beloved longtime owner Abe Pollin passed away in November, which left the future of the franchise up in the air. Then the current season went up in smoke when star guard Gilbert Arenas and teammate Javaris Crittenton engaged in a locker-room standoff complete with live firearms and all.
Arenas was suspended indefinitely in January and Friday was sentenced to probation, a rather light punishment considering he could’ve faced five years in prison.
“Guns are not something to be played around with,” Paul Helmke, president of the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence, told the Associated Press. “It’s the second time he’s violated a gun law … and I think he needs to pay the penalty.”
On the bright side, the club’s prospective buyer Ted Leonsis took a major step forward this week in his bid to acquire the team. Leonsis reached an agreement with Pollin’s estate to value the Wizards franchise and the Verizon Center at about $550 million. The agreement means significant talks can now talk place that will lead to the sale being finalized, though it might take several weeks.
“The financial terms are tentatively agreed to,” a negotiator for the Pollin estate told the Washington Post. “In every complex legal agreement, there are significant non-financial terms. The parties are negotiating those in good faith. I certainly hope we will cross the finish line. But no guarantees.”
After a deal is finalized, the NBA‘s owners must vote to approve the sale and a few other steps must be taken to transfer ownership officially. But for now, Wizards fans can be happy their team is moving forward despite a 21-49 record.
Of course, such behind-the-scenes matters probably don’t make up for the fact that their team is 10-point underdogs tonight against the Bobcats (37-34) on Online Sportsbooks. The double-digit spread against a mediocre team like the Bobcats reflects just how little oddsmakers think of the Arenas-less Wizards.
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