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Wizards owner keeping promise

With Jamison in fold, Arenas is next priority

By Mike Jones (Contact) | Wednesday, July 2, 2008

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From the start of the offseason, Washington Wizards owner Abe Pollin and team president Ernie Grunfeld made clear their intentions of re-signing both of their All-Star free agents - Antawn Jamison and Gilbert Arenas.

Tuesday afternoon Pollin and Grunfeld flanked Jamison at a news conference to announce the forward's four-year, $50 million extension that both sides agreed to Monday. Although frail - having to ride a motorized cart to the table and sit in a padded recliner - Pollin declared the Wizards had taken the first step toward keeping their promise to their fans and maintaining their championship aspirations.

"My goal is to win a championship," he said. "I know I'm a little old and a little sick. But I'll be around until we make the [gosh-darned] championship. I'm a little stubborn like that."

Three hours before the news conference, Pollin called Arenas, who was on layover in Toronto during a flight to China, and told the guard, "You're my guy, and I won't let you leave no matter what."

Pollin's promise came after the Wizards offered Arenas a max contract worth $127 million over six years during the early hours of Tuesday morning - right after the free agency period began just after midnight. About the same time, the Wizards told their other unrestricted free agent, backup guard Roger Mason Jr., that they intended to re-sign him after Arenas.

The Wizards' offer to Arenas was one of two max offers Arenas received Tuesday morning.

The Golden State Warriors - who unexpectedly lost point guard Baron Davis after he opted out of the final year of his contract worth $17.8 million - offered Arenas a five-year, $101 million deal, according to a source close to the Wizards guard.

Because Arenas is their free agent, the Wizards are permitted to offer him a six-year deal with a 10.5 percent increase of the deal that he opted out of last month. Opposing teams can offer him only five years.

Although the Wizards' offer is for an extra year and $26 million, the source said that isn't a deciding factor for Arenas, who missed 69 games last season while recovering from knee surgery.

But the Wizards' offer, according to the source, carried more weight with Arenas because the guard has emerged as a star during his time in the District.