Will Wall replace Arenas?

WASHINGTON, D. C. – With controversial star Gilbert Arenas’ future up in the air, Washington coach Flip Saunders is expected to lean on first overall draft pick John Wall to take charge of the Wizards backcourt in the NBA next season.

Arenas, 28, was suspended last January for bringing firearms to the Wizards’ lockerroom and later sentenced to two years probation for the crime. An apology he issued in the Washington Post couldn’t control the damage to his reputation. A month ago, a survey by E-Poll Market Research revealed Arenas to be one of the most disliked persons in sports.

Once hailed as the player who rose from “zero to hero,” Arenas may have worn out his welcome in the US capital. How the Wizards management will act on his situation is a subject of much speculation. In July 2008, Arenas inked a $111 million six-year renewal with the Wizards but while it couldn’t be confirmed, the contract may contain an out-clause for misconduct.

There is no doubt Arenas is an extremely talented basketball player. He’s a three-time NBA All-Star and was once named Most Improved Player. Arenas has averaged over 20 points in four of his nine NBA seasons. But in the last three campaigns, he played in only 47 games, sitting out 199 because of injuries and the recent suspension.

By the way, Arenas will no longer don No. 0 – he initially thought of wearing No. 6 but probably because LeBron James will use it with Miami next season, changed to No. 9.

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Wall’s arrival could signal a changing of the guard by Saunders. Aside from Wall, Saunders is bringing in the Chicago Bulls’ all-time leading three-point scorer Kirk Hinrich who played for the bronze medal US squad at the 2006 World Championships in Saitama. Hinrich has played seven years with the Bulls and with Derrick Rose’s emergence as a legitimate superstar, is now an expendable commodity in Chicago .

Other guards in Saunders’ lineup are free agents Earl Boykins, Randy Foye, Cedric Jackson, Shaun Livingston and Quintin Ross plus Nick Young. Clearly, he has a lot of reshuffling to do.

In the frontcourt, Saunders began to shore up by obtaining China ‘s Yi Jianlian from the New Jersey Nets. He also traded for 6-7, 240-pound Trevor Booker of Clemson, 7-foot, 235-pound Hamady Ndiaye of Rutgers and 6-9, 265-pound Kevin Seraphin of the French league, all rookies. Saunders will still decide on the fate of free agents Josh Howard, Mike Miller, Fabricio Oberto, James Singleton and Cartier Martin.

There is talk that Saunders will try to recruit ex-Atlanta wing Josh Childress from the Greek league, Rasual Butler, Ryan Gomes and Travis Outlaw.

This past season was tumultuous for the Wizards who went through major roster changes with the departure of DeShawn Stevenson, Caron Butler, Brendan Haywood and Antwan Jamison. The adjustments went for naught as Washington posted a disappointing 26-56 record, missing its second straight playoffs. The Wizards have qualified in only six playoffs the last 23 seasons. Not even Michael Jordan’s comeback in a Washington uniform in 2001-02 and 2002-03 could propel the Wizards into the playoffs.

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Wall, 19, is a 6-4 point guard who averaged 16.6 points, 4.3 rebounds, 6.5 assists and 1.9 steals as a rookie with the University of Kentucky last season.

Asked about the possibility of teaming up with Arenas, Wall said it’s no problem. “Arenas would be the two-guard,” he said, quoted by Elena Bergeron of ESPN Magazine. “That’s pretty much a guarantee but we’ll see how everything works from there.” Wall’s father died of liver cancer when he was only nine and promised to someday earn a college degree.

Washington forward Andray Blatche said, “There are so many things to like about him. He’s strong, fast, smart and he’s a leader. He’s just a pure talent. We’ve been talking about him all year. We’re excited. He’ll be an immediate impact type of player. He’s just that good.”

Around the Wizards’ home stadium, there are banners announcing Wall’s arrival. He’s been widely described as a “game changer” by Washington publicists.

Boston guard Rajon Rondo, another Kentucky product, said Wall will be a hit in the NBA. Rose agreed. Both Rondo and Rose will oppose Wall in the Eastern Conference.

“People say I play like Jamal Crawford and Dwyane Wade but I also like to pattern my game after Chris Paul and Derrick Rose,” said Wall, quoted by Aron Phillips in Dime Magazine. “They’re all great guards. I’d try to pattern my game after LeBron (James) but that ain’t happening.”

Washington won its only NBA title in 1978 with stars like Wes Unseld and Elvin Hayes. Now, Saunders is hoping to build another championship-caliber team around Wall.