Charges against Washington Wizards star Gilbert Arenas mean slimmer chances that he'll be back on the court soon. But how does the felony count affect the remainder of his six-year, $111 million contract?
If the team does try to void the contract, the NBA players association likely will fight that decision.
Even if Arenas were to plead guilty to a misdemeanor, the team could have grounds to void his contract because of a good citizenship and moral character clause, sports agent David Falk told News4's Dan Hellie.
"I think that if he's not convicted of a felony, that's the ground they will seek to terminate the contract under, and it will likely result in an arbitration," Falk said.
The circumstances could hardly be worse for Arenas. Playing for a team that changed its name from the Bullets during a recession a couple of years ahead of a new collective bargaining agreement in a city with a heightened sense of security ever since the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.
Whenever Arenas's indefinite suspension from the NBA does end, a team likely will sign Arenas, Falk said.
"There will always be a team that'll want to claim his talent," Falk said. "I don't think they'll pay him $111 million, but never forget that when the suspension ended for the player that choked his coach at Golden State, Latrell Sprewell, one of the first teams to put a claim for him was the Washington Bullets. So teams are always going to want a player of Gilbert's talent."
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But his actions of late will most certainly hurt his wallet.
