Washington Wizards guard Gilbert Arenas, self-proclaimed Agent Zero, has found two more futile operatives in the Wizards organization. Joining him are Agent 9, Antawn Jamison, and Agent 12, Caron Butler. The numbers represent each player’s point totals in Washington’s 116-86 blowout loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers last night. Arenas was no star, either, going 2-for-10 from the floor and scoring seven points.
 
LeBron James needed no extra motivation, but got it from Arenas, who called the Cavs “beatable” and DeShawn Stevenson, who called James “overrated.” He outscored the Wizards’ star trio 30-28 on his own on Monday night and lifted the Cavs to a commanding 2-0 series lead. Read more »

13-34.

That was the Memphis Grizzlies’ record with Pau Gasol this season. And following a 22-60 record a year ago, it was becoming painfully obvious that the Grizzlies needed to start over. Many Memphis fans wanted management to keep the former All-Star and build around him, but the team had other plans.

On February 1, the Grizzlies pulled off a stunning trade with the Los Angeles Lakers, sending Gasol to L.A. for Kwame Brown, Javaris Crittenton and two first-round draft picks. On paper, the trade looked incredibly lopsided, and that has proved to be the case. The Grizzlies finished the season with nine wins in their last 35 games, while the Lakers flourished and earned the top seed in the Western Conference playoffs. Read more »