People might think some picks and trades this round were crazy...
but none crazier than this!

On a literal level.
we knew this would be a pick that gets some flack -- esp. given how much (StartOrien?) got for him last year.
He're my rationale.... (not that this stuff ever really changes anyone's mind)......
YES we plan a Westbrook-Arenas backcourt, with Westbrook drawing the tougher defensive assignment each game and Arenas working off the ball on offense (and offensively anchoring the 2nd unit like Ray Allen often does when the Celtic starters go out)
And YES last year there were legit questions if he'd ever be the same player again after missing essentially 2 full seasons. But in 37 games with the Wizards he averaged 22.6 pts, 4.2 reb, 7.2 ast, 1.3 stl, 2.0 3pt in 36 min/gm. So *those* questions are answered in my mind completely.
They're replaced with questions of if he's a loon, a team cancer, a chucker, etc.
As Roy mentioned, we're banking on surrounding Arenas with quality guys (Deng, Westbrook, Camby, Millsap) to keep Gil in line.
This is Westbrook & Deng's team but Arenas will have the offensive green light he wants/needs. Gilbert's not a leader, but we're not asking him to be (which the Wizards were...). We're asking him to be the Hibachi, the deadly offensive, uh, weapon that everyone on this board knows he is.
And, we fully expect Arenas (on the Wiz, on the CBD Nuggets) to be in full "forget you!" mode this season with so much to prove & a chip on both shoulders.
Y'all know that I put a high priority on how players fit, "chemistry", etc. in the CB Draft.... I agonized over this pick. But felt like we had the right kind of guys around him. It's a gamble but at 4.28 if can add a 22 ppg scorer you have to take that chance.