Will the real Gilbert Arenas please step up?

November 21, 12:15 PMWashington Wizards ExaminerGeorge Panagakos

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Gilbert Arenas (right) and his wax counterpart
(AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

Gilbert Arenas recently broke headlines by suggesting a last place finish for the 1-8 Washington Wizards might prove helpful to the ailing team's future.  Is he ready to step up anytime soon?  At this point, we'll take his wax replica.

The two-time NBA All-Star took a trip to Madame Tussaud's wax museum yesterday to unveil a wax figure in his likeness.  After the event, Arenas explained how he didn't want Washington to suffer this year, and that a losing record would not be without a silver lining.  As an example, Arenas cited the case of Tim Duncan, All-Star forward/center of the San Antonio Spurs.

If this is one of those years where we don’t make the playoffs or we finish in last place … that’s what happened to San Antonio and that’s how they got Tim Duncan and look at them now."

Tim Duncan, drafted in 1997, has led San Antonio to 11 straight NBA Playoffs appearances including four NBA Championships (not discounting David "The Admiral" Robinson's contributions from 1997-2003).

However, does Washington really need a new franchise player the likes of a Tim Duncan, and should I even speculate as to whether or not there is something about Arenas' injury he isn't talking about?  He's been more than standing, and is nearly ready to step up to the court.

They (The Wizards Organization) said Jan. 1—there is no doubt that I will be good to go … play 40 minutes."

Okay, first thing is first:  Arenas does not want the Wizards to fall to last place, and he is more than eager to play.  But what if January becomes April, and what if April becomes a DNP for the rest of the year?

If you take a look the Washington Wizards' roster via ESPN's Trade Machine, you'll notice only Juan Dixon has less than two years on his contract.  If Washington can turn things around this season, and get everyone healthy, you're talking relatively the same lineup that has gotten the Wizards to the first round of the playoffs the last four years, plus a JaVale McGee and Juan Dixon combo of youth and experience.  

Besides, even without Arenas and Brendan Haywood, the Wizards have held leads in seven of their nine games thus far this season.  The problem, of course, has been holding those leads until the end of the fourth.  Can Washington put the anchor down and hold out until Arenas' return, and somehow dismantle the early thoughts of a long off-season for the team?

That long road of hope starts tonight, at home, as Washington hosts the Houston Rockets.  Like the Wizards, the Rockets have been riddled with injury.  The Wizards' Antonio Daniels and the Rockets' Yao Ming are both probable for tonight's match-up.

Tune in tonight at 7:00 p.m. ET on ESPN or Comcast SportsNet to watch the Washington Wizards defend homecourt against the Houston Rockets!