Yesterday, right before the big 'win or go home' game 5 in Cleveland, Agent Zero announced to the media - not to the Coach - that he was done for the season, as in done done.  His knee just wasn't up to it.  OK... so now what?  Gil has said all along that he'll opt out of his contract after this season, become a free agent, and go after 'max' dollars from the Wizards or anybody else out there.  But that was before he had two knee surgeries, and before he stopped being 'the old Gil.'  Common sense says, "He couldn't possibly opt out now could he?"  After all, his stock couldn't really be much lower - could it?  Surely, he'll change his mind and not opt out, playing one more season for the Wizards for $12-mil or whatever the number is. 

Not so fast. 

Gil told our Greg Toland last night in the locker room that yes, he still plans to opt out.  He apparently still wants to test the free-agent waters even though his going rate seems to be sinking with every injury-slash-comeback-slash-try again, etc.,... And get this, I hear the Wizards are prepared to make him a max deal to stay.  Crazy, huh?  I mean - as great as Gil was pre-injuries (and very possibly could be again), it's pretty obvious that the Wizards play better without him.  Sounds sacrilegious I know, but they're better without their best player.  A year and half ago, you could actually debate which player you'd rather have - Gil or Kobe. Now, that question is preposterous.  It is not surprising to see what a toll a couple unlucky knee injuries and thwarted comeback attempts can take on a player's perceived value... but it is shocking to think that he still wants out, and better yet, that the Wizards are prepared to pay top dollar to keep him.  We shall see.