Gilbert Arenas is back in the NBA, officially signing Tuesday with the Memphis Grizzlies.
Released under the amnesty clause in December – and still due more than $60 million from the Orlando Magic – Arenas worked out for the Grizzlies on Monday. The Memphis Commercial-Appeal reported that Arenas appeared slender and shot the ball well during the workout.
The Grizzlies could use Arenas’ shooting ability as they are next to last in the NBA with 3.8 3-pointers per game. Arenas also can play point guard, which would help Memphis spell Mike Conley with someone other than rookies Josh Selby and Jeremy Pargo.
What the Grizzlies can’t use is any of Arenas’ past goofball behavior, ranging from silly posts on his Twitter account to bringing guns to the locker room, which got him suspended by the NBA for the bulk of the 2009-10 season.
Memphis is in Sacramento for the start of a four-game road trip Tuesday. Arenas is expected to join the Grizzlies on Wednesday in Portland, according to the Commercial Appeal.
The Grizzlies (25-18) have withstood several injuries to key players this season and are one-half game behind the fourth-place Los Angeles Clippers in the Western Conference standings.
A three-time All-Star, Arenas has averaged 21.2 points and 5.4 assists in 10 seasons with Golden State, Washington and Orlando. However, he had a series of knee injuries while with the Wizards that robbed him of some of his explosiveness.