Arenas, Jamison package deal for Wizards

May 8, 2008 - 7:43 AM WASHINGTON (Ticker) -- Gilbert Arenas isn't returning to the Washington Wizards next season without Antawn Jamison.

Arenas, who can opt out of his current contract with the Wizards this offseason, stated in his NBA.com blog on Wednesday that he and Jamison are a package deal yet again.

"If he doesn't come back, I'm not coming back," Arenas said in the blog. "If Antawn is not back, then there's no point in me coming back because he's part of my success, too."

Arenas, who missed a majority of the season while recovering from surgery on his left knee, praised his teammate for his outside shooting and his ability to avoid the double-team.

"When you're doing pick-and-roll with a player like him, they can't double you, they can't trap you because you have a pick-and-pop guy who can shoot the three at your four position," he said. "My success is because of him, too."

The 26-year-old Arenas made similar comments to the Washington Post near the end of March and even went so far as to suggest taking a pay cut to keep Jamison on the team.

"I want to see Antawn taken care of first and then, I'll take a pay cut to keep the team intact," Arenas told the newspaper.

Arenas has discussed the situation with Jamison but will let the All-Star forward take his time to make his own decision.

"We talked about it before, but I'm going to let him be his own man," Arenas said in the blog. "At the end of the season, people don't like the way the season ends and everyone is a little heated, so you know you have to give time for everybody and let everybody breathe first before you start talking about two months from now."

Jamison averaged 21.4 points and 10.2 rebounds per game and finished tied for eighth in the NBA with 44 double-doubles this season.