Owner, Arenas Believe a Title is Near <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>Gilbert Arenas has been the face of the Washington Wizards franchise for several seasons. But the moment he signed his name to a six-year, $111 million contract on July 12, he became a franchise player. The difference is that Arenas, who is entering his eighth NBA season and sixth with the Wizards, not only will be asked to put up big numbers, hit game-winning shots and sell tickets, he also will be expected to carry owner Abe Pollin's team to its first NBA championship since Wes Unseld led the Bullets to the title in 1978. "Before negotiations even began, I talked to Gilbert on the phone and I said: 'Gilbert, you will never, ever wear a jersey other than the Wizards. Never,' " Pollin said. "So I'm not a very good negotiator, but I know talent and I know what Gilbert can do. So I told him, 'Gilbert, we're going to pay you a lot of money and all you have to do is win a championship.'" That's a daunting expectation but not altogether unwarranted considering that Pollin now is committed to paying around $211 million to Arenas, Antawn Jamison and Caron Butler. They have formed one of the league's highest-scoring trios over the past three seasons, but also have failed to get the Wizards out of the first round of the playoffs during that span. It is Pollin's belief, and one that is shared by team president Ernie Grunfeld, that the Wizards have what it takes to make a deep playoff run if Arenas, Butler and Jamison remain healthy. Arenas believes it as well, which is why he accepted $16 million less than the Wizards originally offered. He wanted to give Pollin and Grunfeld financial flexibility to add pieces to the roster in the next few seasons. "We're going to put a banner up there, a championship banner," said Arenas, who continues to rehabilitate his left knee and expects to resume full-scale basketball workouts on Aug. 1. "We're going to do it for Mr. Pollin. That's what kind of talent, that's what kind of team and what kind of belief we have."</div>
