Saunders says Arenas quick again after surgery

Saunders says Arenas quick again after surgery

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WASHINGTON -- According to new Washington Wizards coach Flip Saunders, Gilbert Arenaslooks good in the weight room and on a basketball court.

And that's good news for the Wizards. Because for all of Washington's offseason changes -- center-forward Fabricio Oberto, introduced at a news conference Wednesday, should be the final addition -- whatever turnaround will be made from last season's 19-win disaster figures to hinge on Arenas' health and production.

"There's no question, a player of his talent, when he's playing, he puts us from a team that's competing for the playoffs to a team that's an elite team in the playoffs. When you walk in the gym right now, you wouldn't think that he's hurt," Saunders said. "If he's at that ability when our season starts, we're going to be an elite team in this league."

Coming off three knee operations in 1½ years, Arenas played in only two games late last season.

If that team can find a way to stay healthy, I look for them to make a ton of noise.