Arenas may return this weekend

WASHINGTON -- Gilbert Arenas signaled through various sources Monday that a return to the court is possible this weekend against the Detroit Pistons.

The Washington Wizards three-time All-Star, who hasn't played all season as he recovers from knee surgery, first sent a text message to Comcast SportsNet saying: "I'm playing Saturday against Detroit" and that he would subsequently play only in home games except for an April 8 road trip to Cleveland.

After the team's morning shootaround, Arenas was asked by a Washington Post reporter if the news was true.

"It's only true if I play on Saturday," he said.

Arenas then told The Washington Times by phone that playing Saturday is "the plan" — but isn't set in stone.

Somewhere in the middle was interim coach Ed Tapscott, who could only confirm that Arenas would not play Monday night against the Detroit Pistons.

As for Saturday?

"That's certainly a possibility, but not definitive yet," Tapscott said.

Tapscott said Arenas needs to get through some more practices before playing. The Wizards haven't practiced much lately because they've just completed a four-games-in-five-days road trip, but this week there are three off days during the current homestand to get some work in.

"I think he can do pretty much whatever we want now," Tapscott said. "The biggest problem is we haven't had very many practices, because we've been playing. So we will have at least two this week, so that'll give us additional opportunities to evaluate."

Arenas signed a six-year, $111 million contract last summer, but surgery on his left knee in September — his third in an 18-month span — has kept him sidelined. He began practicing full speed last month, but there was no urgency for him to return with the Wizards who are mired in last place in the Eastern Conference.