Caron Butler eliminated soda from his diet during the offseason in an attempt to get into better shape.

"I cut out soda this summer," said Butler.  "I stopped drinking soda April 8th, I have been away from soda basically the whole summer. No Mountain Dew, no grape soda, just water and juices. I got a nice juicer and I?ve been mixing a whole lot of things in there and my body is feeling a lot better from not drinking the soda and sticking with just the juices."

Wizards center Brendan Haywood has done some work in the media and understands some of the job's pitfalls.

"Being in the media, it's not easy," Haywood told the Washington Times.

Haywood is a blogger, has done color commentary for Washington Mystics' games and some radio work.

"I've learned very, very early that you have to be politically correct because people have thin skin," Haywood added.

Wizards center Brendan Haywood has issued a public apology for comments he made about Stephon Marbury recently.

In a radio interview, Haywood criticized Marbury for his recent video blogs, calling them "disturbing" and making a number of comments hinting towards homosexuality.

"My last blog about some of Stephon Marbury's actions, combined with a radio interview that I did, have been misinterpreted by some as speaking out against homosexuality. I've received some comments and so have the Wizards about it. I just wanted to take a time out and let you know that no disrespect was intended," Haywood wrote on Yardbarker.

"I was just trying to have fun with a crazy situation. I don't support or condemn homosexuality and I believe in everyone making choices for themselves. If it doesn't affect me, I don't really care. I hope no one was offended because I wasn't trying to come off like Tim Hardaway."

Wizards center Brendan Haywood was entertained by Stephon Marbury's personal web cast at first, but the tide changed quickly.

"At first it was cool, but after a while it just became disturbing," Haywood said on Hardcore Sports Radio. "He's on YouTube crying with no shirt on for no reason, sweating while his boy's rubbing his shoulders. What's that about?  That's like gay porn. I don't understand it.  

"He's dancing to a song called 'Barbie Doll,' doing like stripper moves. I have no idea what's going on with the guy, it's almost like he's trying to end his own career. There's not a GM out there that would touch Marbury right now... Have you seen the 'Barbie Doll' clip? Click on YouTube and go to Barbie Doll. There's no way any other professional athletes would wanna get dressed around this guy, because you gotta think something is a little, he's swinging from both sides of the fence."

Gilbert Arenas has undergone three knee surgeries in the last 18 months, but looked close to 100% at Barry Farms Recreational Center on Friday night.

The Washington guard was seen attacking the basket and even dunking effortlessly without wearing a brace on his balky knee.

Arenas has been working out with renowned trainer Tim Grover, who has worked with Michael Jordan and Dwyane Wade.

The Washington Post also reports that Arenas has lost weight and that he may even be down to what he was when he entered the league.

Reports indicate that Arenas is close to 207 pounds.

Flip Saunders believes that the Wizards can be an elite team if Gilbert Arenas is at the top of his game this season.

Saunders added that Arenas looks good in both the weight room and on the court. The former All-Star is coming off his third knee surgery in eighteen months.

"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, according to the Associated Press. "If he's at that ability when our season starts, we're going to be an elite team in this league."

Saunders traveled to Chicago last week to watch Arenas workout.

"He gets to wherever he wants to get on the court. His quickness is back," the coach added. "He's getting his scoring touch back, and he's getting his confidence back. He's excited about where he's at. He looks good. His weight is lower than it's been in the last few years. ... He feels he's got some things to prove."

Ernie Grunfeld does not anticipate making any additional moves this offseason.

"In all likelihood, these are the players we are going into camp with, unless something very interesting comes along from a trade standpoint," Grunfeld said.

"I'm always motivated to put the best possible team out there. Last year was the toughest year of my professional career as a general manager. It was very hard for everybody in our organization. We knew what the reasons were for the season, but it didn't make it any easier. We're excited about this upcoming season and we're probably as talented as we've been since we've been here, for sure."

On Thursday, Flip Saunders said he visited Gilbert Arenas in Chicago last week and said that the former All-Star's surgically repaired leg is stronger than it has ever been.

Saunders said Arenas has gone from squatting just 80 pounds to 315 pounds. "If you walked into the gym, you wouldn't know he was hurt." Grunfeld said he expects Arenas, who was limited to just two games after having his third knee procedure last season, to be ready when the season begins.

Wizards president Ernie Grunfeld announced Tuesday that the team has signed free agent forward/center Fabricio Oberto.  

Per team policy, terms of the contract were not released.

"Fabricio is a proven winner with extensive playoff experience," said Grunfeld. "He is a skilled big man and a rugged veteran that augments our frontcourt depth at both the center and power forward positions."

Oberto has career averages of 3.6 points and 3.9 rebounds per game with a .572 field goal percentage in four seasons with the San Antonio Spurs.

DeShawn Stevenson suffered through back pain last season, which required season-ending surgery.

Stevenson had his worst season in six years and his role with the Wizards has been placed in question due to the arrival of Mike Miller and Randy Foye via trade.

Despite the competition he'll face for playing time, Stevenson wasn't angered by the trades.

"My reaction was, 'Step your game up,' " Stevenson said in an interview with The Washington Post. "You can't get mad. It's a business. We had the same team for three years and didn't get out of the first round of the playoffs. They had to make a move.

"I feel that they felt that they wasn't strong at the 2-guard spot. I've been in the league for 10 years. When people make moves like that, I understand what you got to do. I don't take it as disrespect."

Stevenson, who hasn't played since January, worked with a trainer in Vancouver to improve his balky back.

"I felt it was best for me to come here and get back to where I needed to be. Especially, you know, having the year that we had, winning 19 games, and me being out since January," said Stevenson. "I'm the type of person, I'm going to come back and I want to come back with a bang. I know this is a big year for me, so I'm going to take it seriously."