From start to Monday night's finish, the kid who wore No. 0 proved to be maddeningly unpredictable.

Just as hopes were rising again among long-frustrated fans that he might turn down far more money elsewhere to grow with the Warriors, Gilbert Arenas signed with . . . Washington? A few weeks ago, the Wizards were as long a shot as Arenas was when the Warriors drafted him two years ago at the top of the second round.

Not Denver. Not Miami. Not San Antonio. Not the Los Angeles Clippers.

Out-of-nowhere Washington.

Didn't Arenas stress that he can't stand cold weather? Didn't he want to stay on or near the West Coast? Wouldn't a kid who grew up in the San Fernando Valley just north of Los Angeles be far more intrigued by the $60 million for six years he was offered by the Clippers?