According to sources, the Wizards have planned from the beginning of this offseason to sign two free agent point guards. Gilbert Arenas was first on the Wizards? offseason shopping list. Now that Arenas has signed, Wizards? GM Ernie Grunfeld has turned his focus to Orlando Magic free agent Darrell Armstrong.

The 35 year old Armstrong, who has spent his entire nine-year career with the Orlando Magic, was viewed as a fallback option if the Wizards were unable to land Arenas. It appears now the Wizards are prepared to offer the veterans minimum to Armstrong. The Wizards have zero cap room left after inking Arenas. The most they can offer Armstrong is the nine-year veteran?s minimum of $1 million. The Wizards are unlikely to land Armstrong if another team makes a larger financial offer.

On Tuesday, Arenas signed the Wizards offer sheet of a six years, $63.75 million contract starting at $8.5 million. The Golden State Warriors, who drafted Arenas in the second round of the 2001 draft, have until August 6 to match Arenas? contract. It appears very unlikely the Warriors will match the Wizards? offer sheet given they would have to clear more than $20 million in salaries, an almost impossible task under current salary cap provisions.

If Armstrong is signed, he would add to an already crowded Wizards? backcourt. The Wizards have Arenas and drafted Maryland alum Steve Blake with their second round draft pick. The team also has Larry Hughes and Juan Dixon, both of whom would likely will lose playing time to Arenas. While the Wizards like what they they?ve seen from Blake in the Boston summer league, it appears they would like more experience at the backup point guard position. Blake will still sign with the Wizards, however would probably be carried on the inactive list for most of the season. Armstrong averaged 11.7 points and 5.1 assists for the Magic last season.