Warriors point guard Gilbert Arenas, who is on his way to becoming a Washington Wizard, said one of the main reasons he didn't re-sign with Golden State was because he felt disrespected by owner Chris Cohan.

Arenas told radio station KNBR on Monday that his decision to a sign an offer sheet with the Wizards "came down to trust. ... I just couldn't do it."

Arenas, who was a restricted free agent, signed a six-year, $65 million offer sheet with the Wizards late last week. The Warriors have 15 days to decide whether or not to match the offer. However, for the Warriors to match, they would have to shed approximately $18 million from their payroll. General manager Garry St. Jean has all but conceded the Warriors won't be able to do so.

Arenas, the NBA's Most Improved Player, said he would have re-signed with the Warriors at a reduced price had Cohan given him an assurance he would receive a bigger payday down the line. The Warriors, constrained by the rules of the collective bargaining agreement, could offer Arenas a salary starting at approximately $4.9 million. He will make approximately $8.5 million in 2003-04 with Washington.

Had Arenas signed a one-year contract with the Warriors, he would have been eligible to sign the maximum allowable contract with them next summer.

"I don't know the guy (Cohan) personally," Arenas said. "I only know St. Jean and (executive director of basketball operations) Otis Smith. They can tell me everything I want to hear but if the guy who I do not know can tell me in my face the deal will get done no matter how I play ... that's all I wanted to hear."