Washington Wizards guard Gilbert Arenas, who has missed 13 games this season with strained abdominal muscles, is not expected to make the trip with the team to Chicago for Saturday night's game against the Bulls.

Arenas is expected to practice Sunday and Monday with Tuesday night's home game against the Atlanta Hawks his targeted return date.

However, head coach Eddie Jordan wants him when he is truely ready and that could push his return date to Jan.2 when the Wizards face off with his former team, the Golden State Warriors.

"He did some things as far as rehabilitation on his own [Friday]," Jordan said. "It would be good to have him back but we want him back to be the real Gilbert. We don't want to see the wincing and the moaning and the half physical effort. We want to see him going as hard as he can and as effective as he can be. We have to be very patient and we are."