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I caught a Bobcats game last week, and I can safely say that Gerald Wallace is back -- unfiltered, unfettered, and ready to provide kinetic force at both ends of the court. Healthy and wealthy in basketball wonder. So what's a talent-strapped team to do? Trade him, of course. From Pro Basketball News:
Multiple NBA sources have confirmed that Charlotte moving Gerald Wallace is imminent, but Pro Basketball News has yet to learn of a definitive destination at this time.As you may recall, Jordan was already once talked out of trading his best player. But now, with Golden State blatantly looking to make an Al Harrington-related move, and the Knicks needing to do something with Eddy Curry, the itch in Charlotte just might prove too strong. I guess Jason Richardson is a more traditional lead scorer, and Emeka Okafor gets the biggest contract. And the Bobcats do need interior help. So sure, off with his head!
The Bobcats have apparently talked about Wallace's long-term value to the franchise (he signed a six-year, $57 million extension in July of 2007) and decided that they would be better suited allocating such a significant salary to somebody else.
Charlotte gets: Eddy Curry, David Lee; Golden State gets: Gerald Wallace; New York gets: Al Harrington. Salary-wise, it works. I have no idea if it makes sense, and Lee wouldn't even have to go to Charlotte to make it work, I was just thinking from a personnel standpoint, it would make it at least sort of make sense for Charlotte.Curry and Brown didn't hate each other, and LB certainly didn't see fit to let Lee loose, but Curry alone doesn't seem like enough. That's not really the definition of frontcourt depth, which is what they need to "take pressure off of Okafor" (thanks, Chris). Wallace would thrive in Oakland and give me a national holiday, while opening up PT for Brandan Wright. Al Harrington is kind of a bum, but he's also a 6'9" jump-shooter, which means on some basic level he'd fit with D'Antoni. And that buzz has been there for a minute.
This post originally appeared on the Sporting Blog. For more, see The Sporting Blog Archives.
7 comments
Comments
Replacing G-Force with Eddy Curry would make the Bobcats not only one of the bottom three teams in the league, but one of the three most boring. David Lee is scrappy, but Jared Dudley is already That Guy in Charlotte. Disastrous all around for the Bobcats, if true.
by darnott on Nov 7, 2008 3:10 PM EST reply actions
This deal makes too much sense for all parties. God I hope this happens.
Talk about a very quick team!
by ozfraud on Nov 7, 2008 3:35 PM EST reply actions
-SIR
Your sentence:
Monta/Maggette/Jackson/Wallace/someone tall would be positively electric, if not particularly good.
might be construed as an offense to Andris Biedrins, one of the most efficient/best centers in the league. If he continues his current trend of 11 straight double-doubles, he could break the top 5 soon.
Regardless, it would make for an electric team; although, I believe i have heard that Wallace has stated that he would prefer not to guard the 4, as he has had problems with getting concussions doing so in the past.
Good article, keep up with the rumors on the trade please.
by ROFLCOPTER on Nov 7, 2008 3:44 PM EST reply actions
David, I get what you’re saying, but exactly how far are the Bobcats from the bottom three as currently constructed anyway? I mean what are they now? Bottom five? Bottom seven? Probably better than the Thunder, T-wolves, Kings, Grizz? And then they’re basically lumped in with a bunch of teams that are a mess.
by littmann.tsn on Nov 7, 2008 3:45 PM EST reply actions
If you could somehow merge the two guys Charlotte gets into one player named Eddy Lee Curry, you’d have a fine low-post scorer/rebounder.
by L'etat, c'est moi on Nov 7, 2008 3:58 PM EST reply actions
Makes no sense. No one would swap Curry for Wallace, even if David Lee is thrown in. Nellie might be crazy enough to pick up Wallace even though he already has two of the same type players (Maggette and SJax), but unlike Harrington Wallace could never play as the four, even in a small ball lineup.
by TOTD2008 on Nov 8, 2008 3:55 AM EST reply actions
The only part I have trouble believing is the Knicks getting rid of David Lee. This guy hasn’t even scratched the surface of his potential yet and already he is an excellent physical and fast power forward.
Also, who plays the 4 spot on your supposed Warriors team? You just said Wallace doesn’t want to guard 4’s and even if he did, how effective would he be against Duncan, Stoudemire, Dirk, Boozer, Gasol, Brand…etc.. I mean, yeah, sure he can come up with superb efforts on any given night but is that enough to make them a valid threat to any team with a physical, scoring big man?
by josh-wa on Nov 8, 2008 4:05 AM EST reply actions
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