Entries tagged as ‘Chris Wallace’
December 26, 2008 · 1 Comment
Cap space, yesterday.
Noted dotcom freak and serial pest Mark Cuban still loves the trade that brought a dying, semi-blind Jason Kidd to the Mavericks:
While it has become extremely popular in all parts of the NBA world to criticize Cuban and the Mavericks for trading Harris, Cuban remains steadfast in his belief that it was a good deal for Dallas. The flexibility the Mavericks will have because of the trade has been overlooked [...] “We can do whatever we want to do [in 2010],” Cuban said.
See? It was such a great trade for the Mavericks.
Sure, they did give up arguably the best point guard in the Eastern Conference — a man currently averaging 24.0 points, 6.8 dimes and 1.5 steals – and received only a steely-eyed wifebeater with rapidly fading basketball abilities in return. And yes, the addition of Kidd did absolutely nothing for their playoff efforts last season, the veteran successfully leading his new squad to a 4-1 beatdown at the hands of a young Hornets team.
Not pictured: cap space. Wait, does that polyester mix shirt lead to cap space in 2010?
And yeah, keeping Harris — whom one suspects would have thrived under the looser reins of Rick Carlisle — would have given the Mavericks the offensive firepower they need (and allowed them the freedom to offload the bong-loving, anthem-hating cult hero that is Josh Howard. As it is, Kidd’s lack of scoring punch means Howard stays around to fill the bucket). And okay, Harris isn’t a complete defensive liability like Kidd.
But somehow — and Cuban must thank the lord each day for this kind fact — the Mavericks managed to dig themselves out of the salary cap hole that Devin Harris’ shockingly reasonable $8.5-million-or-so per year had dug them into. No longer do the Mavericks have to trouble themselves with winning now, with a roster stacked with guys playing inexplicably well (who won’t be able to keep it up)* — they’ve got a big, fat salary cap ace up their sleeve, and they’re poised to pull it out come 2010.
Hell, who wouldn’t want to come join a 32-year old German and his 33-year old friend ‘Jet’ for a good old title run? With so many major franchises already setting themselves up with loads of cap space — New Jersey, New York, the Pistons — why wouldn’t the Mavericks, and their crazed owner, be at the top of the priority list?
I don’t know. Maybe Mark is right. He is, after all, extremely rich, and I’ve never heard of a wealthy idiot (Donald Trump, for the sake of this argument, is not an idiot). It’s just that — for all the Chris Wallace-esque crowing about ‘cap space’ and ‘planning for the future’ — if I were a Dallas fan, I’d rather have the electrifying youngster who hasn’t yet reached his peak than the dubious promise that 2010 holds.
*Sorry Brandon Bass and J.J. Barea, I do mean you.
Posted By: Anton
Categories: Trade Talk
Tagged: Brandon Bass, Chris Wallace, Dallas Mavericks, Devin Harris, J.J. Barea, Jason Kidd, Josh How, Josh Howard, Mark Cuban, New Jersey Nets, Rick Carlisle
September 1, 2008 · 1 Comment
Darko Miličić. Donnie Walsh approves.
Yep, that’s right. Newsday is reporting that, in an effort to rid their roster of the bloated Z-Bo contract, New York are in discussions with GM Of The Year Chris Wallace about the availability of running joke, and occasional power forward, Darko Miličić.
We recently rated the Knicks Roster contract by contract, so we’re all over the logic. Yes, I understand the benefits of freeing up cap space for 2010. I understand that Z-Bo doesn’t fit the system and is probably the worst contract on the team outside of Starbury (aka Stephon Marbury, aka ‘The Cancer’s Cancer’), but that’s all beside the point.
My issue with this trade is dignity. It’s a very simple rule: if you’re already being criticised for your bad decisions and poor management, don’t trade for the single worst decision in NBA Draft History (although Michael Olowakandi might have something to say about that). I’d rather sign Robert ‘Tractor’ Traylor. I’d honestly rather do business with whichever European team owns the rights to Qyntel Woods than subject my fans to the affront of having to watch Darko Miličić in my team’s colours.
Thank God the Knicks just traded the rights to Frederic Weis, because we’d be one call up away from an entirely European frontcourt – a move which would surely prompt riots in MSG, and a short film on the racism of the Knicks from Spike Lee (filmed in a Cinema Verite style from his half-court, courtside seats, narrated by Tracy Morgan).
The only positive in this situation is that Darko and New Darko (Danilo Gallinari) may, in fact, find themselves on the court at the same time. That might just create a rift in the space/time continuum, which would allow Walt Frazier and Bernard King to arrive in a DeLorean, ensuring that the Knicks make the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time since 1995.
Posted by: James
Categories: NBA Mysteries · Trade Talk
Tagged: Bernard King, Chris Wallace, Danilo Gallinari, Darko Milicic, Frederic Weis, Spike Lee, Stephon Marbury, Tracy Morgan, Walt Frazier, Zach Randolph
Want a good guy cheap? Call the Bucks now.
Considering the ridiculous glut of small forwards clogging the Bucks’ roster, I understand the need to dump a contract or two.
Indeed, with Desmond Mason, Charlie Villaneuva, Richard Jefferson, and future bust Joe Alexander all on the depth chart at the three-spot — not even mentioning Michael Redd and Charlie Bell, both of whom have spent time, albeit briefly, as swingmen — it was clear at least one of them would have to go.
But that doesn’t explain why they gave away Mason for so little. He may have a replaceable skillset — shoot-first wingmen aren’t too hard to come by — but plenty of teams could have used him, or at least his expiring contract.
As for justifications for gifting Mo Williams away in return for a second-stringer like Luke Ridnour? There are none. It represents yet another reason why Bill Simmons’ campaign to manage the Bucks wasn’t completely preposterous.
Yes, Williams’ contract may have seemed a little too large for the Bucks, especially considering the inexplicably incredible play of back-up Ramon Sessions late last season (remember the second last game of the season, when he dropped 24 dimes on Chicago? Who saw that coming?). And sure, Mo was yet another scorer on a team already packed with bucket fillers.
But letting a sweet shooting (48% from the field in ‘07-’08), easy scoring (17.2 points a game) floor manager go for next to nothing is abominable roster management. If the best offer you can find for your starting point man is seriously a red-headed John Mayer lookalike who couldn’t beat out Earl Watson on the Seattle depth chart, take your finger off the trigger and wait a better offer to hit the inbox. Plus, you’ll be paying Ridnour, and his busted legs, $6.5m per year. Which isn’t good.
You’re telling me the Mason and Mo duo couldn’t bring a bit of frontcourt depth to Milwaukee? (In case you’ve forgotten, when Andrew Bogut needs a rest, the Bucks have two options: Jake Voskuhl and Dan Gadzuric). You’re telling me they couldn’t address their greatest need: someone who is capable of playing defense? You’re telling me Adrian bloody Griffin, who hasn’t averaged more than five points since ‘01-’02, Damon Jones, who isn’t good at anything but sporadically nailing open threes, and Luke Ridnour were the best the Bucks could do?
Good lord.
Only Chris Wallace at the Grizzlies would think a contract dump like this is acceptable, though even he would’ve at least negotiated the inclusion of a 2058 thirteenth round draft pick.
Finally, a quick note on Cleveland: Congratulations Danny Ferry, you finally did something right. Another team offered you a top-notch starting point guard in return for mediocrity, and you accepted.
Posted By: Anton
Categories: Trade Talk
Tagged: Adrian Griffin, Andrew Bogut, Bill Simmons, Charlie Bell, Charlie Villaueva, Chris Wallace, Cleveland Cavaliers, Damon Jones, Dan Gadzuric, Danny Ferry, Desmond Mason, Earl Watson, Jake Voskuhl, Joe Alexander, Luke Ridnour, Memphis Grizzlies, Michael Redd, Milwaukee Bucks, Mo Williams, Ramon Sessions, Richard Jefferson, Seattle Supersonics
Seven-foot block machine Marcus Camby has found a new home.
RealGM is reporting that the 06-07 Defensive Player of the year has been traded to the Clippers for… absolutely nothing!
Would Diddy Like This Gift?
Well, not nothing, technically. The Clips have sent a second round draft pick to the Nuggets in exchange for the The Camby Man, raising a legitimate question: is Mark Warkentien an amoeba dressed as a human being?
Clipper Nation is the place to be this offseason, and they’re a contender for the best offseason of all time. For those keeping count, the Clips have, so far:
- Signed the biggest free agent of the year.
- Lost their franchise player after seven years, in dubious circumstances.
- Made the most lopsided trade of the offseason, and arguably of the most lopsided of the last 20 years which doens’t involve Chris Wallace.
For the Nuggets though, this is a really weird trade.
It’s just strange. Why are the Nuggets doing this? Are they freeing up cap space for another lopsided move involving another one of their studs? Is this the end of Carmelo? Will Ron Artest be coming to the Mile High City, as was speculated last season?
Watch this space. You can rest assured that the Nuggets are definitely not done.
Posted by: James
Categories: Trade Talk
Tagged: Baron Davis, Carmelo Anthony, Chris Wallace, Denver Nuggets, Los Angeles Clippers, Marcus Camby, Mark Warkentien, Ron Artest
Is there something wrong with Danny Ferry’s brain? Did they teach him nothing at Duke?
As they were putting some of the finishing touches on the Richard Jefferson-Yi Jianlian deal, the Nets received a call from the Cleveland Cavaliers, who offered them Wally Szczerbiak and his expiring, $13.2 million salary for Vince Carter. According to two Eastern Conference executives, who asked for anonymity so as not to spill Rod Thorn’s secrets, the Nets considered it — but not for very long.
An offer like that isn’t worth the price of the goddamned phone call, Ferry. If someone offers you a loose-shooting defensive liability for a high-volume scorer only just past his peak — even if the former has an expiring contract, while the latter needs a change of scenery — that’s an insult, not a proposition.
The only reason his fellow GMs aren’t screening calls to avoid Danny’s dumb ideas? He’s the man who traded for Ben Wallace, so only Chris Wallace offers a more likely trade outlet for rubbish.
And you wonder why Bron Bron will leave Ohio as soon as his contract is up. Actually, no you don’t — it’s really obvious.
Posted By: Anton
Categories: Trade Talk
Tagged: Ben Wallace, Chris Wallace, Danny Ferry, Duke, LeBron James, Richard Jefferson, Vince Carter, Yi Jianlian
