Wallace to Dallas 50-50% (Mark Stein)

[Drbio]

The NBA's trade deadline is a month away, but the most anticipated deal of the trading season could be completed by the end of the weekend, according to league sources.



Wallace



And if it goes through, Rasheed Wallace's checks will soon be cut by the Dallas Mavericks.


"I'd put the chances at 50-50 right now," said one source close to the negotiations. "We hope to find out tonight or tomorrow."


At the very least, sources say, Dallas and Portland are motivated to bring some sort of finality to their ongoing discussions instead of letting speculation continue to smother their players from now until the Feb. 19 trading buzzer. That resolution would come in the form of a trade that sends Antawn Jamison and Tariq Abdul-Wahad to Portland for Wallace or a decision by one or both parties to end the talks and attempt to move on with their seasons.


Saturday night's Dallas-Portland matchup at the Rose Garden gives all the power brokers involved a chance to meet face-to-face. For Dallas that's owner Mark Cuban, president of basketball operations Donnie Nelson and coach/general manager Don Nelson. For Portland that's owner Paul Allen, team president Steve Patterson and general manager John Nash. The clubs are scheduled to continue discussions before tipoff.


Wallace, who has missed the past four games with what's listed as a sprained left ankle, is not expected to play. Jamison is expected to play, although it's not inconceivable that he'll be held out. Jamison apparently surprised his coaches by playing through a bad flu bug in Friday's victory at Denver.


The Mavericks, according to sources, have made progress in their attempt to convince the Blazers to accept an offer of Jamison and Abdul-Wahad in exchange for Wallace, the controversial free agent-to-be who's earning $17 million in the last year of his contract. Even though Portland is said to be quite interested in Jamison -- intrigued by his potential frontcourt partnership with Zach Randolph -- taking on Jamison and Abdul-Wahad would run counter to the Blazers' long-running insistence that they will not accept a package of long-term contracts in a Wallace deal.


Various factors, however, apparently have softened Portland's position. Looking like a team that's clearly distracted by the threat of big changes, the Blazers are in the midst of a 1-7 skid and have slumped to 16-21, including a league-worst record of 2-15 on the road. It's the Blazers' worst mark after 37 games since 1976, when they sat at 13-24.


It's no secret that Portland's record run of 21 consecutive playoff appearances means a great deal to Allen, and trading Wallace a month before the deadline might be the Blazers' only means of saving their fast-slipping season. Another factor to make the Mavericks' package more palatable: ESPN.com has learned that the last two years of Abdul-Wahad's contract are only partially guaranteed -- 75 percent of his $7.3 million salary in 2005-06 and 50 percent of his $7.9 million in 2006-07. That could make Abdul-Wahad a decent trade asset in those seasons, even if he can't shake a long-term knee problem that has limited the Frenchman to 38 games the past two-plus seasons. Insurance payments already have covered a portion of Abdul-Wahad's wages in recent seasons because of the knee troubles.


On the flip side, it's not inconceivable that word of the Blazers and Mavericks closing in on a deal will spark improved offers from other teams. San Antonio is known to have a strong interest in Wallace and New Jersey had discussed a swap featuring Kenyon Martin for Wallace as far back as last summer. Sources say that Detroit, another club that would like to acquire Wallace, is out of the 'Sheed Sweepstakes for now, as the Pistons are unwilling to move any of their core players with no guarantee of re-signing Wallace in the summer.


To make a trade now, Portland will have to be convinced that the best player it gets in a deal (Jamison in this case) is better than the Blazers can hope to land in free agency in the summer of 2005. The increasingly serious nature of Portland's talks with Dallas undoubtedly stem from the fact that attractive offers for the temperamental Wallace have been scarce.


Atlanta's Shareef Abdur-Rahim and Cleveland's Zydrunas Ilgauskas have much friendlier contracts than Jamison's, but there are drawbacks with both as well. Abdur-Rahim, like Jamison, has never played a minute in the playoffs, but the Hawks' forward has also never played on a single winning team. Jamison, meanwhile, has enhanced his reputation somewhat by accepting a sixth-man role without complaint in Dallas in an effort to fit in with one of the league's top teams. Ilgauskas' contract, like Abdur-Rahim's, runs through 2005, which appeals to Portland because that's the summer the Blazers hope to reshape their roster. Yet there are still concerns about Ilgauskas' long-term health and mobility after years of foot problems, along with serious doubts that conservative Cavaliers owner Gordon Gund would be willing to put Wallace on the same team with LeBron James.


The Mavericks have their own hesitations. Trading Antoine Walker instead of Jamison probably makes more sense for Dallas, but sources say the Blazers aren't interested in Walker, even though Walker's contract also expires in 2005. Giving up Jamison instead, meanwhile, could give the Mavericks the most volatile chemistry they've had in years -- with Walker and Wallace on the same team -- and guarantees Cuban a very expensive summer.


Making this trade, as constituted, would leave Dallas with three max-contract players (Dirk Nowitzki, Michael Finley and Walker) and two of this summer's most coveted free agents (Wallace and Steve Nash). The Mavericks would also be risking the loss of Wallace without compensation in the summer, after billing Nowitzki and Jamison as their frontcourt tandem for the foreseeable future.


Of course, given Dallas' lackluster 23-16 start and the constant job-security speculation that the elder Nelson has been subjected to, there is virtually no chance the Mavericks would pass on a Wallace deal if Portland is ready. Wallace would instantly become the best defender on a club whose current aces in that department are rookies Josh Howard and Marquis Daniels, with Shawn Bradley and Eduardo Najera still plagued by injuries.


By all accounts, it's looking as though we're not going to have to wait another month to get some definitive answers about 'Sheed's future.

Marc Stein is the senior NBA writer for ESPN.com. To e-mail him, click here. Also, click here to send a question for possible use on ESPNEWS.

[V]

This is being discussed in the Wallace thread...

[ddh33]

The Wallace thread is getting so big that it's hard for me to keep up.

I thought this is the best written article about the Rasheed to Dallas rumors. I really like the way Stein looked at this from both sides. I also thought it was interesting to note that Portland is not interested in Walker, although that makes more sense to Dallas.

IF this deal happens, we're all going to miss Antawn Jamison - more than a lot of people realize. He is a great guy, true professional, and very good player. Those kinds of guys are hard to replace. Now, we read more thinigs that endear him to us, like the way he always shows up and plays even when he's sick.

I'll say once more that if a deal happens, I wish it was Walker who was being sent out. I stand by that. Unfortunately, I'm trying to prepare myself for the fact that it's probably going to be Jamison.

I'm a big fan of Rasheed. I think he could bring a lot of things to this team. But as time draws nearer, I'm starting to hate the idea of dealing Jamison for him.

Mark, if you read this, please work on a Walker trade instead...

[Drbio]

Originally posted by: V
This is being discussed in the Wallace thread...

Seems it is being discussed here too.

[grndmstr_c]

This is really killing me. I have no doubt that Wallace is a better talent fit with this team than AJ, and for that reason I think we should make the trade if Portland will give us good terms. But the idea of trading away AJ sickens me. I like and respect him so much. He is the kind of player that can make a true fan love his/her team even more than before AJ was a part of it. The only solace I'll be able to take if a trade does get done is that he'll be going to a competitive organization where he'll have the opportunity to win. He deserves that.

[ddh33]

Originally posted by: grndmstr_c
This is really killing me. I have no doubt that Wallace is a better talent fit with this team than AJ, and for that reason I think we should make the trade if Portland will give us good terms. But the idea of trading away AJ sickens me. I like and respect him so much. He is the kind of player that can make a true fan love his/her team even more than before AJ was a part of it. The only solace I'll be able to take if a trade does get done is that he'll be going to a competitive organization where he'll have the opportunity to win. He deserves that.

I agree. I think Antawn Jamison deserves the absolute best. My big complaint has been that he hasn't always been given a chance to shine here in Dallas. Now, he may never get that chance.

I will say that as the Mavs start to play better, this franchise will probably be less inclined to make a move for Rasheed. Several people have mentioned that Walker to Jamison is starting to look pretty good on the floor. If we see it, others see it as well, and may be more likely to choose to not take such a risk or gamble.

Maybe, as the Blazers continue their free-fall, the price will go down on Rasheed and we can exchange Walker for him instead. I can hope...I'm afraid I'm going to be disappointed though. Even worse, I'm afraid those Celtic fans will still be around...[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif[/img]

[LRB]

I still would rather deal Walker than Jamison. And I think Walker would work bettter for the blazers with his passing skills and his shorter contract.

[V]

Originally posted by: Drbio

Seems it is being discussed here too.

Good observation Doc.

For anyone who wants to read what's already been posted ... this article is being discussed in the Wallace thread ... ALSO [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif[/img]

DDH33 - We're seeing eye to eye... again. I'm almost sickened to keep hearing about what a great guy Jamison is. He's a class act & I wouldn't be disappointed at all if the Mavs keep him.

In related news Donnie Nelson commented on the post-game show tonight that after meeting with Nash the Mavs are not looking to make any moves and the "speculation can be put to bed."

[MavsFanFinley]

I was doubting anything would happen cause there has been so much talk about it.

Now, I'm starting to believe that Wallace will be in a Dallas uniform before the trading deadline.

[V]

Mavs, Blazers talk, but for now, no deal
Teams agree that scenarios involving Wallace make no sense

12:18 AM CST on Sunday, January 18, 2004

By EDDIE SEFKO / The Dallas Morning News

PORTLAND, Ore. – For now, the Mavericks and Portland Trail Blazers have agreed to disagree about Rasheed Wallace.

Donnie Nelson, the Mavericks' president of basketball operations, and Portland general manager John Nash met for about 20 minutes Saturday night before tipoff to discuss their team's priorities going into the final month before the Feb. 19 NBA trading deadline. The bottom line is that the trade talks about Wallace going to the Mavericks don't make sense for either team.

"We just reiterated what each of us is trying to do," Nash said of the meeting that ended about 15 minutes before tipoff. "We had a nice conversation, but nothing's imminent."

The meeting, which took place in Blazers owner Paul Allen's private office, put to rest, for the moment, talk of a Wallace trade for Antawn Jamison and at least one other Maverick. With the Blazers expected to field numerous trade options in the coming weeks, there's always the chance things could reheat with the Mavericks.

The two most widely discussed deals had Jamison and Tariq Abdul-Wahad going to the Blazers, or Jamison, Tony Delk and Eduardo Najera being exchanged. The Blazers don't want Abdul-Wahad's contract, which runs four more years after this one. And the Mavericks don't want to give up three rotation players for Wallace.

"Nothing but smoke," was Nelson's comment after emerging from the meeting.

The Mavericks have been named in numerous reports as possible trade partners with the Blazers. Owner Mark Cuban said the Mavericks remain committed to keeping their core players together unless "a no-brainer" comes along in trade talks.

[ddh33]

In response to Sefko's article...

Wouldn't it make more sense to trade away Antoine Walker and one rotational player (Delk or Najera) for Rasheed? That way Dallas doesn't lose three rotational players, and Portland doesn't take on the contract of Abdul-Wahad.

I think there are still plenty of rumors yet to come, and a better than average chance that something gets done. I just think everyone is going to have to wait a little longer. I think Dallas is hesitant to make a deal like this while they're starting to come together.

Like I've said all along, all it takes in one more 3-4 game losing streak and Rasheed becomes a Mav for sure.

[V]

Most of what I heard was quoted in the Sefko article above. The only other thing I caught was someting about "put the speculation to bed."

[Murphy3]

Why trust Donnie? He's the one that was basically trying to lead everyone to believe just a few days ago that the Mavs weren't talking to Portland. There's no reason to believe a word that comes out of anyone's mouth on the mavs side when it comes to possible trades.

[seelenjaeger]

Mavs trades are trades seemingly popping out of nowhere. So well, I think Wallace is indeed dead.

[MightyToine]

Wanna see something RIDICULOUS?


http://pub102.ezboard.com/finsidehoo...ID=29136.topic


I mean....CANADA? Please! [img]i/expressions/rolleye.gif[/img]

[kingrex]

I wonder if it was really ever 50-50%. I also wonder what killed the deal.