Rasheed Wallace

[EricaLubarsky]

Ok M'toine might be one of the worst Toine Homers here, but V is one of the worst 'Sheed Homers on this website.

Sheed is a terrible person- and suddenly he is

It is a fact that Wallace is one of the top community / charity guys in the league.

Remember when he beaned Boumtje-Boumtje? Those many games where he was out of control? He is a cancer.

[V]

Originally posted by: EricaLubarsky
Ok M'toine might be one of the worst Toine Homers here, but V is one of the worst 'Sheed Homers on this website.

Sheed is a terrible person- and suddenly he is

Remember when he beaned Boumtje-Boumtje? Those many games where he was out of control? He is a cancer.

First - I'm not a ''Sheed homer. If you think that is the case then you're not reading my posts. I do feel like I have to defend him at times because many of you seem to base your opinions of on nothing more than selective fourth hand information.... Now before you rip me on that comment let me say that I DO NOT have any more information about Rasheed Wallace available to me than any average basketball fan. But at least I read what's available to me... and I don't blindly agree with effin Charles Barkley & Bill Walton without doing a little research on my own....

Let that sink in before you read on... you are listening to Charles Barkley & Bill Walton when you say Wallace is a cancer.

Or perhaps you have read a little about him... maybe an article in the Oregonian or two... maybe you've read some commentary by Jason Quick? Well I advise you to check the history of the relationship between Wallace & Quick before you're so quick to listen to his perspective.

Second - What the hell does beaning Boom Boom with a basketball have to do with Wallace's charity work? Read my post. It's a fact documented in half a dozen reputable newspapers / website (including, I think, in an article from ESPN that I posted above.)

Third - What the hell are you talking about when you say "remember those many games where he was out of control?" Are you talking about him leading the league in technical fouls a couple of years ago? If that's what you mean... then yes. I remember the 1999 - 2000 season when Wallace led the league in techs. What's your point?

Fourth - I AM NOT OF THE OPINION THAT THE MAVS SHOULD TRADE ANYONE FOR RASHEED WALLACE!! My point is that you would do well to keep an open mind... because Wallace may be coming to Dallas whether you like it or not!!

Fifth - If you don't want to hear news about Wallace... or the potentiallity that he's coming to Dallas... then please don't read this thread. It's called Rasheed Wallace. We talk about 'Sheed game, his comments, his antics, his contract, whatever... we will not turn this into another one of your personal affronts to the author of this thread. If you don't like this thread please rate me as a bad poster. I'm sure you know how to do that.

I bet you couldn't pour water out of a boot with the instructions written on the heel. I'll try being nicer if you'll try being smarter. [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif[/img]

DISCLAIMER: THE INSULT ABOVE IS INTENDED AS A JOKE. When you see a post by V, you will note that you are likely reading one of my controversial opinions. These opinions are strictly my own and are not meant to inflame or insult but merely to inspire spirited debate. My opinions are not those of either the good folks at Dallas-Mavs.com nor of the Dallas Mavericks.

[V]

Advice from Rasheed Wallace helps West Catholic swingman get back on track

By TED SILARY
silaryt@phillynews.com

It's doubtful Rasheed Wallace will ever replace Dear Abby as a source for sound advice.

Contrary to what his endless technical fouls and outrageous statements might suggest, though, the bad-boy Portland Trailblazer from Philly and Simon Gratz High does have a clue about proper behavior, and he's not afraid to ream out those who deserve it.

Don't believe that? Check with Hakeem Townsend.

Townsend, a 6-3, 185-pound senior, is a swingman for West Catholic High's basketball team. He is also Wallace's first cousin.

Last winter, when Townsend missed the entire season due to academic ineligibility, 'Sheed was among the steamed.

"He said he was pretty disappointed in me, that there was no excuse for letting something like that happen," Townsend said. "He said that's how it goes: If you don't do your classwork, you don't get to play basketball.

"I'm usually a good student [he has scored 980 on the SAT]. I just got lazy for a while. I didn't do what I was supposed to. I was mad at myself and my mom [Jacqueline] was mad at me, too. She stayed on me. Had me on punishment. I couldn't leave the house for a while."

-------

In Wallace, Townsend has a friend as well as a cousin. The two talk pretty much every other week and Wallace has been generous in the gift-giving department.

"He's given me a lot of video games, jerseys, that kind of stuff," said Townsend, who lives near 55th and Master and has applied to Millersville, Cabrini and Albright. "And last summer, he had me out to Portland to spend 2 weeks with him. He showed me all around. Whenever I can, I watch his games on TV. We have a satellite dish."

LINK TO FULL STORY

[sike]

I would take Sheed over Artest as proposed in kg's thread.......(though that trade is primarily to get Pollard)

[jayC]

Maybe Wallace needs is a change of scenery Dallas might be that place. Supposed cancers vernon maxwell, nick vanexel have all had their stints here.

Wallace would instantly become dallas's best defender. And at times can dominate a game offensively.

Id trade jamison and finley for wallace and dale davis in a heart beat. With the recent play of howard and Walker Jamison and Finley become expendable. On a recent espn this past friday night Wallace sat for the majority of the fourth quarter. Against Sacramento in the 4th Jamison sat on the bench the entire time. Move Fortson to backup powerforward and he becomes more of a force on the glass.

With Davis included we would have a solid ten man rotation, and even be able to overwhelm teams on the glass. As well as play solid defense.

[Nash13]

V, i agree with you. I feel like some people just over-exaggerate Rasheed Wallace. I also find it weird that so many people were excited at the possibility of getting Wallace back in early August. Now, nobody seems to want him.

What's the worst that could happen if Wallace were to join this team?

[Murphy3]

I'll take wallace
....who can the mavs ship off? Walker?.. or jamison?...fin?

[Nash13]

**cough** **cough**Walker** cought**cough**


But seriously, that's a tough question. Let's consider the facts:

Finley-the second oldest person on the team. Finley has had more good games than bad in my opinion. Since Howard is not yet ready to take Finley's spot, we'd also need to get another 2 guard. The only attractive player to trade for is an injury prone Derek Anderson.

Jamison-i didn't think he'd do well as a sixth man, but i think he is doing better than Walker could've if he were on the bench. He is leading all bench players in points per game. He's stepped it up the most in the past 8 or 9 games. If we were to trade him, we'd need a back up SF in the deal. There only attractive player to trade, and that's Ruben Patterson.

Walker-the most consistent player overall on this team. Although he's taking the most shots without averaging the most points, he's still our best player that can score easy buckets in the paint. His rebounding and assist stats are at its best.

I don't think Finley should go simply because he's no longer our most tradeable asset as opposed to early in the off-season. It basically comes down to Walker or Jamison. And here's how I see it:

If Nelson got Wallace, 5 all stars will not start. We can't afford not to start Nash, Finley, Dirk, and Wallace come playoff time(assuming Dallas makes it). Nelson will still want someone to score off the bench. I think it will come down to which of the two will make a better bench player. And it's already proven that Jamison can score off the bench. So by process of elimination, i'd have to say Walker.

Also, Walker's our most tradeable player because he's improved his stats and he has a attractive contract(much like Nick Van Exel)

[uberfan]

It doesn't matter if you were to trade Walker or Jamison for Wallace, Dirk still ends up at the 5.

[MightyToine]

Originally posted by: uberfan
It doesn't matter if you were to trade Walker or Jamison for Wallace, Dirk still ends up at the 5.

Yup. [img]i/expressions/rolleye.gif[/img]

[V]

Neither Wallace nor Dirk play like a true center on offense but Wallace clearly has the better post up game.

Neither Wallace not Dirk play like a true center on the defensive end but Wallace clearly plays better post defense.

Guys, think about it... If Wallace comes to Dallas you will see him post up occasionally, float around the perimeter, run the pick & roll, etc. On defense you will see him guard the opposing teams best offensive 4 or 5 in man... and he will play the middle in the zone. Whether he's called a center or not is meaningless.

[V]

Originally posted by: Murphy3
I'll take wallace
....who can the mavs ship off? Walker?.. or jamison?...fin?

Murph, I hate to lose any of those guys... but if one of eith Jamison, Walker, or Finley has to go I think you look to who's getting PT & who's executing on the defensive end to see who's most expendable... and there we find Jamison.

I hate to say it... Jamison is a great asset off the bench, provides offensive rebounds, instant scoring... but he's a clearly behind Walker on the depth chart & he's not playing defense.

The best case scenario has Portland releasing Wallace but from what I understand there's significant interest in him across the league. Is Dallas prepared to win a bidding war?

[Nash13]

V, i say if he's traded to any team, it would be Dallas.

Here's why. Portland wants a small forward. And the other teams that want him such as the Spurs, Detroit, New York, and Houston don't have any enough tradeable players to get him. Whereas in Dallas, we have two tradeable assets at that position.

[Cybertx]

I would like AJ to stay but AW can play in PF and SF so AJ will be my choice and i don't think that if we get Wallace nellie will play Dirk in 5 first you risk gettin him hurt and second Wallace it'a a better defensive player than dirk.

I think dirk and wallace will play 4 and 5 and nellie would rotate them includin walker in, after all the 3 can play 3, 4 or 5, and since we don't have a natural center nellie will rotate them.

Dallas doesn't have to go to a bidding we have the best bench player of the league a starter coming from the bench avg 15.6 P/G in 29.6 M/G think about it portland needs a 3 and that's the reason the play wallace in that pos. and we have a lot's of them we can ship AJ and TAW and najera and we still have people to fill tha pos.

So if dallas wants wallace we have one of the most tradable guys in AJ of the league.

[uberfan]

Originally posted by: V
Neither Wallace nor Dirk play like a true center on offense but Wallace clearly has the better post up game.

Neither Wallace not Dirk play like a true center on the defensive end but Wallace clearly plays better post defense.

Guys, think about it... If Wallace comes to Dallas you will see him post up occasionally, float around the perimeter, run the pick & roll, etc. On defense you will see him guard the opposing teams best offensive 4 or 5 in man... and he will play the middle in the zone. Whether he's called a center or not is meaningless.

I would have no problem bringing in Wallace IF we could be sure he would do what you have suggested CONSISTENTLY. It all depends on his willingness to do it, not necessarily Nellie's scheme or Mav's needs.

[ddh33]

I'm one of the guys who would be in favor of possibly adding Rasheed Wallace. Sure, his character concerns scare me, but I honestly believe that he could be exactly what this team needs to get us to the next level. I think a change of scenery could do him good.

He is a wonderful defensive player, who can score efficiently without taking a lot of shots or dominating the ball. One of the things that I believe that goes unnoticed is how unselfish he is, and what a great passer he can be.

I know people harp on his tendency to drift to the perimeter, but all players do that as they age. It certainly doesn't mean that he has a difficult time scoring down there. I have even heard said that Rasheed was playing outside because that is what the team needed - that Portland had enough inside players, they needed someone to shoot from the perimter. I actually believe his offensive talents would compliment Dirk's. When Dirk is inside, Wallace is outside. When Dirk is outside, Wallace is inside. I would hate to think that I had to defend that.

In the end, I have no idea if Rasheed ends up a Mav, but it wouldn't be the end of the world to me. I could cheer for him and see where the team went with him before passing judgment.

[Cybertx]

I would have no problem bringing in Wallace IF we could be sure he would do what you have suggested CONSISTENTLY. It all depends on his willingness to do it, not necessarily Nellie's scheme or Mav's needs.

He seems consistent this year, look we are not losing a lot with this trade but we win a good interior defender (we need that) of course it comes with a catch is Wallace but i think we can mold him and another he would want to show the league and portland and writers and everybody else that they were wrong. I think he will behave not because probably nobody in the locker will follow his lead but mostly to show people that they are wrong, about consistently here it's a head to head.

Rasheed Wallace Antawn Jamison
Position: F-C Position: F
Height:6-11 Weight: 230 Height: 6-9 Weight: 225
PPG 16.7 PPG 15.6
RPG 7.0 RPG 6.8
APG 2.9 APG 1.1
SPG .72 SPG .90
BPG 1.59 BPG 1.59
FG% .424 FG% .508
FT% .745 FT% .774
3P% .292 3P% .313
MPG 38.6 MPG 29.6

With this numbers it could be a straight man for man trade but dallas will probably has to trown somebody else for the amount of contract of rashed.

[uberfan]

My comments about consistency has nothing to do with his stats but his willingness to be the interior presence we need consistently and not race Walker to the outside to see who gets there first.

[mavs_afroman]

Originally posted by: Nash13
V, i agree with you. I feel like some people just over-exaggerate Rasheed Wallace. I also find it weird that so many people were excited at the possibility of getting Wallace back in early August. Now, nobody seems to want him.

What's the worst that could happen if Wallace were to join this team?

Come on now.

You've heard about Rasheed. You may not think that all that makes him a cancer but you should certainly be able to understand why other people think so. The press conference, tantrums, towel throwing, and his latest dim-witted comments.

I know that everybody says he gets along with his teammates but I think its more in the same way that women will tolerate an old senile man making passes at them. They know he's crazy so they just ignore him.

[Cybertx]

I don't think that will be a problem since he will notice that we have better outside players he will have to stay in the interior if he wants to play or at least get noticed.
Look i really think that now it's the moment to get him he will be pissed at everybody and try to show them that he still is a good player and playing interior it's where he's very good and i think he know it or at least suspect it.

I'm more worried with nelson he likes to play his centers outside.

[kg_veteran]

Originally posted by: uberfan
My comments about consistency has nothing to do with his stats but his willingness to be the interior presence we need consistently and not race Walker to the outside to see who gets there first.

The big problem with Wallace would be getting him to play inside defensively, not offensively.

[Cybertx]

I'll say let's get him if he doesn't work put him in the injured list until the end of the season and say good bye.

It's good because you can try to get some of the big players in the FA with more money to get someone and second because i don't think AJ would like to keep coming from the bench for much longer with his number the guy has outscored full benchs more than 4 times by himself, how long will he stay quiet? he's a starter and a damn good one.

Let's see how wallace works.

[V]

The best scenario for Dallas is for Portland to release Wallace... which would allow the Mavs to sign him for the exception.

Problem is Wallace still has too much value so Portland is demanding (1) talent with a good contract or (2) expiring contracts + draft pick(s)

Dallas does not have expiring contracts so if they want 'Sheed the Mavs will likely have to involve a third team. With the hiring of Isiah Thomas in NYC look for something along the lines of Jamison to Knicks; McDyess to Portland; Wallace to Dallas. (Others will need to be included as cap filler...)

Other players to watch that could help Dallas land Wallace:

> Ilgauskas
> Ratliff
> Kukoc
> Gugliotta


LINK TO FURTHER DISCUSSION

[Max Power]

I read that Portland was inquiring about McGrady for Wallace

[MightyToine]

Originally posted by: Max Power
I read that Portland was inquiring about McGrady for Wallace

Must've been smoking the same weed, apparently.

[V]

From Hoopsworld

Marc Stein of ESPN is beginning his own Rasheed watch. The Blazers are beginning cursory contract discussions which is as much to start the process as it is to drive up Rasheed’s value. The Blazers really like what Rasheed brings them and do not think they find anything better in the free agent race in 2 years that is worth letting Rasheed walk. The Blazers are targeting players who have 1 more year on their contract, would fill a need on the team and would come off the books at the same time as Stoudamire’s contract allowing them to be free agent players in the 2005 offseason: Shareef Abdur-Rahim, Ilgauskas, Steve Nash, Gasol, Ray Allen, Kirilenko, among others are targets of Portland. Of that list, players like Nash, Allen and Kirilenko are not available and a player like Gasol would be very difficult salary wise to grab.

Look for the Blazers to concentrate with Atlanta and Cleveland on possible deals. Trading Rasheed to Cleveland would allow Cleveland to be big free agent players this offseason and would be worth a draft pick or some young talent for Cleveland to make that deal. The Hawks are really two years away from making a free agent splash and Rasheed would be a talent bet. Right now, the smart money is on Cleveland for a package centered (I’m so clever) around Ilgauskas along with a package of Dajuan Wagner, Darius Miles or a draft pick in return.

The Blazers would like to entertain serious extension discussions at around $9-10 million per season. Rasheed has made an effective transition to small forward, can play the center position in a pinch and combined with Zach Randolph, makes an extremely effective forward combination. With $8 million to Derek Anderson at the shooting guard, the 2, 3 and 4 positions for Portland would be set for a few years at $25 million. In this scenario the Blazers will look to trade Qyntel Woods for a young point guard or a center and develop Travis Outlaw as a backup forward.

Right now the Blazers would have two lottery draft picks giving them their highest draft picks since Shawn Respert. These two lottery picks could be used to move up in the draft or to pick up a young point guard like Ben Gordon or Raymond Felton from the college ranks.

[uberfan]

Originally posted by: kg_veteran

The big problem with Wallace would be getting him to play inside defensively, not offensively.

That is what I have saying as well in other post. If he does, great! He works. If he doesn't, it is a wasted trade except that his contract comes off the books next year. In that case, we pick up a couple of mid-level type centers in FA to go with Bradley, Dirk mans the 4, and Walker the 3 next year.

[V]

Pablo (Eugene, OR): i'm a little disappointed with the way everyone jumped on Rasheed Wallace's case after he said what was on his mind. Is the NBA somehow different than the Democratic society we live in? I found absolutely nothing offensive in what he said. He didn't even criticize Stern. So there is no argument there. And it is true that there are people (other than the players) who are making far more money off the game of basketball than Rasheed Wallace. So, aside from the use of offensive language, i support Wallace all the way and have begun to question the authoritarian response of the NBA community.

David Aldridge: You can't just throw the language aside, Pablo. That's the whole point. Words have meaning and power. I think I know the point Rasheed was trying to make, but in choosing to use those vitriolic words, he submerged the argument.

[Simon2]

If the Mavs are really looking at Rasheed, here's what they should do: Wait for him to be a free agent. The Blazers will probably want one of the Big 3 or one of the Tawns. Just keep the team and wait for him in the summer.

[mavs_afroman]

Originally posted by: V
Pablo (Eugene, OR): i'm a little disappointed with the way everyone jumped on Rasheed Wallace's case after he said what was on his mind. Is the NBA somehow different than the Democratic society we live in? I found absolutely nothing offensive in what he said. He didn't even criticize Stern. So there is no argument there. And it is true that there are people (other than the players) who are making far more money off the game of basketball than Rasheed Wallace. So, aside from the use of offensive language, i support Wallace all the way and have begun to question the authoritarian response of the NBA community.

David Aldridge: You can't just throw the language aside, Pablo. That's the whole point. Words have meaning and power. I think I know the point Rasheed was trying to make, but in choosing to use those vitriolic words, he submerged the argument.

Whether or not someone found it offensive, it was incredibly stupid. I mean REALLY stupid. Yes he was honest. But his honest statements show that he is as ungrateful malcontent with little understanding of democracy or business.

[Cybertx]

Originally posted by: Simon2
If the Mavs are really looking at Rasheed, here's what they should do: Wait for him to be a free agent. The Blazers will probably want one of the Big 3 or one of the Tawns. Just keep the team and wait for him in the summer.

Mavs doesn't havethemoney to bid for him in the FA we only can offer 5 million and probably Wallace would like more than 2 or 3 seasons in the contract and if we sign him and he doesn't work we are stuck with him and dallas needs a defensive guy this season and right now, in the summer we can try to get some of the big FA players.

But let's remember that we don't have enough money to get someone good and Nash and Walker will probably get maxed out, so that means less money for the FA bidding war.

We don't do well in the FA anyway, remember this year we didn't get anyone that we want in the FA.

If we are going to get sombody it will be trough TRADE, and it will be for one of the Twans.

[V]

Vecsey

January 4, 2004 -- SHORTLY before Isiah Thomas replaced Scott Layden, I'm informed, the Knicks had made advances on Rasheed Wallace and the Blazers were receptive to the preliminary/primary piece, Kurt Thomas.

Filling in the salary-cap blanks with rising free agents - Charlie Ward and Mike Doleac - and one relatively inexpensive player, Mike Sweetney, perhaps ($1.8M/$2M/$2.1M) hadn't been settled.

The feeling is, it didn't figure to be an enduring impediment. Naturally, the design-in-progress froze due to New York's transformed power surge.

Within 48 hours of assuming control of the Knicks' workforce, Thomas resumed the expedition for Wallace, I'm told, except that Kurt Thomas was no longer part of the conversation.

According to sources, Keith Van Horn was substituted as the main course. When that failed to whet the Blazers' appetite (it's imperative to get someone back who can play 20-something minutes per at center unless the acquisition is All-Star caliber), Antonio McDyess' name was thrown out there without a direct offer actually being made.

There was no reason to go that far. Again, interest was nil, this time because McDyess' ailing knee seems to be deteriorating (0-2 FG and one rebound in a 16-minute losing effort Friday vs. the Bulls) not improving.

"I understand it often takes weeks, sometimes months for the pain and swollenness to subside," commiserates a Portland pulse. "I understand how long it takes for some players to regain their confidence. If [McDyess] were healthy, of course, he'd be attractive, but that's not the case. At least for now."

"Now" is the operative word. The trading deadline is Feb. 19. Plenty of good and bad can happen between now and then. In the meantime, the Blazers suddenly seem to be having reservations about dealing Wallace this season or even this summer in a sign-and-trade.

In fact, prepare to cringe. The Blazers are seriously "thinking about re-signing" Wallace; he recently made a plea to management to remain part of the team and community.

Nothing new there. In the imperfect past, Wallace often expressed a public desire to keep his wife and children situated. Management's reassessment must mean he's promising to reform, if not fully conform, and it's in the process of measuring his sincerity.

[SeriousSummer]

Could you sweeten this deal enough:

Portland trades: SF Rasheed Wallace (17.2 ppg, 6.9 rpg, 2.9 apg in 38.8 minutes)
C Dale Davis (5.8 ppg, 6.4 rpg, 1.3 apg in 28.2 minutes)
Portland receives: PG Travis Best (3.1 ppg, 1.0 rpg, 1.9 apg in 13.2 minutes)
PG Tony Delk (6.1 ppg, 2.2 rpg, 0.8 apg in 16.4 minutes)
PF Antoine Walker (17.2 ppg, 9.5 rpg, 5.1 apg in 37.9 minutes)
PF Tariq Abdul-Wahad (17.2 ppg, 9.5 rpg, 5.1 apg in 37.9 minutes)
SF Eduardo Najera (3.3 ppg, 3.1 rpg, 0.4 apg in 13.7 minutes)
Change in team outlook: +6.7 ppg, +2.5 rpg, and +4.0 apg.

Dallas trades: PG Travis Best (3.1 ppg, 1.0 rpg, 1.9 apg in 13.2 minutes)
PG Tony Delk (6.1 ppg, 2.2 rpg, 0.8 apg in 16.4 minutes)
PF Antoine Walker (17.2 ppg, 9.5 rpg, 5.1 apg in 37.9 minutes)
PF Tariq Abdul-Wahad (17.2 ppg, 9.5 rpg, 5.1 apg in 37.9 minutes)
SF Eduardo Najera (3.3 ppg, 3.1 rpg, 0.4 apg in 13.7 minutes)
Dallas receives: SF Rasheed Wallace (17.2 ppg, 6.9 rpg, 2.9 apg in 31 games)
C Dale Davis (5.8 ppg, 6.4 rpg, 1.3 apg in 30 games)
Change in team outlook: -6.7 ppg, -2.5 rpg, and -4.0 apg.

TRADE ACCEPTED

to make it work for Portland? (by adding money or draft picks or young prospects or taking back some of Portland's younger and cheaper flops) Dallas would have to bring someone additional to help at the point (but it shouldn't be that hard to find someone who will perform as well as Best and Delk), but it would very much shore up our middle.

[Male30Dan]

And our backup point guard duties fall directly on Daniels for the rest of the year??? Without another trade to grab a GOOD backup point guard, I say no to this... With that trade, I say yes to it!

[V]

from Chad Ford

Will the Knicks pull off another blockbuster? As I just wrote above, the feeling on Wednesday was that Thomas was looking to make one major trade. Both scenarios (Portland and Cleveland) are still just rumors in my mind. But they're interesting and more plausible than they first appeared on paper.

Upon taking over the Knicks, Thomas set out to get two marquee players -- Marbury and Wallace. Thomas used up most of his trade bait to get Marbury, leading many to believe that Wallace was unattainable. Given the latest talk, that may be misguided. While Blazers GM John Nash has been adamant in the past about not taking back long-term deals for Wallace, a trade with the Knicks may make some sense for Portland if the Knicks are willing to take back Ruben Patterson as part of the trade.

If the Knicks sent Van Horn, Williams, Sweetney, Michael Doleac and Dikembe Mutombo to Portland for Wallace and Patterson, the Blazers' cap number would rise from a projected $42 million next year to around $55 million. That's a pretty big increase to swallow, but if they can last one more year while they wait for Dale Davis and Damon Stoudamire to come off the books, the number gets much more palatable.

Right now the Blazers have only $18.3 million in committed salaries for the 2005-06 season. That number would go to $27.6, still far enough under the cap to make a big free-agent signing and re-sign Zach Randolph. In 2006-07, their number would actually go down from a projected $18.5 million to $11.5 million because Van Horn comes off the books before Patterson.

The bottom line for the Blazers is that, at $42 million, they won't have enough cash to get a marquee free agent to replace Wallace anyway. Why not take on a good small forward (whose talents are better suited to the West Coast style anyway) and a bright young point guard, clean up the image of the team by dumping Wallace and Patterson without sacrificing wins (Van Horn, Williams, Sweetney and Mutombo should at least be able to duplicate the wins Wallace and Patterson are giving the team), and still have enough cap room in 2005 to start reloading the team?

For the Knicks, the addition of Wallace, a superstar talent with a NDBL head, would be another major coup. Thomas believes he can get through to Wallace, and combined with Marbury, Houston and Kurt Thomas, the Knicks would have enough talent to compete with any team in the East.

The other scenario with Cleveland (Van Horn, Williams and Sweetney for Ilgauskas and Miles) makes plenty of sense for the Cavs, though you wonder if Thomas would just be better off swapping Williams and Othella Harrington for Miles (sources claim the Thomas turned that deal down on Tuesday). Ilgauskas, paired with Mutombo, would give the Knicks their best low-post scoring option since Patrick Ewing. Concerns about Ilgauskas' feet, poor defense and lumbering approach are issues. But the ability to platoon Ilgauskas, Mutombo and Thomas should give Don Chaney one of the better front lines in the league. Thomas has also been a fan of Miles for a while. He gives them that long, athletic presence at forward that Thomas has been craving.

Why would the Cavs do it? They're into surrounding LeBron James with the "right" players and this trade makes some sense. Van Horn's ability to play multiple positions and to stretch the defense are an asset, as is his unselfish style of play. He has just one year more on his contract than Ilgauskas, and given the Cavs' current cap projections, shouldn't hinder what they're trying to do.

Williams would immediately be the best full-time point guard on the team's roster, and Sweetney gives the Cavs more muscle in the paint. Cap wise, the Cavs would actually shave about $2 million off the cap for this season. Next year, the presence of Van Horn, Sweetney and Williams would add around $3 million to the cap assuming the team lets Miles go without compensation. In 2005-06, the Cavs would still be looking at roughly $10 million in cap room, even with Van Horn on board. The deal doesn't quite work as well as the Portland one, but it's still in the realm of possibility.

[V]

Jon from Philly: What are the chances of seeing rasheed wallace in a 76ers uniform?

Marc Stein: Only two chances: Sixers send AI to Portland now -- and that's assuming Portland would be willing to take on Mr. Answer -- or Sheed plays out the season in Portland and then snubs the Nuggets and signs with Philly for the mid-level exception in the summer. Which would be a pay cut of more than $12 million. Sheed wants to go home, but it ain't gonna be easy.

[V]

Sheed is being held out of the lineup tonight. Word is "sprained ankle"

[V]

January 10, 2004 -- Don Chaney was allowed to run another practice while Isiah Thomas stayed holed up in his office yesterday at the Knicks' Westchester campus. The Stephon Marbury blockbuster has not yet proved the answer, and Thomas was trying to figure out which button to press to get his club out of its ongoing mess.

The Knicks' new boss was attempting to make Rasheed Wallace a Knick, but talks with Portland broke down yesterday and the Blazers' bad-boy power forward appeared headed to Dallas as part of a package for Antawn Jamison, sources said.

After bolting the Garden following Thursday's 32-point loss to the Rockets with his eyes blazing in anger, and even getting testy with a heckler, Thomas declined to meet with reporters, apparently saving his electric smile for his appearance on David Letterman's show Tuesday.

Thomas finally emerged from his cave late yesterday afternoon. He had not spoken to Chaney since the Rocket massacre. But at 4:30 p.m., after the three-hour practice, Thomas sat down with his coach to talk things over.

The fans at the Garden on Thursday let Thomas know what they wanted with their first-ever "Fire Chaney" chants during the loss to Jeff Van Gundy. But Thomas was not ready to end the depressing Chaney Era yesterday. Chaney will coach tonight against the Bucks, but there's hardly an assurance he will last this five-game homestand.

Chaney put up a brave front. When told the "Fire Layden" chants lasted a year-and-a-half before action was taken, Chaney said: "That means I'll have a chance to finish [the season] with this team. If I have a chance to finish with this team, I think we'll be in the playoffs."

Thomas' bid for Wallace is futile since, according to a league executive familiar with the Blazers' thinking, Keith Van Horn's maximum contract needed to be part of the package to get the salaries to add up to Wallace's $17 million.



"Keith is the only player [Portland] could get and become a worse team defensively," the league executive said. "There is no deal with them. If they take Keith for his two more years, they might as well just pay Rasheed."

In addition, Blazers GM John Nash, who had the same position with the Nets when John Calipari made the call to draft Van Horn, knows too well the forward's deficiencies.

The Blazers would have been interested in Kurt Thomas, Frank Williams and Michael Doleac, but the contracts wouldn't add up.

The Knicks, who have lost four straight to drop nine games below .500, are three games out of the eighth seed. Tonight, they face No. 7 Milwaukee, a team they may have to pass to make the eighth seed. The Bucks have haunted Chaney this season, beating him twice and inspiring criticism after he benched Dikembe Mutombo in the fourth quarter of the first loss on Nov. 5 at the Garden.

If the Bucks batter the Knicks tonight, the "Fire Chaney" chants are sure to resurface.

"[The fans] pay money to see our team," Chaney said. "They can act the way they want to. They have a right too. When we don't play well, everything comes out on me. I don't react to the fans. They went after Patrick Ewing and that was unjust. Fans are fans. They're very fickle."

Chaney's newest excuse for the Knicks' woes is the "adjustment period" with a fresh floor leader in Marbury.

"Hopefully it won't take too long, but if it does, [Thomas] has to do what he has to do," Chaney said. "He has pressure on him too. My job is to win, no matter if we have new guys or hurt guys. I know that. I'm a realist. I know Isiah has a job to do. He has to make a decision on patience or no patience."

[uberfan]

Overhead when my telephone line got crossed:

"OK. You win. I give up. Give me Wallace for Walker and change. Might as well give me Patterson and McInnis while your at it, but you have to take someone like TAW from me."

I couldn't quite make out who was talking, but I have heard that voice somewhere before....[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif[/img]

[MightyToine]

Originally posted by: uberfan
Overhead when my telephone line got crossed:

"OK. You win. I give up. Give me Wallace for Walker and change. Might as well give me Patterson and McInnis while your at it, but you have to take someone like TAW from me."

I couldn't quite make out who was talking, but I have heard that voice somewhere before....[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif[/img]

LOL!