Rasheed Wallace

[kg_veteran]

Originally posted by: Poindexter Einstein
You can trade, no matter how far over or under the cap you are, as long as the current salaries that you get back are about the same (or less) as the ones you send away.

If you're over the cap, the salaries have to be within the confines of the collective bargaining agreement.

If you're under the cap, you can take on as much salary as you want up to the point where you're at the cap.

Thus, if a team was $5 million under the cap, they could trade a player with a $5 million contract for a player with a $10 million contract.

[Poindexter Einstein]

Originally posted by: grndmstr_c
It's debatable how much Najera is worth to us given his struggles this year.....

I agree that Najera has struggled due to injuries. The question is, does Nellie see him as a possible contributor, or not, going forward? If not, then yes he should be moved. But my GUESS is that Nellie still sees him as one who will be a vital role player here once the injuries ease up a bit (and if that is accurate, then there is no way you get true value for him in a trade, you are way better just to keep him)

[XERXES]

I'm trying to find it online - but supposedly, Oregon Live is reporting that a deal IS on the table...

[V]

OregonLive hosts a Blazers discussion forum... you have to sort through all sorts of bs ... but they usually post news as soon as it hits the airwaves ... I checked & there is no new news on 'Sheed (outside of a Detroit rumor involving Okur, others, & picks whick was debunked)

OregonLive

[Chicago JK]

from Mike Kahn:
Item: With the trade winds at gale-like force in Portland, Rasheed Wallace sat out his fourth game in a row with a sprained ankle Thursday night as the Trail Blazers lost their third game in a row and eighth in the past 10. They are five games below .500 for the first time since March 1996 when they finished 44-38 and P.J. Carlesimo was coach.

What it really means: Blazers owner Paul Allen, president Steve Patterson and general manager John Nash have procrastinated for seven months. They still don't have a plan in place for Wallace, their best player, whose contract ends after he gets paid $17 million this season.

Word is they have a three-year, $30 million extension on the table as well. Can it be this soon that Allen isn't comfortable with the personnel moves being brought upstairs from Nash and Patterson?

They've got until Feb. 19 to arrive at some conclusion, but it still appears Wallace would rather stay, his teammates would rather he stay and the coaching staff would just as soon have him working with hot young Zack Randolph up front. So if they're not going to send him to Dallas in a Antawn Jamison package or to New York for Keith Van Horn-plus or Cleveland for Zyrdunas Ilgauskas-plus, Allen and his immediate subordinates might conclude it makes much more sense financially as well.

The problem is Patterson and Nash walked in the door and bashed Wallace publicly, so the press conference where they announce the extension would be pretty uncomfortable. Actually, Allen would be the best master of ceremonies in that one. But that's still the best solution, even if it is for a little more than the $30 million. He'll still be very tradable at that point, and there won't be any base year compensation issues, because he'll be making less money than he did this year.

[MavsFanFinley]

Taken from the Quick Releases on dallasbasketball.com

NOW IT’S TARIQ AND ANTAWN:

Word out of the Portland media has the Blazers officially confirming that a Rasheed Wallace trade is on the table – and unofficial gossip from the Portland media has Wallace coming to Dallas in exchange for Antawn Jamison and Tariq Abdul-Wahad.

Does giving up Tariq – who clearly does not fit into the Mavs plans, ever – allow such a deal to fit into Mark Cuban’s “sweetheart of a deal" criteria?

[V]

Hell yes

[Nash13]

That would be a marriage proposal deal. Any deal that gets Wahad out of Dallas will win my heart.


Does this officially count as Dallas media on the trade?

[Max Power]

Originally posted by: MavsFanFinley
Taken from the Quick Releases on dallasbasketball.com

NOW IT’S TARIQ AND ANTAWN:

Word out of the Portland media has the Blazers officially confirming that a Rasheed Wallace trade is on the table – and unofficial gossip from the Portland media has Wallace coming to Dallas in exchange for Antawn Jamison and Tariq Abdul-Wahad.

Does giving up Tariq – who clearly does not fit into the Mavs plans, ever – allow such a deal to fit into Mark Cuban’s “sweetheart of a deal" criteria?

Yes.

But not because of TAW - he has a very friendly contract. Leave his butt on the bench for the first 40 games of every season and insurance picks up the tab.

But Wallace is a much better player than Jamison. They are both good scorers and both can rebound. Neither of them are "go to players". But Wallace is a better defender, can block shots, and can pass the ball. That trumps the superior attitude of Jamison.

Talent beats attitude every time.

[V]

From DMN

When the Mavericks get the Rose Garden tonight to play the Trail Blazers, the game won't be the only intrigue going on. President of basketball operations Donnie Nelson expects to sit down with John Nash, the Blazers' chief of basketball operations. The topic will be Blazers forward Rasheed Wallace.

And for the first time in the long-running soap opera of the Blazers trying to trade Wallace, some of the speculation actually makes some sense.

After months of the Blazers leaking mostly inconceivable trade rumors, the most recent piece of conjecture includes forgotten Maverick Tariq Abdul-Wahad, along with Antawn Jamison. Abdul-Wahad's contract runs for four more seasons and averages roughly $7 million per season. If the Mavericks were able to get out from underneath that deal, they might be at least willing to listen to Portland's overtures.

"I'm sure we'll see how much fire there is with all of this smoke," Nelson said Friday. "It's all hearsay and speculation. All I can say is we're not looking to tear up this roster. It would take a significant move forward, a no-brainer."

[OutletPass]

this has now hit "Absolute Regurgitation of an Rumor from the Portland Press " Phase.

Scuse me while I puke at the trade mongering.

[Max Power]

Originally posted by: OutletPass
this has now hit "Absolute Regurgitation of an Rumor from the Portland Press " Phase.

Scuse me while I puke at the trade mongering.

One way or another it will be over later today (well Monday anyway since the NBA office is closed on Sunday).

[OutletPass]

er...it' still January, Max...just another F*ing month of this til 2/19.

[Dirkenstien]

Originally posted by: MavsFanFinley
Taken from the Quick Releases on dallasbasketball.com

NOW IT’S TARIQ AND ANTAWN:

Word out of the Portland media has the Blazers officially confirming that a Rasheed Wallace trade is on the table – and unofficial gossip from the Portland media has Wallace coming to Dallas in exchange for Antawn Jamison and Tariq Abdul-Wahad.

Does giving up Tariq – who clearly does not fit into the Mavs plans, ever – allow such a deal to fit into Mark Cuban’s “sweetheart of a deal" criteria?

we may have to compensate with a second round draft pick, but id still do it

[Poindexter Einstein]

If you do that deal, dont you demand that Wallace is FIRST inked to that 3-yrs-for-$30m extension? Then when you get him, you know you wont have to worry about losing him to free agency. Disaster would be to send Jamison to Portland and then in 6 months have nothing to show for it.

[twelli]

if jamison really goes, who is going to be our 6th man of the year candidate? who is coming off the bench when starting a game with a real center (not dirk)?

[Max Power]

Originally posted by: OutletPass
er...it' still January, Max...just another F*ing month of this til 2/19.

I think the Blazers are desperate to make a move NOW in order to turn the franchise around.

[EricaLubarsky]

Originally posted by: OutletPass
this has now hit "Absolute Regurgitation of an Rumor from the Portland Press " Phase.

Scuse me while I puke at the trade mongering.

I share that sentiment all the way. How far away is the trade deadline?

[V]

Coach Maurice Cheeks gives the struggling Blazers the day off as teams show a renewed interest in working a swap with Portland

01/17/04

JASON QUICK

A whirlwind 24 hours of confusion, uncertainty and secrecy have passed with the Trail Blazers, during which a lot of action has resulted in little to no results.

After an eventful Thursday that included general manager John Nash and coach Maurice Cheeks meeting with Rasheed Wallace, and a closed-door meeting during that night's game among owner Paul Allen, president Steve Patterson and Nash, Friday appeared to mark the makings of a shakeup to a team that has lost seven of eight.

But the plot only thickened Friday afternoon when Nash said a trade is not in the foreseeable future, perhaps a result of what Nash called a renewed interest by teams who are contacting the Blazers about previously rejected offers.

"We have made our position clear to several teams, and now teams are suggesting that they would do things that they wouldn't have done previously," Nash said. "Things change."

Meanwhile, as a moody and downtrodden Blazers team gathered in Tualatin for an 11 a.m. practice, Cheeks abruptly canceled the workout. The Blazers players, many of whom have complained that trade speculation is affecting their play, were sent home by Cheeks to "clear their minds" after the coach held a short meeting.

"I wanted to release their minds a bit, have them step away from it all," Cheeks said. "It's a delicate situation. When you are going through a tailspin, the guys on the team have to maintain a togetherness. Regardless of trade rumors, regardless of who is here, you have to pull strength from each other. That's what we talked about today: You have to look and find where that strength is, because it just might be in you."

At the center of the uneasiness is the status of Wallace, the team's talented and controversial forward who has been included in trade speculation since the summer. The rumors had become so frequent and so varied that Nash pulled Wallace into a meeting with Cheeks after the team's shootaround Thursday.

"The purpose was to provide him with information," Nash said. "I thought it was an effective meeting. I was trying to convey to him what exactly has been going on. As a result of the media attention and rumors swirling around, I wanted him to know what was factual and what wasn't. And Rasheed seemed to recognize that it's part of the business."

Cheeks said the meeting was effective because Wallace took the opportunity to air some of his feelings.

"He talked, and he had some input, and that's what we were looking for," Cheeks said. "We wanted to hear his feelings, not only about what we were talking about, but just in general."

Nash said he has asked Wallace if he wants a contract extension, but he said Wallace has not made up his mind. Cheeks said if Wallace came out and said he wanted to stay in Portland, it could affect how the team approached his status.

"If he comes out and says that, then you have to look at it," Cheeks said. "That would be a strong statement. But I'm not going to stay that he has said that or not."

Cheeks also would not say whether he wanted to keep Wallace.

"You have to look and see what is best for the organization if you keep him or not," Cheeks said. "I don't know any other way to say it. That's the bottom line.

"You see, this is a unique place. There is a great fan base here. But in looking at the arena (Thursday) night -- I don't know how many were there -- but it wasn't indicative of how the Portland Trail Blazer fan base is," Cheeks said. "These are great fans who love their basketball. But it is not there right now. It's very disappointing right now to Trail Blazers fans."

Cheeks said it would be in everybody's best interest if the uncertainty were cleared up.

"And I imagine a resolution will come sooner than later," Cheeks said. "But I don't think it's an easy situation."

Just look at the past 24 hours.

Notes:

Mavericks president of basketball operations Donnie Nelson said he would meet with Nash today, the Fort Worth (Texas) Star-Telegram reported. "I'll see how much fire there is to this smoke," Nelson said Friday before the Mavericks' game against the Denver Nuggets. . . . This is the latest the Blazers have been five games under .500 since March 1996. That team, which featured coach P.J. Carlesimo, rookie Arvydas Sabonis and leading scorer Clifford Robinson, was 26-34 and trailed the eighth and final playoff spot by six games with 22 games remaining. But the Blazers won 18 of their final 22 games to finish 44-38, earning them the sixth seed in the playoffs, where they lost their first-round series 3-2 to Utah. . . . Cheeks defended his decision not to practice on Friday even though the team has lost seven of eight. "You can practice, practice, practice, but sometimes you take a different approach. I've got to feel it out and deal with it."

[V]

Oregonian's recap of wild trade speculation ending Friday afternoon 01/17/04

11 a.m. Thursday: General manager John Nash and coach Maurice Cheeks meet with Rasheed Wallace after the team's shootaround to tell him which trade rumors are fact and which are fiction. Wallace offers opinions about his future and the state of the team.

8:30 p.m. Thursday: Owner Paul Allen, president Steve Patterson and Nash meet in a private Rose Garden room during the third quarter of the Blazers' game against Phoenix. The meeting lasts at least 30 minutes, after which Allen said he was left with a decision: trade or not trade.

9:20 p.m. Thursday: With Allen back in his courtside seat, the Blazers can't complete a frantic comeback, dropping a 105-96 decision to the last-place Phoenix Suns, the Blazers' seventh loss in eight games. A sparse crowd, announced at 14,202, watches the Blazers fall to 16-21, their worst 37-game start since 1976 (13-24).

11 a.m. Friday: As the players arrive at the team's Tualatin facility for practice, Cheeks abruptly cancels the workout, instead choosing to lecture the team about togetherness before sending players home to "clear their minds."

1 p.m. Friday: Nash says no trade will be made Friday, and that no trades are in the near future. However, he states that teams are beginning to contact the Blazers about previously rejected offers.

[XERXES]

Thanks for the recap, V. I just wonder how much of that is fact and how much is spin control?

[mavs413]

Originally posted by: twelli
if jamison really goes, who is going to be our 6th man of the year candidate? who is coming off the bench when starting a game with a real center (not dirk)?

With Dirk at Center
G - Nash
G - Finley
F - Walker
F - Wallace
C - Dirk
6th Man - Howard
Without Dirk at Center
G - Nash
G - Finley
F - Wallace
F - Dirk
C - Bradley/Fortson
6th Man - Walker
But, I think that if Wallace is aquired, we may not ever start a true center. Only sub one in (Bradley) to stop a layup drill.

[MightyToine]

I still say this trade won't happen.


(and I'm not betting any of my hard-earned money on it, OP)

[V]

Skin from Dallas Sports Radio 1310 reports credible sources inside the Mavs organization tell him the Jamison + Najera + Delk rumor was a complete fabrication.

Sources suggest the mavs are more interested in upgrading the back end of the roster ... leaving the Big-5 intact.

[mavs413]

Originally posted by: V
Skin from Dallas Sports Radio 1310 reports credible sources inside the Mavs organization tell him the Jamison + Najera + Delk rumor was a complete fabrication.

Sources suggest the mavs are more interested in upgrading the back end of the roster ... leaving the Big-5 intact.

That is music to my ears!
I dont know, however, how we can trade our back end for players that would be considered an upgrade.

[grndmstr_c]

Originally posted by: V
Skin from Dallas Sports Radio 1310 reports credible sources inside the Mavs organization tell him the Jamison + Najera + Delk rumor was a complete fabrication.

Sources suggest the mavs are more interested in upgrading the back end of the roster ... leaving the Big-5 intact.

Jamison, Najera, Delk being BS doesn't surprise me much. Najera and Delk would be considerably more palatable as trade filler, or even major pieces in a smaller trade than TAW, hence, including them without losing TAW in an AJ for Sheed swap would not be a no-brainer from the Mavs persepctive. No mention of the AJ and TAW rumor, V?

[XERXES]

DO we have any tradeable assets (talent/expiring contracts) outside of the big 5? Anything?

[ddh33]

Someone tell me how we're looking to upgrade the bottom of the roster. We don't have anything worthwhile outside the Big Five, Shawn, and the rookies.

I don't think teams are lining up for Abdul-Wahad or Delk.

The only way I could see this team adding to the bottom of the roster is in a package deal where we send out one of our big names.

I still think this Rasheed thing will happen. Right now, I think both teams may be in spin-control. You don't want to mess with the rest of your team and keep everyone worrying. Donnie even hinted at that in the paper...

I wonder if we're trying to get Portland to give someone else for us to have at the end of the bench (Woods, Outlaw, Stepania, Boumjte). I could see something like that happening.

[Dirkenstien]

After looking at portland forums it seems the fans there are more fond of the Jamison, Najera, and Delk package as opposed to the Jamison and Wahad one. Most though, would like to see Sheed go to the east or to a team that isnt very good due to the fact that we would be, and I quote, "down right scary with sheed"

[V]

X - The Mavs don't really have many tradeable assets at this point. This is the way I see things from a value standpoint... if we believe the Big-5 will not be moved we have

Nash, Fin, AJ, Walk, and Dirk stay.

Howard & Daniels out-value their contracts so moving one or both of these guys for a comparable cap figure is unlikely to upgrade the roster...

Bradley may be the best backup center in the league. He is very moveable .. he has a good contract ... but moving him makes NO sense for the Mavs.

Delk is potentially moveable but he's not likely to bring a big man

Best makes the league minimum and as such wouldn't fetch a qulity big man alone. Plus he's the starting PG.

N'diaye is on a 10-day. If he were any good (repeat ANY good) he would already have a full time job.

Najera... ... .... .... Najera is an interesting role player. He could have some value if he were healthy but he has a long contract & most mimportantly he's exactly the type pf player one would expect to find if one were looking to upgrade the back end of a roster. I've said this before... and so have others ... but I'm afraid ole Najera is washed up. In any event Najera has zero trade value unless he's used as cap filler.

What we're left are two bad contracts (i.e. players who are paid more than they are worth) Fortson, TAW... but neither of these guys carry an expiring contract. These guys are potentially moveable as cap filler... and probably little else.

So what's the upshot? Upgrading the back end of the Mavs roster will be exceedingly difficult ... if not impossible.

I agree with DDH33 ... I think we're hearing quite a bit of spin control... Mavs are backing off as Donnie suggests they're going to"see how much fire there is with all of this smoke." Meanwhile Nash says "...now teams are suggesting that they would do things that they wouldn't have done previously." Sounds to me like both sides are prep'ing the media. In case a deal is done the Blazers certainly don't want to come off like they gave in to another team by giving them a (Cuban's words) "sweetheart bargain that we couldn't say no to." Likewise, the mavs don't want to sound like desperate Trader Joes.

My opinion, this circus is all about posturing. I have no idea if anything will get done but rest assured I bet they're doing some serious talking about a deal as we speak.

EDIT: Spelin

[mavs413]

This article has a few new statements about the negotiations between Dallas and Portland.

By Marc Stein
ESPN.com

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.

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.

[XERXES]

wow. i think this article adds a new level of legitimacy (albeit 50/50) to all this speculation.

i wonder who his source is?...probably OP.

[mavs413]

Yeah, 50/50 chance means a lot. It's closer than what I thought before reading this article.
But, what I found the most interesting is that he was implying that we would rather like to trade Walker than Jamison but they arent interested in Walker, and that makes us more hesitant to make a trade with them.
He also said that San Antonio and Detroit were the other teams showing the most interest in Wallace. But, what could the Spurs and Pistons possibly be offering Portland?

[Dirkenstien]

Originally posted by: mavs413
Yeah, 50/50 chance means a lot. It's closer than what I thought before reading this article.
But, what I found the most interesting is that he was implying that we would rather like to trade Walker than Jamison but they arent interested in Walker, and that makes us more hesitant to make a trade with them.
He also said that San Antonio and Detroit were the other teams showing the most interest in Wallace. But, what could the Spurs and Pistons possibly be offering Portland?

virtually nothing compared to what we can offer them

[mavs413]

Has Donnie been interviewed by anyone yet concerning the meetings today in Portland?

[Max Power]

Originally posted by: mavs413
Has Donnie been interviewed by anyone yet concerning the meetings today in Portland?

Yes - Donnie basically said that the trade talks are over. There is no deal.

[mavs413]

Thats good to hear.
Long live the Big 5!

[LRB]

Originally posted by: Max Power

Yes - Donnie basically said that the trade talks are over. There is no deal.

That probably means that they're almost completed the deal. [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif[/img]

[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.

[V]

This article appeared earlier today... before the Nash / Donnie meeting

Dallas Is Exactly The Kind Of Environment Where 'Sheed Can Succeed
Ian B. FordBasketball News Services

More likely than not, Rasheed Wallace has been traded to the Dallas Mavericks. Though the trade may not be announced until sometime after Saturday night's game between Portland and Dallas, all the signs are there indicating that Rasheed has finally worn out his welcome in the Rose City. Whether or not the deal goes through, the very thought of adding a player as talented and volatile as Wallace to the Mavericks' already potent roster begs the question; would Rasheed even make a difference in Dallas?

On the surface, the Mavs potential acquisition of the oft-troubled former Tar Heel reeks of desperation. After a summer of wheeling and dealing, Dallas Head Coach Don Nelson still doesn't have the low post presence he so understandably covets. Critics will remind anyone within earshot that Rasheed isn't exactly a classic big man. In fact, upon further review, he almost looks tailor-made for Nelson and his wide-open offense. Again, that doesn't exactly solve the Mavs' lack of an interior presence, but it hardly sucks either.

Before everybody starts dismissing this move as nothing more than a brief rental of a talented headcase (Wallace is a free-agent upon the conclusion of this season), the Mavericks would actually come out looking much improved with the addition of the 6'11" forward. Assuming Dallas is giving up reserve forward Antawn Jamison (as part of some type of package), they will be adding a starter in exchange for a sub. (That would be the first sign that this is a good move for Dallas. It's not quite getting something for nothing, but it's close.)

With Steve Nash at the point (once his hip feels better), Michael Finley at the two, Antoine Walker at small forward, Dirk Nowitzki at power forward and Rasheed at center, the Mavericks are a much better team than the one that is currently third in the Midwest Division and still looking to regain whatever magic it was that carried them all the way to last year's Western Conference Finals. (His name is Nick Van Exel, by the way. He can be found in Oakland.)

The main knock against the Mavs is their doughnut-like interior game. Shawn Bradley doesn't exactly instill much fear in opponents, while Danny Fortson inspires the wrong kind of fear altogether. With Wallace manning the middle, the Mavs would have themselves an athletic shot-blocker that has the ability to guard all three front-court positions effectively. (Jamison is a classic matador on defense. Actually, that's unfair to matadors.) Rasheed tends to try and bait his man into taking a shot that he thinks he can reject, but that's not always such a bad thing. At least he's aggressive on defense, which is one thing that can't always be said about his offense.

In order to fit in with the Mavs, Rasheed Wallace is simply going to have to relax and play exactly the type of game that suits him best. With the presence of so many talented players, all 'Sheed has to do is post up to draw the defense, then either create a high-percentage shot for himself or find an open teammate. With shooters like Nash, Walker and Finley patrolling the perimeter, it wouldn't be too surprising to see Rasheed averaging crazy assist for a man his size. He's not exactly selfish, so convincing him to give up the rock won't be an issue. (Convincing him to stay in the paint may be.)

Then again, maybe not having to be "the man" will re-energize Rasheed. (Lord knows nothing he's doing in Portland seems to be working.) There was a time he was among the most dependable personalities in the game. Now he's hardly even in the news anymore, save for those ridiculous comments about feeling "exploited" by the man...er, the NBA earlier this season. (That was a low point, even for 'Sheed.) Perhaps being surrounded by studs will remind him of his days at North Carolina. Back then Rasheed would routinely blow up for 20 and 10, usually off of a variety of silky moves and money jumpers. If he played his way into becoming a lottery pick in the 1995 NBA Draft (one spot ahead of some guy named Kevin Garnett) while balling with cats like Jerry Stackhouse and Dante Calabria, just imagine how comfortable he would be with Dirk, Ringo, 'Toine and Finley as his teammates. It's downright horrifying, particularly for the rest of the league.

Rasheed Wallace and the Dallas Mavericks might not seem like a match made in heaven, but looks can be deceiving. He might not be a "true" center, but, other than Shaquille O'Neal, how many of those are there left in the NBA anyway? Other than his off-court issues (and there are more than a few), adding Wallace to the Dallas puzzle is not as risky a move as some would say. Sure, dude might go off on some poor ref (perfectly nderstandable) and wind up suspended for the rest of the year, but what are the odds of that? (On second thought, don't bother answering that.)