Not Hollywood. Not New York. Not Miami I like their take on Wallace and the fast break: His ability to not leak out and leave our D open; yet has the instincts to still be one of the targets on the fast break is pretty amazing.
This is sooooo true. When I saw that place ranting Wallace, and cheers thereafter. I was like "Man I wish I was there being a part of that!"
Interesting how you missed this bit: One of the main reasons some of us advocate trading him while his value is at its highest.
Oh I didn't miss it, but I'm not concerned with it. Did you see the interview on Blazer.com; where he said he wants to retire a Blazer? That was coming straight from his mouth. So all the "what if's" are fine and could be possible; but I'm more interested in the "substancials" and that's him publically saying he wants to stay here.
I don't want to trade him as long as we have a chance to do something special this season. Gerald is my favorite player on the team.
I'm all for letting it ride until the trade deadline and then seeing where we're at, but regardless of where Wallace wants to go or even if he says he wants to "retire" here, is that really the best thing? I'm OK with the team paying him 10-11 million this year and possibly into next, but after that the luxury tax rules are going to be brutal and PA has already said he's done with having one of the highest payrolls in the league. If his market value goes up to 13-14 million/yr for 4 years I foresee an Alex Rodriguez situation a few years down the line where he's being paid for what he used to be instead of what he's actually able to deliver. Some people are inevitably going to dismiss what I'm saying and tend to gloss over it, but wing players like GW just don't age all that gracefully after 30 -- this should be a legitimate long term concern for people who actually care about the team.
This is why I am for keeping Wallace. I get there are future Blazers games out there in the years to come. But my tickets are for 2011-2012 . . . and nights like last night are the reason I buy season tickets. You just didn't have that atmosohere for 5 long years at the Rose Garden. I couldn't give away tickets during that time period. Now everybody is asking if they can go or if they can buy my tickets. Trade Wallace for future non lottery draft picks?
Damn i wsih they would have fixed the CBA so you could use an amnesty every year. GW will get about 30 million over 3 years. He is well worth it if healthy.
Shawn Marion kind of comes to mind. Wallace creates most of his opportunities off hustle though. I don't think he'll age as bad as people think.
Marion and Wallace are good comparison; which still doesn't help the debate. They are both at the same stages of their careers.
Which even makes this more of a debate. How can anyone think that Wallace is just another wing? I believe Marion has another 3 years left too on his contract right? Why wouldn't we have Wallace for 3 very solid years too?
First of all, Gerald Wallace isn't some unique player that we've never seen before (by style). Secondly, are you really trying to tell me you've never seen a slashing wing with great athleticism, decline rapidly after hitting 30? If you can't think of any I'll help you: Shawn Marion Vince Carter Tracy McGrady Corey Maggette Caron Butler ... I'm sure there's more, but frankly I don't really feel like doing all of that work. At this point I'd say the burden of proof is on you to show me all of these high fliers that held up really well after 30.
Actually, Marion started to decline at about 30. He's not nearly the same player he was before, and not close to how good Wallace is right now. The question isn't whether or not they can still be a solid player, the question is whether or not you'd be willing to pay 10+ million a year for that player. (Which is what you would be doing for the later years of Wallace's new contract)
He's not getting 9 per. Especially this offseason when SO many teams have capspace. Unless he gets injured or something, (In which case, he'd take his PO), you're almost guaranteed to pay 10-14 million per year.
