Teams that might have interest in Ben Wallace

Obviously I think Ben Wallace's deal is not very tradeable, but there are several teams I could imagine having interest and something approaching the right combination of player contracts. The motivation for the Bulls would be to get younger and/or get a shorter contract than Ben's 2 years left. The other teams either have some conceivable use for Wallace because they think they're going somewhere deep in the playoffs with help, or because they want a better contract, or both.</p>

I'm not suggesting any of these deals specifically, just noting parameters that make basic sense. Draft picks or other players to make the deal actually palatable to both teams would have to be figured out later, but just by looking at the basics of who's struggling, who needs bigs, and what contracts they have, we might be able to figure out some teams to talk to.</p>

Cleveland is an organization that seems on the brink of desperation it seems to me, and it's got comparable contracts tied to underperforming players to send back. Eric Snow and Donyell Marshall have 1 year left on their deals, so would constitute savings vs. Wallace. Larry Hughes has 2 years left, like Wallace. They've got Varejao holding out, maybe a sign and trade possibility but probably not. Wallace's deal would be up at the same time as Hughes and Ilgauskas', so that'd dovetail nicely for them.</p>

Dallas has Eric Dampier with 3 years left who they'd probably switch with Wallace's bigger but shorter contract, but I don't know where that gets us.</p>

Indiana has a variety of guys with similar or worse contracts (Jermaine O'Neal, Troy Murphy) but I don't see how that helps us much. O'Neal is a better player, but he'll probably make what both Bens make for us next year, and you know Reinsdorf won't support that kind of salary structure.</p>

The Clippers have Elton Brand with a torn achillies and potentially opting out of his contract. Wallace could be the sort of ass covering replacement he was for them that he was for us when we dumped Chandler?</p>

The Lakers could obviously use some immediate help, and Kwame Brown would be a valuable expiring contract for us. I imagine we'd also have to take back Vlad Radmanovic too (3 years left) who isn't completely useless, but not exactly great either.</p>

Memphis has Pau Gasol with 3 years left and nobody seems incredibly happy with the way he fits into Marc Iavoroni's system. Maybe they'd like Wallace for two years instead of Gasol for 3? They've also got a variety of players with 2 years left too (Mike Miller and Brian Cardinal) and 1 year left (Damon Stoudemire and Stromile Swift).</p>

Miami has two expiring deals (Ricky Davis and Jason Williams) and Mark Blount with two years left.</p>

Orlando has Tony Battie (2 years left) and a variety of expiring contracts (Pat Garrity, Keyon Dooling, Carlos Arroyo). I don't know if James Augustine is worth a damn, but he's sitting on their bench and they've still got the rights to lottery pick PF Fran Vasquez.</p>

Phoenix always looks like a tough guy away from playoff success, but I don't know that they've got anything to give up we'd want to take back.</p>

Seattle has Wally Sczerbiak with 1 year left who could be the basis of a deal, and they've got a few young bigs (Robert Swift, Johan Petro, Nick Collison, Saer Sene).</p>

Washington isn't having success and has Antawn Jamison who's contract is expiring.</p>

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He likes it in Chicago. (he gets to sleep at games)</p>

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I don't know how they'd do it with their salary structure, but he would fit in so well with Boston, a win now team with enough scorers.

Mike, you've been trying to trade Ben Wallace forever. I think it's going to be very difficult for obvious reasons.

 

Agreed on both counts. Boston doesn't have any contracts to trade for him though, which is why I limited my look here to teams that at least conceivably could take him back and have a reason to.</p>

Like, I could actually most of those teams I mentioned having some interest. Even if he's not spectacular any more, if a team isn't giving up a lot (contractually and in terms of future) and it's looking for a guy who could be solid in the playoffs, I think he'd have some value. I mean, look at how many teams went after PJ Brown. I think if contract isn't an issue (and it's not if you're simply trading one bad contract for another), he's got some value. Not as much as we'd like, but he's got some.</p>

The other issue I see is that we really need to figure out how to replace him. Wallace is the only guy on our team that plays the game with any power at all. I know the Bulls seem to think Ty and Noah are their answers in the long-run, but neither of those guys look like players that are going to control the paint to me. That's not to say they're going to be bad players or bad rebounders, there's a difference between a guy who's 220lbs and grabs boards because he's quick and tall and a guy who can push people around and create space. Those latter qualities are often just as necessary to winning the rebound and defensive battles as a team.</p>

 

The Lakers wouldn't need Wallace. His offense is just as horrible as Browns. They are doing perfectly fine right now with Bynum/Brown/Mihm. And Radman is acually doing decent coming off the bench this year.</p>

 

With both teams seemingly needing a shakeup...the Warriors lack of defense being a big problem...maybe we could do:</p>

Bulls Receive:

Al Harrington
Stephen Jackson
Stephane Lasme</p>

Warriors Receive:</p>

Ben Wallace
Joakim Noah
Thabo Sefolosha</p>

We still have to find out the lineups after that a bit. A combo guard like Azubuike would be better in our case, but his small contract and trade restriction make Jackson easier to obtain, and probably someone the Warriors would more gladly deal.</p>

Harringtons playing great, but clearly what they're doing is not getting it done. I think they can just try to liken this to Richardson for Wright, to Noah for Harrington.</p>

The Bulls would have to decide what they would want to do lineup wise post trade.</p>

Do they go with:</p>

PG-Kirk Hinrich
SG-Ben Gordon
SF-Luol Deng
PF-Al Harrington
C- Aaron Gray</p>

The traditional sized lineup, or go for Tyrus at center....</p>

or go with</p>

PG-Kirk Hinrich
SG-Ben Gordon
SF-Stephen Jackson
PF-Luol Deng
C- Al Harrington</p>

Or go with</p>

PG-Ben Gordon
SG-Stephen Jackson
SF-Luol Deng
PF-Al Harrington
C- Tyrus Thomas</p>

or</p>

PG-Kirk Hinrich
Sg- Ben Gordon
SF-Stephen Jackson
PF-Andres Nocinoi
C- Luol Deng</p>

or</p>

PG-Chris Duhon
SG-Kirk Hinrich
SF-Ben Gordon
PF-Thomas Gardner
C- Andres Nocioni</p>

If Warriors continue to suck, we should explore a trade with them, or a three way, in which the Warriors get compensation from another team, Wallace to that 3rd team, and we get back the same Warriors booty.</p>