OT: Gerald Wallace opts out of contract

[DE FENSE]

What an embarrassing trade for the Nets.

[seren]

This is not the best summer to have cap space. There is only Deron that is a top player on the younger side. Nets will probably keep him. Other than that, teams will either end up overpaying role players or smart ones will simply not commit anyone long term.

[kosmovitelli]

Gerald Wallace opts out of contract

Good move by Wallace and his agent. The Nets traded a lottery pick for him, they will definitely offer him a lucrative long term contract. They don't want to lose him to free agency and look like fools. Wallace and his agent are in the driver's seat now.

[Marty McFly]

Billy king is a genius

[Synciere]

I don't like the Nets forum too much because any opinion against their team seems to be trolling, but I'm pretty sure they get Portland's first on a conditional basis next year though. If true, the trade is not as bad as some make it out to be.

The Magic think highly of Wallace, and would replace him over Turkoglu at $8 million a year. Having Wallace's Bird rights seems to be somewhat valuable, given Howard is still likely to be traded. Their inability to trade Lopez now or in the off-season might actually help them. Nine million in cap room is nothing to sneeze at; you can still be active in free agency, especially when having that pick may have lowered your cap number three million or so.

There's a lot of uncertainty, but the Nets are still going to be in a position to get better if they make smart moves, even if Wallace leaves. And they are still well positioned for a possible Howard swap. Would the #6 have looked as good? Hell yeah. The Nets can still salvage the ship, even with their recent free agency history.

[NY_Kn1cks]

As knick fans is there anything we can do but laugh?

[RutgersBJJ]

They traded the #6 overall pick just to have the bird rights for a mediocre player, no there is nothing to do but laugh.

I could understand the thought process if they traded the 6th pick for an RFA like Eric Gordon or Batum so they would have their bird rights and the right to match offers, but they traded it for the bird rights to an unrestricted FA everyone knew would opt out and it makes the bird rights irrelevant when he won't even get half the value of a max contract let alone a max.

I'm sorry but that trade is easily the dumbest and worst trade in the past decade of the NBA. I expect Wallace to bend them over since he has all the leverage and King will do anything to save face. Expect a 12+ million dollar a season deal for an extremely fragile player with limited offensive skillsets and rapidly diminishing defensive abilities.

[NY_Kn1cks]

[earthmansurfer]

Regardless if he resigns or not, that trade was just bad. Set you back a few years bad. If the Nets wanted Wallace they could have signed him in the offseason. They gave up a lottery pick to rent him and didn't make the playoffs.

Exactly. Did they really need to trade for him AND lose their lotto pick?

The Hill trade and McGrady trade in comparison were Exec of the year moves.

[Capn'O]

I don't like the Nets forum too much because any opinion against their team seems to be trolling, but I'm pretty sure they get Portland's first on a conditional basis next year though. If true, the trade is not as bad as some make it out to be.

The Magic think highly of Wallace, and would replace him over Turkoglu at $8 million a year. Having Wallace's Bird rights seems to be somewhat valuable, given Howard is still likely to be traded. Their inability to trade Lopez now or in the off-season might actually help them. Nine million in cap room is nothing to sneeze at; you can still be active in free agency, especially when having that pick may have lowered your cap number three million or so.

There's a lot of uncertainty, but the Nets are still going to be in a position to get better if they make smart moves, even if Wallace leaves. And they are still well positioned for a possible Howard swap. Would the #6 have looked as good? Hell yeah. The Nets can still salvage the ship, even with their recent free agency history.

This is my thinking as well - that they obviously don't think too highly of their draft choices and thought they could position themselves better for Howard with the bigger TPE. Could they even have traded that pick in a Howard deal given what they gave up for Deron?

It's a huge gamble. Much bigger than the one we made for either LeBron or Carmelo, imo because in this instance there is literally no backup plan. Even if they get Howard, what is their team? Unlike Walsh/Grunnie they haven't exactly shown a lot of skill in picking guys off of the trash heap.

I do agree that Wallace opting out doesn't make the initial gamble any more or less stupid because of the TPE... but I still think it was an incredibly stupid move. As others have mentioned - smart move for Wallace though.

[Synciere]

I don't like the Nets forum too much because any opinion against their team seems to be trolling, but I'm pretty sure they get Portland's first on a conditional basis next year though. If true, the trade is not as bad as some make it out to be.

The Magic think highly of Wallace, and would replace him over Turkoglu at $8 million a year. Having Wallace's Bird rights seems to be somewhat valuable, given Howard is still likely to be traded. Their inability to trade Lopez now or in the off-season might actually help them. Nine million in cap room is nothing to sneeze at; you can still be active in free agency, especially when having that pick may have lowered your cap number three million or so.

There's a lot of uncertainty, but the Nets are still going to be in a position to get better if they make smart moves, even if Wallace leaves. And they are still well positioned for a possible Howard swap. Would the #6 have looked as good? Hell yeah. The Nets can still salvage the ship, even with their recent free agency history.

This is my thinking as well - that they obviously don't think too highly of their draft choices and thought they could position themselves better for Howard with the bigger TPE. Could they even have traded that pick in a Howard deal given what they gave up for Deron?

It's a huge gamble. Much bigger than the one we made for either LeBron or Carmelo, imo because in this instance there is literally no backup plan. Even if they get Howard, what is their team? Unlike Walsh/Grunnie they haven't exactly shown a lot of skill in picking guys off of the trash heap.

I do agree that Wallace opting out doesn't make the initial gamble any more or less stupid because of the TPE... but I still think it was an incredibly stupid move. As others have mentioned - smart move for Wallace though.

Exactly. Whoever would've been the #6 pick would not have been a player that would make Deron Williams more likely to stay, especially if that player hasn't played a single game yet. Most of the top free agents want to go to situations where they clearly have a chance to win right out of the box. They do not want to have to waste time waiting on the development of their players. In addition, the Nets best assets this summer will be free agents: Humphries and Wallace. Neither player can be traded on draft night as they are free agents, so would the Nets have made a pick knowing the Magic like that player only to wait another month for free agency to begin and no real assurance they would not get outbid for Howard? In regards to their flexibility this summer, the cap space may be worth more than the rights to Barnes or Beal or Lillard in the draft. Those players plus a resigned Humphries or Wallace isn't exactly knocking any socks off, so the next best thing is cold hard cash i.e cap space.

If they do get Portland's first rounder next year (a big if but again I don't feel like going to the Nets' or Blazers' board to find out), that leaves them with two first round picks next year, plus cap space, plus Humphries and Wallace. The Magic have Ryan Anderson as a restricted FA and their starting 4 so perhaps Humphries doesn't fit with him, but Wallace slides in nicely next to him.

Trading that pick improved their chances in FA, which helps them keep Deron, and puts them in a slightly better position for Howard, not worse in my book. I'm not saying it wasn't a risk, just that it wasn't as foolhardy as some are making it out to be. A resigned Williams with a trade for Howard and they may end up better positioned for a run than we currently are.

[KnicksGod]

Some of these posts above have logical issues with them.

Howard? Nobody thinks they're in the running for Dwight anymore. Not even Nets fans. And Wallace is not a trade chip for the Magic at $5M plus.

It may not be smart by Wallace. You can't count on someone making a second mistake. What if King is fired before he can double down? It would be horrible if anyone pays Wallace $9M+ next season which is what his option was for.

I've seen nothing about the Nets getting Portland's pick.

[duetta]

Billy King should be out of a job.

[br7knicks]

i have no problem with the OT thing. just don't like your avatar, and i'm a huge simpsons fan

[Synciere]

Some of these posts above have logical issues with them.

Howard? Nobody thinks they're in the running for Dwight anymore. Not even Nets fans. And Wallace is not a trade chip for the Magic at $5M plus.

It may not be smart by Wallace. You can't count on someone making a second mistake. What if King is fired before he can double down? It would be horrible if anyone pays Wallace $9M+ next season which is what his option was for.

I've seen nothing about the Nets getting Portland's pick.

Just because no one 'thinks' they're in the running anymore doesn't mean they aren't. I'm not sure anyone is qualified to speak for the totality of any group of fans. The first order of business for whoever becomes the next GM of the Magic is to trade Howard. There will definitely be some teams willing to rent him, but the Nets will still be a viable option. Even if their fans don't think he's coming, it's up to the front office to still put themselves in the position to get him.

Opting out of your contract is not about your salary in the next year. It's about total guaranteed money over the life of your next contract. Wallace had 9 million total in guaranteed money. If he signs a 3 year deal at 7 million per, he's still in better shape. Would you rather take a one year 9 million dollar deal or a three year 21 million dollar deal? Most would take the latter. Just ask Tyson Chandler.

What I think can't be denied is that trading that pick may have hurt them slightly in the trade market, unless the Magic really do like Wallace, in which it didn't hurt them at all, but the trade definitely helped them in free agency. Every million counts there. Lopez is restricted, Humphries and Wallace are unrestricted but the Nets have Bird rights, and Williams will be entertaining other offers. The Nets may well be starting from scratch.