Gerald Wallace for Wally and JJ Rumor??

[B Mac]

By BOB FINNAN
rfinnan@MorningJournal.com

The Cavs could be close to signing guard/forward Anthony Parker.

There’s no question he’s high on their free-agent list. His agent, Henry Thomas, hasn’t returned messages.

The 6-foot-6, 215-pounder is an athletic wing defender and an accurate shooter. It’s not known how many years they want to sign the 34-year-old.

Parker’s signing might not be the only announcement forthcoming.

One rumor floating around had the Cavs sending guard/forward Wally Szczerbiak and forward/center J.J. Hickson to Charlotte for forward Gerald Wallace in a sign-and-trade.

The Cavs hold Hickson in high regard, but Wallace is a stud defender. He also has four years and almost $40 million left on his contract. The Cavs might not want to take on that kind of contract with 2010 looming. That’s one reason it might not add up.


This is from a link on http://hoopshype.com/rumors.htm

This would certainly align with the idea of wanting LeBron to play a lot more of the 4 this year. Wallace gives us a lot of versatility in that he can play the 2, 3, or 4, LeBron can play the 1-4, Parker can play the 1, 2, or 3, and Delonte can play the 1 or 2. Still Wallace is owed a lot of money and is quite the injury concern.

Williams/Boobie
Parker/West
Lebron/Kinsey/Green
Wallace/AV/DJ
Shaq/Z

I could still see us adding in another big and swingman with whats left of our exceptions.

[mcfly1204]

I can accept a move like this given the salary cap will probably be f-ed for everyone next summer anyway. Although I would start Mo/Parker/LBJ/AV/Shaq, and then have West/Gibson/Wallace/Z come off the bench. Our second unit would be the best in the league at that point. As you had said, the versatility with our lineups would be amazing.

[Benedict_Boozer]

Interesting.

Not sure how I feel about it. I really like Gerald Wallace, he is a damn good player. JJ has potential, but that's all he's got at this point.

I guess the problem for me is with Shaq/Lebron - teams would be daring him to shoot all game.

Shaq will probably only be here another year so it's not a major problem but with Lebron you always prefer to have guys who can shoot the ball off drive and kick.

Our defense would be amazing though with LBJ + G. Wallace, and we could match up with LA much better.

[Gordon Bombay]

if it makes the team better, the cavs need to forget about 2010...this would definitely make the team better

[mcfly1204]

Imagine going small with Mo/West/LBJ/Wallace/Varejao.

[JDaWg1000]

if it makes the team better, the cavs need to forget about 2010...this would definitely make the team better

i 100% agree, who gives a crap about Bosh or Amare if we can make the team better now and win it all, id prfer Okafor over G-Force but G-Force could be really good for us, id have reservations about starting him at PF but we were looking at Marion to be our PF and they are the same hieght ( 6'7) so i guess it doesnt bother me to much

[B Mac]

if it makes the team better, the cavs need to forget about 2010...this would definitely make the team better

i 100% agree, who gives a crap about Bosh or Amare if we can make the team better now and win it all, id prfer Okafor over G-Force but G-Force could be really good for us, id have reservations about starting him at PF but we were looking at Marion to be our PF and they are the same hieght ( 6'7) so i guess it doesnt bother me to much

If it makes you feel better we can have the 6'9" 280 guy listed as the PF.

[TheOUTLAW]

Interesting.

Not sure how I feel about it. I really like Gerald Wallace, he is a damn good player. JJ has potential, but that's all he's got at this point.

I guess the problem for me is with Shaq/Lebron - teams would be daring him to shoot all game.

Shaq will probably only be here another year so it's not a major problem but with Lebron you always prefer to have guys who can shoot the ball off drive and kick.

Our defense would be amazing though with LBJ + G. Wallace, and we could match up with LA much better.

This was my first thought when I saw this. He'd be wide open from 3 all season long. That being said, it's not as though our offense would be worse with Wallace in the lineup than it was with Varejao or Wallace for that matter.

[tidho]

He's too big a gamble. I would hope that if we want to forget about 2010 and get an impact player now (which I'm fine with) we could find a guy that doesn't play the same position as LeBron! I know the guys are versatile, but he's a SF.

[Triumph36]

He's too big a gamble. I would hope that if we want to forget about 2010 and get an impact player now (which I'm fine with) we could find a guy that doesn't play the same position as LeBron! I know the guys are versatile, but he's a SF.

It seems like LeBron will be seeing major minutes at the 4 with the acquisition of Shaq, so Wallace playing SF shouldn't really be a problem. Wallace would probably play a little at SG too, but he'd definitely see a lot of time at his natural position. It may not be the perfect player to get, but there aren't many players as good as Wallace that could be had in a deal like this. Wally was probably going to be gone anyway, so it's basically trading Hickson for Wallace. I really don't see how any Cavs fan could turn it down.

edit: but I still don't think this is a legit rumor.

[NetsForce]

I have no idea why Charlotte would even consider this trade, Brown LOVES Wallace and they were so close to making the playoffs... The Bobcats really placed decent ball after acquiring Bell and Diaw.

[Amon_Ones88]

This sounds very similar to the J-Rich rumors. either guy is a stud. Look if we add a guy now even with a big contract, we are still taking Z and Shaq's combined about 30 million off the books. Thats plenty to sign Bron and eonough to make a serious push towards Bosh. Especially with the Salary Cap going down again teams like New York and New Jersey wasted all of thier time. So go for it. G-force would be nasty. Wally is gone whether we S&T him or not and JJ won't see much playing time with DJ finishing off last year strong, so why the hell not just do it. As long as Lebron comes back, Mo, West and AV are locked up for a while, and G-force would be here for four years, you have your core and will be able to be a contender for a lot of years regaurdless of who's contract your paying.

[B Mac]

I have no idea why Charlotte would even consider this trade, Brown LOVES Wallace and they were so close to making the playoffs... The Bobcats really placed decent ball after acquiring Bell and Diaw.

Lots and lots of money??

[B Mac]

This sounds very similar to the J-Rich rumors. either guy is a stud. Look if we add a guy now even with a big contract, we are still taking Z and Shaq's combined about 30 million off the books. Thats plenty to sign Bron and eonough to make a serious push towards Bosh. Especially with the Salary Cap going down again teams like New York and New Jersey wasted all of thier time. So go for it. G-force would be nasty. Wally is gone whether we S&T him or not and JJ won't see much playing time with DJ finishing off last year strong, so why the hell not just do it. As long as Lebron comes back, Mo, West and AV are locked up for a while, and G-force would be here for four years, you have your core and will be able to be a contender for a lot of years regaurdless of who's contract your paying.

Thats not how it works. We wont be able to offer Bosh a Max contract unless we literally dump almost all of our roster between now and next June.

[rjgraca]

I would be O.K. with the CAVs getting G. Wallace in the described rumor.

IMO, Lebron's going to sign an extension or these player's like Varejao wouldn't be signing up for the long-term.

Going with the theme of Lebron playing more PF which would leave some playing time at SF for Wallace and I believe he's a good defender which would fit with the CAVs main defensive focus.

As previously mentioned, the CAVs would have to gut their roster to get enough money for an All-Star free agent which I don't see happening for 2010. The CAVs are more likely to obtain player's through trade rather than free agency anyways.

[NetsForce]

I have no idea why Charlotte would even consider this trade, Brown LOVES Wallace and they were so close to making the playoffs... The Bobcats really placed decent ball after acquiring Bell and Diaw.

Lots and lots of money??

If that were the case the Bobcats would trade Wallace to the Blazers for Travis Outlaw before considering this trade...

[Amon_Ones88]

This sounds very similar to the J-Rich rumors. either guy is a stud. Look if we add a guy now even with a big contract, we are still taking Z and Shaq's combined about 30 million off the books. Thats plenty to sign Bron and eonough to make a serious push towards Bosh. Especially with the Salary Cap going down again teams like New York and New Jersey wasted all of thier time. So go for it. G-force would be nasty. Wally is gone whether we S&T him or not and JJ won't see much playing time with DJ finishing off last year strong, so why the hell not just do it. As long as Lebron comes back, Mo, West and AV are locked up for a while, and G-force would be here for four years, you have your core and will be able to be a contender for a lot of years regaurdless of who's contract your paying.

Thats not how it works. We wont be able to offer Bosh a Max contract unless we literally dump almost all of our roster between now and next June.

I thought with that money gone we could offer Bosh the max and then go over the cap with Lebron...

[B Mac]

I have no idea why Charlotte would even consider this trade, Brown LOVES Wallace and they were so close to making the playoffs... The Bobcats really placed decent ball after acquiring Bell and Diaw.

Lots and lots of money??

If that were the case the Bobcats would trade Wallace to the Blazers for Travis Outlaw before considering this trade...

Yes they quite possibly would. Portland is one of few other teams that is willing to take on money right now. Perhaps Charlotte wants a Hickson type of player on his rookie contract for several more years more than Outlaw though? With the Cleveland trade they get salary relief and a young prospect locked up for several more years. Regardless the trade isnt likely to happen, but I was just explaining why it makes sense for Charlotte.

[Triumph36]

Isn't Portland going after Millsap anyway? If they traded for Wallace they wouldn't have the cap space to sign Millsap.

[Benedict_Boozer]

Yes they quite possibly would. Portland is one of few other teams that is willing to take on money right now. Perhaps Charlotte wants a Hickson type of player on his rookie contract for several more years more than Outlaw though? With the Cleveland trade they get salary relief and a young prospect locked up for several more years. Regardless the trade isnt likely to happen, but I was just explaining why it makes sense for Charlotte.

MJ also loves ACC players. Hickson playing college ball at NC State is right up his alley