Chris Wallace gets credit for Leon

[Rocky5000]

According to the dailydime, it was Chris Wallace who drafted Leon, and not Danny Ainge. I know Wallace was techincally our GM, but I'm pretty sure it was Ainge who was handling the draft process.

For another thing, he was acquired by the Celtics by the very same person -- former general manager Chris Wallace -- who gift wrapped Pau Gasol and sent him from the Memphis Grizzlies to the Lakers at midseason.

"He is one of my all-time favorite players. He comes in every day with an upbeat, cheerful attitude, no sense of moodiness, no sense of entitlement," Wallace told ESPN.com by phone early Monday after getting filled in on the details of Powe's performance, which helped the Celtics build a 24-point lead that they ended up needing every bit of to hold off the Lakers' late rally. (Powe's final point, on a foul shot, made it 96-73 with 7:27 remaining.)

Powe was selected in the second round of the 2006 draft by the Denver Nuggets (with the 49th overall pick), and his rights were acquired by the Celtics on draft night in exchange for a future second-round pick. The Celtics decided to pull the trigger on the deal for the Nuggets' pick between the first and second rounds because they liked their chances of landing either Powe or Paul Millsap (who went 47th to Utah).

[Athanacropolis]

According to the dailydime, it was Chris Wallace who drafted Leon, and not Danny Ainge. I know Wallace was techincally our GM, but I'm pretty sure it was Ainge who was handling the draft process.

For another thing, he was acquired by the Celtics by the very same person -- former general manager Chris Wallace -- who gift wrapped Pau Gasol and sent him from the Memphis Grizzlies to the Lakers at midseason.

"He is one of my all-time favorite players. He comes in every day with an upbeat, cheerful attitude, no sense of moodiness, no sense of entitlement," Wallace told ESPN.com by phone early Monday after getting filled in on the details of Powe's performance, which helped the Celtics build a 24-point lead that they ended up needing every bit of to hold off the Lakers' late rally. (Powe's final point, on a foul shot, made it 96-73 with 7:27 remaining.)

Powe was selected in the second round of the 2006 draft by the Denver Nuggets (with the 49th overall pick), and his rights were acquired by the Celtics on draft night in exchange for a future second-round pick. The Celtics decided to pull the trigger on the deal for the Nuggets' pick between the first and second rounds because they liked their chances of landing either Powe or Paul Millsap (who went 47th to Utah).

I read that too. I have a hard time believing Wallace did anything of value. I read somewhere that he actually was trying to trade the Pierce pick for some $#!t, but luckily the other team refused.

[15th overall]

Well after Ainge got here Wallace was basically a glorified head scout. Wouldn't surprise me at all if he put in the most work scouting Powe and lead the charge for the C's to find a way to grab him, but over the years he ****ed up enough times to nullify it.

Maybe it's enough to prove that Wallace deserves a job in the league but he should never be in a position of power. Ever.

[DJToLarry]

Well after Ainge got here Wallace was basically a glorified head scout. Wouldn't surprise me at all if he put in the most work scouting Powe and lead the charge for the C's to find a way to grab him, but over the years he ****ed up enough times to nullify it.

Maybe it's enough to prove that Wallace deserves a job in the league but he should never be in a position of power. Ever.

I wouldn't even let him in charge of washing the jerseys.

[cloverleaf]

Hey, Wallace is quoted in the article, so at least we know where the claim comes from! (I'm actually just glad his bad karma is out of the organization.)

[Tricky Ricky]

Wow so he was a good GM after all

[campybatman]

And Paul Millsap was a steal to Utah and Powe to Boston. Ainge might want to move Davis for a young center or power forward/center. I'd try talking to Seattle. Names such as Nick Collison, Johan Petro or Mouhamed Sene come to mind. Or pursue DeSagana Diop in free agency.

[skillz23]

Chris Wallace is a fantastic talent evaluator...I read somewhere he types 70 page scouting reports either on teams or players (not sure). Either way, he has had tons of success drafting players like Chauncey Billups, Joe Johnson, Mike Conley...

The media just likes to make light of the one "bad" trade that netted the Grizzlies a lot of cap space to make a run at a top free-agent. It was obvious Gasol, who didn't give 1% effort half the time, needed to go. He tried to bitch his way out and it didn't work. So he stopped caring...now it's the Lakers who will pay a max contract for a soft "big" man. He netted the Grizzlies a 1st round pick (possible steal?) and Javaris Crittenton, who I personally don't care for but Grizzly nation thinks has a great future.

[dee browns pumps]

Ummm... Sorry Memphis fan but you clearly don't know what you're talking about.

I don't have the time to make "the list" of poor Chris Wallace decisions as GM but I'm sure someone else could.

He is a terrible, terrible GM and you WILL find out in due time. Or maybe not becuase you have your head buried in the sand and refuse to see the bigger picture that he could have trade Gasol for WAYYY more than just some cap space. Christ- just last trading deadline Garnett was being mentioned as in play in a Gasol deal as well as a great package from Chicago.
In comes Chris Wallace and gives him to L.A. for cap space and Gasols little brother and one of the top five worst #1 picks in NBA history.

You'll see my friend, you will see....... If he can type 70 page scouting reports then perhaps he would be best suited as a secretary in the office, or god forbid- just that- a scout that can't f*ck up salary caps and make terrible trades.

[Rocky5000]

skillz23, read this and make sure there are no sharp objects around for your own safety.
http://hoopshype.com/general_managers/chris_wallace.htm
Here's some good highlights for you.
July 22 2002
Traded guards Kenny Anderson and Joseph Forte and center Vitaly Potapenko to the Seattle SuperSonics for forward Vin Baker and guard Shammond Williams.
February 20 2002
Traded guards Randy Brown, Joe Johnson, Milt Palacio and a first-round draft pick to the Phoenix Suns for guard Tony Delk and forward Rodney Rogers

October 17 2000
Waived guard Michael Jordan.

[GreenGrizz]

Is the Chris Wallace the same guy that gave Pau Gasol away to LA??

[Banks2Pierce]

How did Chris Wallace select him? I don't get it.

[MaxwellSmart]

Wallace probably didn't even know about the two Bad knees ....C's just got lucky that Leon has been healthy....Don't give that a-hole any credit for anything.

[CeltsfaninDC]

Wallace probably didn't even know about the two Bad knees ....

ROTFL

I can see the draft room now "What do you mean he has bad knees? TWO knee surgeries? Thats not in my notes...."
He's like the Fredo of the Celtics family.

[theman]

Chris Wallace is very good at making trades that save a clubs owner a lot of money.

Vin Baker deal saved Gaston over a million bucks.

The Gasol gift (that should be his nickname btw, Pierce is "The Truth" Gasol is "The Gift") saved the Griz. owner a ton of money.

Both deals set their clubs back years.

[sully00]

While you may not like Chris Wallace because he was the GM of your team when they made this trade or that trade, as fans I think sometimes you misunderstand what the job of GM is. This is a business and Wallace while a good talent evaluator is also very good at the business side of being a GM.

The motivations of fans are not always the motivation of ownership. Wallace maximized revenue and operated under the salary restrictions ownership had to make the most money. While the Gasol trade was great for the Lakers and bad for everyone else, the Grizz saved 50 million dollars and as well as added 3 cost controlled players. Wallace moved Gasol saving the most money possible and that is why he got the job in the first place. If they were going to lose they mise well do it with young, exciting, and inexpensive talent.

Chris may not be the vision guy fans want in the job but he is very good at doing what his boss wants. Think of the tens of millions of dollars Danny Ainge had to blow on bad basketball players to get to this point. The Vision can be pricey.

[theman]

While you may not like Chris Wallace because he was the GM of your team when they made this trade or that trade, as fans I think sometimes you misunderstand what the job of GM is. This is a business and Wallace while a good talent evaluator is also very good at the business side of being a GM.

But as Steve Pugliata (sp?) has pointed out many times. Winning generates a lot more money.


We won't have a long wait to see where the credit for talent evaluation lays. Wallace will be picking at #28 and Danny at #30. Granted Wallace's guy will get more PT early but it will be interesting to see which player tops out higher.

[dee browns pumps]

So it was a financial decision that made Wallace give away Joe Johnson in the trade to PHX instead of Kedrick Brown?

Look, I get your point- it's well taken. He's definitely made some trades that saved ownership money but that's a cop out by saying that is the motivation behind the PLETHORA of TERRIBLE decisions he has made.

Plain and simple- he's f*cking awful.

[Datruth345]

chris wallace was technically in terms of title the GM of the celtics while he was here, Even though we brought in Danny hsi title is head of basketball operations, which i guess is above GM

like another poster already said, he was basically the head scout after we hired danny

[Banks2Pierce]

But why is Wallace getting the credit for this over Danny?