Chris Wallace - One of the Worst GMs Ever

[Taget]

And if you're going to get a guard from LA why not take Farmar instead who has is also young and has already proven he can play?

I'll given Wallace credit for one thing. If he was still in Boston he would've made the exact same trade except WE would be giving the two draft picks. Even if Kwame is no allstar like Potapenko.

[bill murray has game]

"Hey Chris, remember when I told you about that favor you owe me someday no questions asked...........

[ShowtimeFan]

Wallace is doing just as well in Memphis as McHell is doing in Minny!

it's all about perspectives I gues...LOL

[Red2]

my thoughts on this are:
1) Chris wallace was told by the owner to dump salary since he wants to sell the team at the end of the season. I don't think Chris on his own decided to dump his best player for a bag of peanuts
2) Jerry West, former Grizzlies GM and lifelong Laker is actively involved in both the Grizzlies and the Lakers. I think West faciliated this deal and Chris Wallace went along with it because what else could he do. Was he really going to say no to his owner and Jerrry Logo West? Think about it. How come none of the other teams got in on this? Most GMs, especially in the Western conference were "stunned" and surprised. THis was an inside deal orchestrated by West all the way. At least with Danny and Kevin it was out in the open but if anyone no criticizes the C's for not paying enough for Garnett, then take a look at this deal. Frankly, if Stern really wants to protect the league he ought to look into this deal because frankly it stinks

[Sting3r]

apparantley you guys already forgot a guy named Kevin Mchale.

[RoyHobbs]

Chris Wallace is great at one thing: saving his owners money, especially when they are looking to sell their team.

He did that in the Vin Baker trade, making a horrible basketball trade to save his owner money in the process. The long-term consequences of the trade didn't matter; it was all about getting a luxury tax refund. Paul Gaston was very pleased, and shortly thereafter, he sold the team.

The same, I expect, will be the case with Michael Heisley.

[theman]

apparantley you guys already forgot a guy named Kevin Mchale.

Come back when Kwame Brown is averaging 21 pts 12 rebounds.

Come back when Crittenton is averaging 10 pts 6 assists.

Come back when Marc Gasol is averaging 15.1 pts 6.7 rebounds.

[sully00]

You can't be short sighted in evaluating a trade like this. While it looks weak at the moment and it helps the Fakers it doesn't mean it wasn't the right deal to make.

Look at it simply this way, if Wallace had sent Gasol to the Bulls for Nocioni and either Deng or Gordon would that have been a terrible trade?

Because he may well have just done that without having to pay Nocioni that bull contract. Maybe he gets Okafur or Josh Smith. He has the extra draft picks to trade for talent without sending back a contract and at the same time the cap space to just go out and sign someone. Obviously if they just turn into the Hawks ownership wise that is another issue but you have to see what the do with the cap space before you can call the trade a bad one.

[tsherkin]

FYI, Michael Heisley (the owner) made it clear that HE was the one who was responsible for the trade, not his GM.

[francishsu]

FYI, Michael Heisley (the owner) made it clear that HE was the one who was responsible for the trade, not his GM.

Just like how Chris Wallace made it clear that Heisley put no pressure on him to make the deal.

No doubt that Heisley makes the ultimate call or veto, since I'm sure he is not giving Wallace unlimited power. But to suggest that Chris Wallace bears no responsibility is ridiculous.

Wallace had to operate under financial constraints when he was the Celtics GM as well. That does not change the fact that the trades he orchestrated displayed a consistent undervaluing of his assets, with a "sell low, buy high" mentality.

Maybe you are right, and Wallace had no part in orchestrating this trade. But I think you are wrong, and this trade is entirely consistent with his history as GM of the Celtics.

[GuyClinch]

It's not ridiculous. Wallace is getting a bum rap. If you read what the owner said he went over Wallace's head and did the deal. He spells that out. He makes it pretty clear he is getting ruined in the deal and just wanted to save money and clear payroll. Basically they are paying Gasol alot and he isnt' attracting many fans.

Pete

[francishsu]

It's not ridiculous. Wallace is getting a bum rap. If you read what the owner said he went over Wallace's head and did the deal. He spells that out. He makes it pretty clear he is getting ruined in the deal and just wanted to save money and clear payroll. Basically they are paying Gasol alot and he isnt' attracting many fans.

Pete

I've read interviews of both the owner and Chris Wallace, and they both take say they're the ones responsible. In Heisley's interview, he also says that he did not make the trade to better position the team for a sale. Simply put, there's no reason to assume he's being truthful about the situation.

[Tricky Ricky]

apparantley you guys already forgot a guy named Kevin Mchale.

I dont see why everyone thinks hes an awful GM, he mightve traded KG but he had to they werent going to win with him, they have a future lineup of Al/draft pick/Brewer/Mccants/Foye with guys like Smith/Telfair/Gomes of the bench

[LarryBrdismyDad]

This trade is awful and there are no excuses for it. Wallace should have called every team in the league and asked them for their final offer for Gasol so they could have received the maximum amount of assets for him instead of $.30 on the dollar. ESPN insider has an article today about 10 trades that are as good if not better then what Memphis got for Gasol. Some of the trades are unrealistic but some of them are conceivable.

My Golden State idea was mentioned with Brandan Wright as the center piece. Chad Ford didn't include Belinelli but he threw in the expiring contracts of Azuibuike and Barnes instead.

The best idea was the expiring contracts of Khrypa and Pj Brown as well as Tyrus Thomas and their 2008 first round pick. This trade would be better then Golden State because Thomas and Wright are both unproven at this point so it is hard to tell who the better prospect is and Chicago's first round pick makes this the best possible deal for Memphis because the pick would most likely be in the 14-17 range.

[BrokenLeftyJumper]

It's funny how you bag on how awful this trade was, and then you cite to a deal that really doesn't involve much more than what Memphis got.

You can't say Brandan Wright, a draft pick, and expirings is definitely better than Crittendon, Marc Gasol Spanish League MVP, and two first rounders. Brandan Wright is a good prospect, but he only drafted 10 spots higher than Crittendon.

The Bulls deal including Ty Thomas wasn't there, from all indications the Bulls weren't going over the lux tax to get Gasol. [/quote]

[francishsu]

You can't say Brandan Wright, a draft pick, and expirings is definitely better than Crittendon, Marc Gasol Spanish League MVP, and two first rounders. Brandan Wright is a good prospect, but he only drafted 10 spots higher than Crittendon.

You talk like 10 draft spots is insignificant. It takes a lot to trade up to a lottery pick. "Only 10 spots" only becomes insignificant when get into second round territory.

And those two first rounders? They could very well be at the end of the first round, which can actually be worse than an early second round pick. And guess what? The Grizzlies gave the Lakers their second round pick in 2010 as part of this trade! So by my estimation, this cancels out the 2010 first round pick they acquired.

[BrokenLeftyJumper]

You talk like 10 draft spots is insignificant. It takes a lot to trade up to a lottery pick. "Only 10 spots" only becomes insignificant when get into second round territory.

See I feel like 10 spots in the middle of most drafts has some value, but not a great amount. The top of the draft always has tons of value, but once you get down to the mid-lottery i feel like the separation of value between picks becomes less and less. I would say the difference between Javaris Crittendon and Brandan Wright could be the value of a late first round pick and Marc Gasol. Really depends on how high you are are on Gasol and Crittendon.

Would you have bugged on draft night if Brandan Wright had been traded for Crittendon, a late first rounder, and a second rounder? Probably not.

[francishsu]

Would you have bugged on draft night if Brandan Wright had been traded for Crittendon, a late first rounder, and a second rounder? Probably not.

Yes, I would be upset to see Wright given up for that package.

[freakon0mics]

For someone that is looking to cut cap space, the best deal probably would've been good if Chris had waited till the deadline. This trade was horrible. Gasol is a top 10 player at his position and is being traded basically for nothing. Crittenton might become something, but they already drafted guards in Conley and Lowry. The 1st rounders wont' mean anything since its going to be in the late first round.

[BigHands]

Wallace is pretty frickin bad

Yep.....Steve Kerr just tumbled past him however.