Kennedy: Gerald Wallace Didn't See Trade Coming

I posted this in the "We are Sorry GW" thread but I'm concerned (since it is not on page 1) that it will become lost in the thread...people should have a look at this article and I have to admit I have a pretty good "burn" towards our FO after reading this one...here is a part of the article and a link...

When the Charlotte Bobcats decided to trade Gerald Wallace to the Portland Trail Blazers, it was news to everyone, including Wallace. The forward had no idea that he was being shopped, and the trade completely blindsided him.

"I was shocked," Wallace told HOOPSWORLD. "I was kind of disappointed because I didn't see it coming. It was just one of those things that you're not expecting and it catches you off guard."

In the hours leading up to the trade deadline, Wallace was confident that he wasn't going anywhere. That's because the decision makers in Charlotte repeatedly told him that he wouldn't be traded. Even on the morning of Feb. 24, the team reiterated that they had no plans to move him."

Read more NBA news and insight: http://www.hoopsworld.com/Story.asp?...#ixzz1G7I9hE7Y

I don't know what to make of it. Rumors, twitter and the internet make news so hard to separate facts from truth. Wallace was "supposedly" almost dealt last year. He was rumored to be on the block leading up to the deadline and was almost shipped to Portland the day prior, but MJ "got cold feet" as it was "reported". Blindsided? I don't know. If Charlotte really did tell him that morning that everything was kosher and he wasn't being moved, he (and myself) should feel some resentment and anger towards our FO. If this is indeed what happened, then it further cements, in my mind, that our front office is not very confident. By that, I mean that we have not shown to be good negotiators, we back out of deals at the last minute (which probably burns bridges with other GM's), have been rumored to be interested in trades that we get raped on (though they haven't all come to fruition....thank God), and we have been all over the grid with our "new direction" for the past year and a half. I feel like I've been too negative lately, and really want this season to hurry up and end because it's been a disappointment from where 2010 ended for us in the playoffs. I wish we could fast forward to the draft, get a free agent or two, trade Diaw and/or Jack, get T2 healthy, and get 2011-12 rolling.

This (not my question) from the Steve Kyler chat today...I thought it appropriate to our situation...

JC in :
B. Ingram has made it clear that Morey has ticked off enough agents out there that it will be harder for him to get a good free agent. Could the Battier move be a move to gain some good will with a vet while getting that 1st round pick?

http://www.hoopsworld.com/images/hw_icon.gif
Steve Kyler:

Maybe... but you can't play hardball all the time, you get a Rep for that and agents steer their guys clear of that, so then it becomes just about money and who will over pay.

I have a number of agent friends that have lists of teams they won't deal with... equally they have lists of teams they will urge guys towards, mainly because those teams have a track record of taking care of their players, dealing with them fairly at contract time and being honest and fourth coming about business.

Its like anywhere in life... if you hear that the company across the street takes great care of their employees and is fair and honest in how they deal with them, and you work for a company that plays games on raises and makes everything harder on the business side, your likely going to want to go across the street.

I wouldn't say agents are pissed off at Morey, there are a lot of them that don't view him as a guy thats gonna take care of his players like others will.

No offense to the Rockets, but three nerdy white guys with a track record for playing contract games is not gonna draw a lot of attention from serious players, unless its because they can offer more money... if all things are equal, they are going where they will be treated better.

But lets also be clear... the Rockets run one of the best organizations in the league.. they do it right in almost every way... they just approach contracts and player business badly.

Read more NBA news and insight: http://www.hoopsworld.com/Chat.asp?C...#ixzz1G86F0KgB

And people wonder why I've been so negative and down on our team since the trade. It was shitty for so many reasons. I understand that eventually you may have to trade your franchise player and start over when your spinning your wheels. But, our front office is just full of idiot buddies that have no defined sense of direction and they are a joke to PROFESSIONAL run teams, and this trade showed that.

The reason I've been talking so much smack about them even before this article was because I sensed that this was exactly what they did - told him, as well as Coach Silas, and everyone else, "we're standing pat." Everything coming out of the organization prior to the deadline suggested that. Then they pull the shittiest trade ever for a franchise player, a guy who was committed to the city and the organization, and don't even have the respect to tell him they were shopping him or why they were doing it. And it's not just that they didn't tell him what they were doing, they straight up lied to him.

The guy wanted to be here. He has a family here. He said he loved the city and playing for this team and didn't want to go anywhere. And yet people talk shit about LeBron and Carmelo for leaving the teams they came up with to go to another city. There's no loyalty from the teams, so why should a player be loyal anymore. There's no telling when a team will decide they need cap space or picks and dump a franchise guy, so they should look out for themselves. And our team is prime example of one of those unloyal teams. So I don't expect many, if any guys, to come beating down our door to play for us anytime soon.

MJ has proven to be a cheap dirtbag. I'm just kind of in "F*ck you" mode towards him.

Remember we were all just watching like hawks on DDay and we all agreed that nothing would happen. Then outta nowhere, Wallace was traded.

Kills any pull we have towards elite free agents in the future.

MJ get your head out your a$s...

banned for a week and still the same crap being posted.

cant deal with the crying. goodbye

Quote:

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Originally Posted by CatNation

banned for a week and still the same crap being posted.

cant deal with the crying. goodbye

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huh?

If you have an opinion state it. I had several people disagree with me on the Hendo thread, and I'm cool with that. As long as we can discuss it without name calling, I'm all for a good debate. The Hendo thread may not be a good example because I'm not sure one way or the other, but from the small amount of games he's played, I made that assumption. And I seem to be wrong now, and I'm okay with that.

If you don't like the tone of the board, state your case respectfully. If you feel like the fan base has become whiny and depressed, there's probably a very good reason (Crash being traded).

On the one hand... Crash shouldn't be too surprised because his name has come up so many times and he was our only real asset.

On the other hand, our FO should be more open with players. That's just disrespectful from a business standpoint.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by polarcat

I feel like I've been too negative lately, and really want this season to hurry up and end because it's been a disappointment from where 2010 ended for us in the playoffs. I wish we could fast forward to the draft, get a free agent or two, trade Diaw and/or Jack, get T2 healthy, and get 2011-12 rolling.

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100% on board with you, polarcat. This season, with all its turmoil, like you say going back to the playoff debacle, has been totally tainted for me, and with it, unfairly, the players on the roster. I mean, I can't tell you how detatched I've been watching the team, post GW especially. I just can't get excited to see Livingston, Henderson, DJ White, Cunningham and Kwame Brown on the court no matter how well they play. God willing only Henderson will be back, but I know that's only wishful thinking. But yeah, I just need more roster turnover and an offseason to wash my hands from this shitstorm of a season.


Also, right on with you, Proud with your "Fuck you" mode to MJ. It's why you'll find me with a devilish grin after each loss and hoping we end the season with 26 wins. He's got the draft to do right by us fans, but 'til then, his ass should be getting a heavy dose of humble pie such as the 6+ game losing streak during what should be a "playoff push."