Sorensen: Wallace felt "stabbed in the back", trade was "like a slap in the face"

[jdsingar]

http://www.charlotteobserver.com/201...-and-soul.html

I am not a big fan of Tom's writing. He usually makes arguments that don't make any sense, and clearly is not a fan of the Bobcats. His writing reminds me of someone's random uncle becoming a sports writer.

With that said, you can't deny the significance of Gerald's comments in this article. Particularly the lack of comment on Rod Higgins. It's hard to imagine we will see Gerald back here in the future, but time can heal wounds.

[Boomer]

http://www.charlotteobserver.com/201...-and-soul.html

I am not a big fan of Tom's writing. He usually makes arguments that don't make any sense, and clearly is not a fan of the Bobcats. His writing reminds me of someone's random uncle becoming a sports writer.

With that said, you can't deny the significance of Gerald's comments in this article. Particularly the lack of comment on Rod Higgins. It's hard to imagine we will see Gerald back here in the future, but time can heal wounds.

Yeah I saw this earlier, it hurts to trade Gerald and all I'm going to say is that I def understand where he's coming from because it hurts that we've lost him and its been a long time since I've actually hurt about losing a player in pro sports.

Its funny that people bash Lebron for not being loyal but the teams can trade anybody whenever, even a franchise focal point like Crash. Its a double-standard.

[bozzy]

Wallace was never traded before (just given away in the expansion draft when he rotting on the bench). So it isn't surprising that he was upset about it. I think anybody would. That said, I don't think he will carry around hard feelings for years to come. The Bobcats didn't wrong him in anyway.

[Let's Go Cats 218]

We DID stab him in the back. Gerald Wallace is the reason we sold tickets. Gerald Wallace was the reason I became a Bobcat fan... to watch a player who plays with such passion and NEVER takes breaks while he's in there... it's really refreshing. Just knowing that we had Gerald in the lineup made me feel like we could beat anybody.

Thanks for nothing, MJ. You had BETTER bring in HUGE FA's this offseason or you may find yourself without ANY fans.

[BobCatsFanInTx]

We DID stab him in the back. Gerald Wallace is the reason we sold tickets. Gerald Wallace was the reason I became a Bobcat fan... to watch a player who plays with such passion and NEVER takes breaks while he's in there... it's really refreshing. Just knowing that we had Gerald in the lineup made me feel like we could beat anybody.

Thanks for nothing, MJ. You had BETTER bring in HUGE FA's this offseason or you may find yourself without ANY fans.

I am sorry that Crashes feelings are hurt and it sucks to see a guy so dedicated to the city and organization leave. That said the reality was that the Bobcats as constructed before were not going to be able to make any improvements that would improve the team beyond maybe a 6th seed for the next two seasons. The team was going to have to rebuild within in a couple of years anyway. Why put off the inevitable? Now that the team is currently starting it's rebuilding efforts I think in about two years the team could be about where they are now but with huge upside. If MJ and Higgins did not trade Crash the team would be a mediocre team for the next two years and it would take that much longer to rebuild.

There is no doubt that MJ and Higgins took a calculated risk but to me it was one that needed to be taken. If Stephen Jackson can play well and get to where he can get solid trade value it is best that we trade him. If we do trade him he deserves to go where he can be a nice addition to a winning program. The younger talent we get the better for us to have a solid run at success. Also there will be players in free agency who could help us immensely. If those players are not snatched up in free agency they can be acquired in some sort of trade/trades.

People forget that before Rod Higgins came here he did a pretty solid job as the GM of the Golden State Warriors. I don't think he is a different GM now and I think the rebuild process may be perfect for him.

As far as our past drafts I would say we have drafted mostly poorly but Gerald Henderson is showing promise and looks like a guy who has worked on his game. DJ Augustine is a guy who though he has been inconsistent he still shows some promise. He may not be the right man for the job in Charlotte but if he can bring back some solid pieces in a trade or as a part of trades than he will have been a successful draft pick. Raymond Felton has turned out to be a top 15 pg and I would not call him a poor draft choice. I just regret that he could not have brought our team back some valuable pieces in a trade/trades.

Even if Higgins and MJ mess up in the draft that does not mean the decision to rebuild was a bad one. It may mean that MJ will take some heat and deservedly so but I don't see how putting off the inevitable would have been a good decision either. If we are winning in three years MJ will look great if the team is losing or still mired in mediocrity he will look bad. Sometimes those are chances one must take. MJ likes to gamble and it seems at this time he is for sure gambling the teams future. Know when to hold em and know when to fold em. It will be fun for me to see young players come to Charlotte and see if they can build something special.

[BRNC]

We all know (including the players) that the NBA is a business...and we all know (including the players) that some guys get their names tossed around for trades more than others...

The problem that I have with the way this went down with Crash (and apparently so does he) was being misled (lied to would not be a stretch) and then treated poorly (no explanation) after the trade...

It is never a good thing for a franchise to get the reputation of not being honest (forthright) with their players...and this is not the first time players have had issues (concerning how they were dealt) with the franchise...Raja and JRich both felt they were not dealt with honestly...

Players talk to other players about teams they've played for and how they were treated...so let's not kid ourselves about the long-term ramifications of this franchise not dealing fairly with our players...

I don't know (and will not until all the draft picks are in) if the trade itself will work out for us...that's on the FO...and it is also on the FO to do better "damage control" when trading our players...

[Scottley Crue]

We all know (including the players) that the NBA is a business...and we all know (including the players) that some guys get their names tossed around for trades more than others...

The problem that I have with the way this went down with Crash (and apparently so does he) was being misled (lied to would not be a stretch) and then treated poorly (no explanation) after the trade...

It is never a good thing for a franchise to get the reputation of not being honest (forthright) with their players...and this is not the first time players have had issues (concerning how they were dealt) with the franchise...Raja and JRich both felt they were not dealt with honestly...

Players talk to other players about teams they've played for and how they were treated...so let's not kid ourselves about the long-term ramifications of this franchise not dealing fairly with our players...

I don't know (and will not until all the draft picks are in) if the trade itself will work out for us...that's on the FO...and it is also on the FO to do better "damage control" when trading our players...

It certainly is a business and unfortunately the business requires moves like this at times to improve the product. Perhaps this could have been handled better...I wasn't in the room to know, so to speak. From what I've seen, especially according to this article from Yahoo, Gerald was made aware that he could be traded and from the interview he did with Dell when they played in Portland, they did let him know he was dealt in an effort to rebuild.

He's reacted in a way that isn't surprising, considering how he felt about the city and team. I imagine a lot of players feel this way, but just don't say it like he has (which is his style). And he's not wrong to feel bitter because he's been removed from a place he likes. I believe most would. I just have a hard time thinking he was blindsided is all.

http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/blog/bal...a?urn=nba-wp26

[TheBeagle]

I am sorry that Crashes feelings are hurt and it sucks to see a guy so dedicated to the city and organization leave. That said the reality was that the Bobcats as constructed before were not going to be able to make any improvements that would improve the team beyond maybe a 6th seed for the next two seasons. The team was going to have to rebuild within in a couple of years anyway. Why put off the inevitable? Now that the team is currently starting it's rebuilding efforts I think in about two years the team could be about where they are now but with huge upside. If MJ and Higgins did not trade Crash the team would be a mediocre team for the next two years and it would take that much longer to rebuild.

There is no doubt that MJ and Higgins took a calculated risk but to me it was one that needed to be taken. If Stephen Jackson can play well and get to where he can get solid trade value it is best that we trade him. If we do trade him he deserves to go where he can be a nice addition to a winning program. The younger talent we get the better for us to have a solid run at success. Also there will be players in free agency who could help us immensely. If those players are not snatched up in free agency they can be acquired in some sort of trade/trades.

People forget that before Rod Higgins came here he did a pretty solid job as the GM of the Golden State Warriors. I don't think he is a different GM now and I think the rebuild process may be perfect for him.

As far as our past drafts I would say we have drafted mostly poorly but Gerald Henderson is showing promise and looks like a guy who has worked on his game. DJ Augustine is a guy who though he has been inconsistent he still shows some promise. He may not be the right man for the job in Charlotte but if he can bring back some solid pieces in a trade or as a part of trades than he will have been a successful draft pick. Raymond Felton has turned out to be a top 15 pg and I would not call him a poor draft choice. I just regret that he could not have brought our team back some valuable pieces in a trade/trades.

Even if Higgins and MJ mess up in the draft that does not mean the decision to rebuild was a bad one. It may mean that MJ will take some heat and deservedly so but I don't see how putting off the inevitable would have been a good decision either. If we are winning in three years MJ will look great if the team is losing or still mired in mediocrity he will look bad. Sometimes those are chances one must take. MJ likes to gamble and it seems at this time he is for sure gambling the teams future. Know when to hold em and know when to fold em. It will be fun for me to see young players come to Charlotte and see if they can build something special.

+1 Must've missed this one while I was mired in my post-trade funk, but that is a fabulous post, Tx! The nailed the crux of the trade: take a chance for, if not greatness, a contender in the East, at the risk of maintaing varying degrees of mediocrity.

Portland coming to town couldn't have been better timed than it was. I think it gave both GW and his fans a chance to work through the emotions of it that wouldn't've been possible otherwise. There'll always be a special bond between us and him and vice versa, but games like last week in Miami where he took it to LeBron and won, and playing significant minutes for a team that will likely be playing into May will do wonders for him.

[WAM9]

We DID stab him in the back. Gerald Wallace is the reason we sold tickets. Gerald Wallace was the reason I became a Bobcat fan... to watch a player who plays with such passion and NEVER takes breaks while he's in there... it's really refreshing. Just knowing that we had Gerald in the lineup made me feel like we could beat anybody.

Thanks for nothing, MJ. You had BETTER bring in HUGE FA's this offseason or you may find yourself without ANY fans.

I'll still be a fan! Any real fan would be...