Report: Celtics willing to trade first rounder to dump Gerald Wallace

by **112288** Mon Apr 27, 2015 6:09 pm

NBC SPORTS

Dan Feldman Apr 27, 2015, 1:12 PM EDT

The Celtics have a boatload of first-round draft picks, up to 10 in the next four drafts.

They also have Gerald Wallace, who’s owed $10,105,855 next season.

Gerald Wallace remains the lone veteran contract Boston would like to move and sources say the Celtics would be willing to part with one of the half dozen or so first-round draft picks they have amassed to move him this offseason.

It might be an overstatement to say Wallace, who turns 33 this summer, is done as an NBA player. But if it is, it isn’t much of one. Wallace can play useful defense in short stretches, but he’s an offensive liability. With his athleticism diminishing, he’s probably only declining from here.

If a team trades for him, it’s just to get the draft pick. As a bonus, Wallace embraced his role as a veteran leader with the Celtics, and he could be a good presence in the locker room. But this deal would still be entirely about the pick, which means the 76ers would probably be interested.

The Celtics should do this only once they know how the freed cap space would be used. Otherwise, they’d be better off paying Wallace’s salary – by waiving him or keeping him on the roster; the difference is minimal – and keeping the pick. At this point, it’s too likely that cap space wouldn’t have a productive use – especially if their top target, Kevin Love, has soured on Boston.

But if the Celtics have a commitment from a free agent or another team in a trade with uneven salaries, sure, use a pick to sweeten a Wallace trade. This is the advantage Danny Ainge has generated by stockpiling so many picks. Boston has options galore.

112288

by **Sam** Mon Apr 27, 2015 6:20 pm

I have every confidence that Danny will actually use all those options during my lifetime. I have this uncomfortable feeling that he has named each option like a pet and spends evenings patting them on their little heads and talking to them. I also have it on good authority that Danny has developed his own SPCA: Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Assets.

Sam

by **bobheckler** Mon Apr 27, 2015 9:08 pm

112288 wrote:NBC SPORTS

Dan Feldman Apr 27, 2015, 1:12 PM EDT

The Celtics have a boatload of first-round draft picks, up to 10 in the next four drafts.

They also have Gerald Wallace, who’s owed $10,105,855 next season.

Gerald Wallace remains the lone veteran contract Boston would like to move and sources say the Celtics would be willing to part with one of the half dozen or so first-round draft picks they have amassed to move him this offseason.

It might be an overstatement to say Wallace, who turns 33 this summer, is done as an NBA player. But if it is, it isn’t much of one. Wallace can play useful defense in short stretches, but he’s an offensive liability. With his athleticism diminishing, he’s probably only declining from here.

If a team trades for him, it’s just to get the draft pick. As a bonus, Wallace embraced his role as a veteran leader with the Celtics, and he could be a good presence in the locker room. But this deal would still be entirely about the pick, which means the 76ers would probably be interested.

The Celtics should do this only once they know how the freed cap space would be used. Otherwise, they’d be better off paying Wallace’s salary – by waiving him or keeping him on the roster; the difference is minimal – and keeping the pick. At this point, it’s too likely that cap space wouldn’t have a productive use – especially if their top target, Kevin Love, has soured on Boston.

But if the Celtics have a commitment from a free agent or another team in a trade with uneven salaries, sure, use a pick to sweeten a Wallace trade. This is the advantage Danny Ainge has generated by stockpiling so many picks. Boston has options galore.

112288

This is key. If they weren't willing to stretch Wallace last year or the year before, then it makes no sense to move him for a 1st round pick unless they knew they needed the space.

This is, in my opinion, a premature ejaculation dependent upon what happens in about 8-9 weeks when the free agent signing moratorium is lifted.

bob

.

by **wide clyde** Mon Apr 27, 2015 9:55 pm

I think that all of the first round picks need to be used to "add" talented players rather than to get rid of one player.

Gaining talent is more important than paying to have a player go away.

Wallace's contract can be spread out (stretch provision) over the next three years to get a roster spot as well as take about 6.7 M off of next year's cap if he absolutely has to be moved for roster or cap space.

If he is not moved, he certainly did not cause any problems this year as the 15th guy on the roster. In fact, he was commended many times by Stevens during the season for his contributions.

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Report: Celtics willing to trade first rounder to dump Gerald Wallace

Report: Celtics willing to trade first rounder to dump Gerald Wallace

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Re: Report: Celtics willing to trade first rounder to dump Gerald Wallace

Re: Report: Celtics willing to trade first rounder to dump Gerald Wallace

Re: Report: Celtics willing to trade first rounder to dump Gerald Wallace