Wallace will not seek contract extension this season with Trail Blazers

[SlyPokerDog]

Because of limitations with the NBA’s new collective bargaining agreement, Gerald Wallace will not seek a contract extension with the Trail Blazers this season, his camp has informed the team.

However, after this season, Wallace will be open to an extension, his representatives said, adding that Wallace loves Portland and is open to retiring in a Blazers uniform.

Wallace is under contract for this season and the 2012-2013 season, but he can opt out of the final year of his contract, which would pay him $11.4 million. The Blazers had hoped to avoid that potential scenario and in December had casual conversations with agent Rob Pelinka to extend his contract this season. However, under the new CBA, the Blazers can only extend Wallace for two more seasons, down from the four-season option in the previous CBA.

If Wallace opts out this summer and becomes an unrestricted free agent, he can sign with any team for as many as four seasons, but the Blazers would hold significant bargaining chips. If Wallace opts out, the Blazers would hold his Bird Rights because they acquired him in a February 2010 trade, and as a result would be able to offer him five years and more money.

Wallace has not made a decision on whether he will opt out of his contract or accept the $11.4 million for the 2012-2013 season. An advantage to opting out is this summer figures to feature more than 10 teams who are under the salary cap, creating a potentially lucrative free agent market. Plus, at age 29 with a family that includes four children, Wallace would like to establish long-term security as soon as possible.

Blazers interim general manager Chad Buchanan said he feels good about the intentions of both sides.

"There is a genuine interest on both ends,'' Buchanan said. "We value Gerald and what he brings to this team. We are open to discussing something long-term if it makes sense financially.''

Wallace is averaging 15.0 points, 6.6 rebounds and 1.25 steals in 32.9 minutes a game.

-- Jason Quick; follow him on Twitter

http://www.oregonlive.com/blazers/i...lace_will_not_seek_contract_extension_th.html

 

[SlyPokerDog]

:MARIS61::MARIS61::MARIS61::MARIS61::MARIS61::MARIS61::MARIS61::MARIS61::MARIS61::MARIS61::MARIS61::MARIS61::MARIS61::MARIS61::MARIS61::MARIS61::MARIS61::MARIS61:

 

[THE HCP]

Is this good or bad?

 

[SlyPokerDog]

Is this good or bad?

This is bad for home games and good for road games.

 

[ABM]

Is this good or bad?

This is totally to be determined:

Blazers interim general manager Chad Buchanan said he feels good about the intentions of both sides.

"There is a genuine interest on both ends,'' Buchanan said. "We value Gerald and what he brings to this team. We are open to discussing something long-term if it makes sense financially.''

 

[BlazerCaravan]

This is bad for home games and good for road games.

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

Flexibility for the summer of 2012 -- a very strong FA class.

We could throw a max deal out right?

 

[ABM]

This is bad for home games and good for road games.

Thank you, Beasty.

 

[SlyPokerDog]

Thank you, Beasty.

No problem Mr TIMberlake.

 

[jlprk]

Get those 4 crappy draft picks while you can! 2 Pendergraphs, a Cunningham, and a Patty Mills for dessert!

 

[Nikolokolus]

Man I really hope they don't do five years. This will undoubtedly piss some people off and hurt the feelings of others to read this, but that is just not a good investment for a 29 year old wing that makes his living off of hustle and athleticism and without much perimeter game.

 

[ABM]

No problem Mr TIMberlake.

Awww...........

 

[jlprk]

Game's starting. Let me squint to see. They're huddling and--why is Batum so jolly?

 

[RR7]

Man I really hope they don't do five years. This will undoubtedly piss some people off and hurt the feelings of others to read this, but that is just not a good investment for a 29 year old wing that makes his living off of hustle and athleticism and without much perimeter game.

+1. depending on what happens with extending Batum, Felton, and the available RFA and UFA this summer, I'd be ok with a Camby-ish sort of deal, for 2-3 years. More money, less years, IMO. 5 is way too long, and severely limits flexbility going forward, as he'd be more difficult to trade. Look at someone like Artest, er, World Peace, who the Lakers locked up for 5. Won them a title, now he's terrible, and a bad deal.

 

[Nikolokolus]

+1. depending on what happens with extending Batum, Felton, and the available RFA and UFA this summer, I'd be ok with a Camby-ish sort of deal, for 2-3 years. More money, less years, IMO. 5 is way too long, and severely limits flexbility going forward, as he'd be more difficult to trade. Look at someone like Artest, er, World Peace, who the Lakers locked up for 5. Won them a title, now he's terrible, and a bad deal.

And that's the rub though, somebody will probably offer him 4 years and overpay him because there's a lot of free agent money this summer and not a lot of quality.

 

[jlprk]

As our best player, he deserves big bucks. 4 years is about right. If the overrated non-clutch undependable Aldridge makes $12M/year, then the underrated Wallace with his expert clutchpertise deserves more.

Maybe we could trade Aldridge for 2 $6M Batums so we can afford Wallace.

 

[TripTango]

This is not surprising. The guy is playing fantastic basketball, and sometimes almost singlehandedly getting this team wins. (Granted, when he has bad games they are REALLY bad, but still.) He would be foolish not to try and leverage this success into as much money and security as he can get -- this is probably the last big contract of his career. Good for him, and I hope (probably naively) that Portland can work out something reasonable to keep him here.

 

[THE HCP]

Love to have him retire a Blazer!

 

[PtldPlatypus]

And that's the rub though, somebody will probably offer him 4 years and overpay him because there's a lot of free agent money this summer and not a lot of quality.

5 years wouldn't be so bad on a regressive contract, though. He's probably well worth $10M for the next couple years, and $6-7M would still be pretty decent for him at age 34. Do you think $45M/5 will be enough to keep him?

 

[Carlito]

It's a shame this team will be blown up

 

[Mediocre Man]

This will happen a lot more with players now because of the new CBA. It's more financially beneficial for players to wait now.

 

[magnifier661]

5 years wouldn't be so bad on a regressive contract, though. He's probably well worth $10M for the next couple years, and $6-7M would still be pretty decent for him at age 34. Do you think $45M/5 will be enough to keep him?

I think so. You can tell he really loves this city and their fans. The community is probably great for his kids too.

 

[BoBoBREWSKI]

Gerald seems like the kind of player that is more interested in being happy and winning then going for the $$$.

 

[magnifier661]

Gerald seems like the kind of player that is more interested in being happy and winning then going for the $$$.

I see that too, but this is the final "payday" for Wallace. He needs to look out for the best interest for his family. That maybe location, money or both.

 

[BoBoBREWSKI]

I see that too, but this is the final "payday" for Wallace. He needs to look out for the best interest for his family. That maybe location, money or both.

Not including this season, he has made about $53 million during his career. His family is already set for generations.

 

[tlongII]

Hard to say what the future will bring regarding Gerald. If he stays healthy I'm sure he'll get his big payday. I expect the Blazers to do whatever makes the most sense for them financially and competitively regarding re-signing Gerald. Right now my focus is on this season though as I think we have an opportunity now.

 

[magnifier661]

Hard to say what the future will bring regarding Gerald. If he stays healthy I'm sure he'll get his big payday. I expect the Blazers to do whatever makes the most sense for them financially and competitively regarding re-signing Gerald. Right now my focus is on this season though as I think we have an opportunity now.

As should the team

 

[Blazinaway]

As should the team

I know tour focus is on this season but we (mgmt) has to think ahead. Gwall IMO just signalled (barring injury( that he is opting out and wants one final big payday. IMO "our" choice is he or Nic for the next 4-5 years, I do not want GWall on the 4-5yr deal at over 10 mil per that I think is will ask for and likely get given so many teams have a lot of cap next summer. IMO I would try to extend Nic now and let Gwall opt out this summer or trade him at the deadline "IF" a good" deal is available. And I think we are now risking alienating Nic with the fewer and fewer minutes he is getting. Just my take.

 

[magnifier661]

I know tour focus is on this season but we (mgmt) has to think ahead. Gwall IMO just signalled (barring injury( that he is opting out and wants one final big payday. IMO "our" choice is he or Nic for the next 4-5 years, I do not want GWall on the 4-5yr deal at over 10 mil per that I think is will ask for and likely get given so many teams have a lot of cap next summer. IMO I would try to extend Nic now and let Gwall opt out this summer or trade him at the deadline "IF" a good" deal is available. And I think we are now risking alienating Nic with the fewer and fewer minutes he is getting. Just my take.

Or another angle could be using Batum as trade bait to get a PG upgrade. I just don't see Batum having even close to the ceiling of Wallace. I don't think Wallace will slow down like some think in this forum either. I think he has 4-5 very solid years at this level left in his tank. It would be like what our team did with Pippen and Smith. They were older players, but very savy ones. We need Wallace to keep our energy going. He has lead the "energy charge" for this team. I firmly believe that our defense starts with Wallace's energy. Its no fluke that when Wallace has a bad game, our team has one as well. There is a connection.

If that means we may lose Batum, then IMO, so be it. Personally, I think we still can keep both. Batum will get his eventually. And who better to teach him hustle than G. Wall?

 

[magnifier661]

I know tour focus is on this season but we (mgmt) has to think ahead. Gwall IMO just signalled (barring injury( that he is opting out and wants one final big payday. IMO "our" choice is he or Nic for the next 4-5 years, I do not want GWall on the 4-5yr deal at over 10 mil per that I think is will ask for and likely get given so many teams have a lot of cap next summer. IMO I would try to extend Nic now and let Gwall opt out this summer or trade him at the deadline "IF" a good" deal is available. And I think we are now risking alienating Nic with the fewer and fewer minutes he is getting. Just my take.

Or another angle could be using Batum as trade bait to get a PG upgrade. I just don't see Batum having even close to the ceiling of Wallace. I don't think Wallace will slow down like some think in this forum either. I think he has 4-5 very solid years at this level left in his tank. It would be like what our team did with Pippen and Smith. They were older players, but very savy ones. We need Wallace to keep our energy going. He has lead the "energy charge" for this team. I firmly believe that our defense starts with Wallace's energy. Its no fluke that when Wallace has a bad game, our team has one as well. There is a connection.

If that means we may lose Batum, then IMO, so be it. Personally, I think we still can keep both. Batum will get his eventually. And who better to teach him hustle than G. Wall?