The Charlotte Bobcats were one of the Eastern Conference's better bad teams. They might have made the playoffs, might not have.
Without Gerald Wallace they're Toronto, they're Washington, they're Cleveland, they're terrible.
Before the NBA trading deadline Thursday the Bobcats traded their most valuable commodity, Gerald Wallace, to Portland for Joel Pryzbilla, Dante Cunningham, two first-round picks and maybe a gift card.
The only reason to get excited about the acquisitions is that Pryzbilla's contract expires after the season. So the Bobcats theoretically would some money to spend. But will they?
You'll recall they had an opportunity to trade Erick Dampier and his $13 million voidable contract before this season. Dampier was coveted precisely because the contract was voidable; that is, somebody could have traded for him and dumped him without penalty.
But rather than trade Dampier and add a contract, the Bobcats reduced their payroll by letting Dampier go.
To sum up, the Bobcats lost a heady, hustling, hard-working player who is the only all-star they've ever had.
What did they gain?
They don't have to pay him anymore.
How many Bobcats games have you gone to besides the Lakers game? Gerald Wallace:
1)Great Guy.
2)Injury Prone.
3)No jump shot.
4)Tons of same players at his position on Bobcats.
5)Big contract.
1 out of 5. I will take the 2 first round picks and as ESPN.com said....Bobcats came out a big winner here on this deal.
Posted by: calcutta | February 24, 2011 at 05:38 PM
This trade I compare to the indians trading the island of manhattan for $26.00 in dry beans and goods. This trade makes on sense. this trade proves jordan may not be as committed to winning as i once thought.
Posted by: terry | February 24, 2011 at 05:41 PM
I'm a Gerald Wallace fan and he'll always be one of my favorite players in the NBA.
2 first rounders is pretty nice though and I'm glad they didn't settle for less, it would have been disrespectful to the player G Force is.
Posted by: ripp | February 24, 2011 at 05:47 PM
We could also pick up some future stars(IF they draft well.) or make a trade for the star they want. Smart.
Posted by: ripp | February 24, 2011 at 05:49 PM
This has to be considered a good move given where they are (2 back of upstart Indiana and 3 back of Philly who are playing very well) in the standings and the uphill battle facing a first round series with either Boston or Miami. They need to reinvent themselves with the advent of "star" teams becoming so relevant - especially in the East. We shall see...
Posted by: Bob | February 24, 2011 at 05:57 PM
Two number ones for Wallace? Yes, please.
Posted by: Brendan | February 24, 2011 at 06:17 PM
MJ needs to get a job to pay for this team! If his agent worked half as hard as William Shatner's, Michael could afford an All-Star or two to keep the team interesting.
Posted by: Jim Bones | February 24, 2011 at 06:22 PM
dont get too excited, let me remind you out of the all the draft picks we've had only two, 2 out of 12 have been decent picks (augistin, and henderson). we drafted adam morrison: bust. sean may: bust. derrick brown: bust. alexis ajinca: major bust. raymond felton: oh wait we'll just trade him away. i can run this team better than jordan
Posted by: tank | February 24, 2011 at 06:28 PM
Charlotte played pretty well in geralds absence. Very good player but teams left him open in clutch situations. Hell thrive as 3rd option in Portland but mj wouldn't give him up for less than 2 first rounders. I'm all for it. Good luck crash!
Posted by: chill | February 24, 2011 at 06:30 PM
So sad that too many fans think you can run a franchise with your heart instead of a brain. We all love G Force. However, the East is getting stronger and the current roster will never be any better than an 8th seed. I'm sorry, Tom but I don't want to settle for being "one of the East's better BAD teams" and I'm glad MJ doesn't either. To a man with SIX rings, barely making the playoffs and getting ushered out after the first round year after year is not acceptable. Good luck to Wallace but its time to rebuild.
Posted by: Swag | February 24, 2011 at 06:32 PM
Derrick Brown was drafted in the 2nd round.
Posted by: BG | February 24, 2011 at 06:33 PM
i swear to god we better draft better players than we have in the past, i hope we tank (no pun intended) the rest of the year so we can get in the lottery
Posted by: tank | February 24, 2011 at 06:35 PM
Well put swag
Posted by: chill | February 24, 2011 at 06:36 PM
Swag is dead on. And this is a great season to stockpile draft picks, because after this summer, they'll be more valuable long-term than they are now. Assuming you use them properly.
"Trading your most valuable commodity" sounds like a great example of "Buy low, sell high"...
Posted by: Sean | February 24, 2011 at 06:40 PM
Same like the only time yall write about the bobcats is when yall got something negative to say. I have to check numerous sights to keep up with the bobcats cause yall write about them every now and then. Write some good things and then people will have more respect for the negative stuff.
Posted by: chill | February 24, 2011 at 06:42 PM
espn has it as g.wallace for pryzbilla and 2nd round pick......is it a 2nd rounder or 2 first rounders?
Posted by: snowman | February 24, 2011 at 06:44 PM
chill: do you have a job? it's "site's" not "sights".....a site is a website a sight is something totally different
Posted by: tank | February 24, 2011 at 06:44 PM
I make airplane engines for a living. My Droid must have replaced the word. McDonald's gave u a long enough break tank to use the free wi fi? Lol. The
Posted by: chill | February 24, 2011 at 06:50 PM
espn corrected it. its two first round picks and two players from the blazers. gerald wallace was easily this city's and my favorite player. But to call this a donation is so ridiculously short-sighted, id expect this comment from someone who hasnt watched the bobcats all year. Which would fit your profile well since outside of rick bonnell, not CO report every says anything remotely positive about this team. Gerald durability has been a question but the truth is, he hasnt been as productive this year and teams dont fear him as much. DJ commands attention, Jack commands attention and Henderson has developed into a new threat for this team. You can thank the development of Henderson for making Wallace expendable. Now we're in future mode and we're going to have to do this now that East has a completely different outlook.
Posted by: Emons | February 24, 2011 at 07:03 PM
LMAO @ Chill ...no wonder my fries are taking so long.
Posted by: Swag | February 24, 2011 at 07:04 PM
As someone said earlier, Buy low, sell high. This was the best you'd get for Gerald. He's my favorite player still. But the East has become a beast overnight. Everything with this team has been short-term. Now its time to put out a solid-young product a la OKC.
Posted by: Emons | February 24, 2011 at 07:06 PM
I wouldn't call it a donation to Portland at all. Bobcats landed two (that's TWO) first round picks. Sucks losing Wallace, but he's also peaked and it's time to get something for him while they could. Time to let guys like Henderson come in and see what they can do.
Posted by: PantherDave | February 24, 2011 at 07:07 PM
Mr. Sorensen,
You sound like I felt before I waited 15 minutes to let the emotion pass over so I could evaluate this trade with a clear mind. Two 1st rounders, an expiring contract, and a few players that could very well flourish with extended playing time. I love Wallace, and I wish him all the best. Jordan did not sell Crash for cheap, which was my biggest concern. We were well compensated for our only all star.
Oh, and count me amongst those who don't exactly write home about being "one of the Eastern Conference's better bad teams." If that was our ceiling with Wallace on board, then it just makes even more sense to me that we made this deal.
Posted by: Newsinz | February 24, 2011 at 07:08 PM
I had to check him swag! Lol. He calling out wrong draft picks and everything! Did I spell draft right? Lol. Get outta here! And let me get a #1 wit a sprite on your way out. Lol
Posted by: chill | February 24, 2011 at 07:09 PM
Good trade if the bobcats knew how to draft.
Posted by: Adam | February 24, 2011 at 07:11 PM