Trading Rasheed Wallace

Pity the Portland Trailblazers. Pity John Nash, their new General Manger.

Think about Nash's predicament. Former General Manager Bob Whitsitt burdened the team with long-term contracts, overpaying a group of players with attitude and/or legal problems. To right the team's sinking ship, owner Paul Allen brought in Nash and gave him the following orders: 1) Cut the team's overall salary, 2) Improve its character and image, and 3) Remain competitive.

Nash must dump the expensive, overpaid, and attitude-challenged players on the team. At the same time, he has to achieve Allen's goals, obey salary cap guidelines, and satisfy other teams' needs. No problem.

Nash took a good first step by trading disgruntled swingman Bonzi Wells to Memphis for guard Wesley Person, cash and a first-round draft pick. Because Person will be a free agent next summer, the move makes sense financially for Portland. Person is also a good citizen. Although he is not as talented as Wells, he is a legitimate outside shooter, which Portland has lacked this year. Even if Wells finally develops into an All-Star, Nash made a good trade.

Now it is time to take the next step. Everyone in Portland knows that "next step" is code for "resolving the Rasheed Wallace situation." The Blazers have a major decision to make: either let Wallace walk when his contract expires next summer, or trade him before he causes more trouble. Wallace has struggled to score consistently this season, but he is an offensive threat and a versatile defender. The Blazers will be reluctant to trade him unless they receive a solid big man in return.

Last week, Wallace lowered his trade value when he gave an interview to The Oregonian's Geoffrey Arnold. Following Wallace's long stretch of refusing to talk with the local media, the interview showed us one thing: Wallace should have stayed quiet. He railed against widespread racism in the NBA, suggested that the trend of drafting high school players is part of a plan to make NBA players "dumb and dumber," and acknowledged that he saw nothing wrong with being cited for marijuana possession last season until his wife told him it was bad for their family. Wallace also revealed his softer side, discussing his many charitable efforts and his confounding desire to keep this volunteer work out of the public eye.

For the umpteenth time, Portland fans are angry with Wallace. Commissioner David Stern denounced Wallace's statements. And, worst of all, Phil Jackson, coach of the hated Los Angeles Lakers, hinted that he supports Wallace, noting that NBA players "have always felt used." Perhaps Jackson was only trying to show potential free agents that he understands the pain all NBA stars feel, or maybe he realized that Wallace's complaint would fall on deaf ears unless someone with more credibility agreed with it.

In the aftermath of Wallace's controversial statements, what does Nash do now? If he trades Wallace, what should he get in return?

Here is one possible scenario. The Blazers keep Wallace through December and January, hoping his trade value increases as the February trade deadline approaches. In the competitive Western Conference race, Dallas and Minnesota see Wallace as a potential solution to their frontcourt problems, driving up the Blazers' asking price. Sacramento, which has no idea if Chris Webber's knee will survive the season, offers Vlade Divac, Lawrence Funderburke, and a first-round draft pick for Wallace. Portland takes the deal.

Sacramento might become that desperate. Without a healthy Webber, the hole at power forward would sink the Kings. So far this season, the Webber-less Kings are one of the league's worst defensive teams.

The deal works under salary cap rules, because all three players involved will be free agents next summer, neither team would increase its financial obligations.

Wallace is an unselfish player, and he might excel in the Kings' high-powered offense. Sacramento would miss Divac's passing and scoring, but Brad Miller and Wallace could rotate between power forward and center. Although this move would mean more minutes for Jabari Smith and Darius Songalia, at least neither player would be forced to replace Webber.

Portland would also benefit from the trade. Both Divac and Funderburke are choir boys when compared with Wallace. On the court, Divac has excellent passing skills. He would be the perfect complement to Dale Davis's blue-collar approach to the center position. The Davis-Divac combination would keep both veterans from playing heavy minutes. If he comes off the injured list in March, Funderburke would be a spare part, able to provide some minutes at power forward. (Yes, Portland would have to waive the usual trade requirement that Funderburke pass a physical.) Then Portland would watch both players leave after the season.

In July, I proposed a three-team trade involving Minnesota, New Jersey and Portland. That deal sent Dikembe Mutombo and a draft pick to Portland, Wallace to Minnesota, and Terrell Brandon's salary to New Jersey. Obviously, that trade did not happen, in part because Wallace is far more talented that Mutombo. But, it is hard to argue that Wallace's talent and attitude have helped Portland on or off the court this season.

Like the end of the J.R. Rider era a few years ago and the end of the Bonzi Wells Era a few weeks ago, the end of the Wallace era would relieve frustrated Portland fans. That is why Nash should seriously consider any deal that provides a quality player in exchange for Wallace. Otherwise, Wallace will keep causing problems for Portland players, coaches and fans.