NBA Rumors: Gerald Wallace Wise to Not Distract Trail Blazers with Contract Talk

One of the best NBA trades over the last few years was the Portland Trail Blazers' acquisition of forward Gerald Wallace from the Charlotte Bobcats last season.

Wallace has been a fantastic addition to the Trail Blazers and reportedly will not ask the team to negotiate an extension during this season.

Via Oregon Live:

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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.

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It's likely Wallace wants a four-year deal, which he cannot get under the new CBA until the summer, at which time he can opt out and become an unrestricted free agent.

Wallace is helping both himself and the team by choosing to wait until the summer to sign a new deal, if that is what he decides is best for him.

Contracts are often difficult to get done. Having Wallace be distracted by it could negatively affect his on-court play, which would hurt the Trail Blazers.

Despite the fact he is likely going to opt out of his current contract after this season, Wallace seems willing to remain with the Trail Blazers for a long time, maybe even the rest of his career.

Oregon Live reported that "Wallace will be open to an extension, his representatives said, adding that Wallace loves Portland and is open to retiring in a Blazers uniform."

Portland would be wise to give Wallace a new four-year contract after the year. His defense and scoring is so valuable to the success of the team. At 29 years old, Wallace still has many productive years left as a top-tier NBA small forward.

Wallace is one of the most underrated and under appreciated players in basketball. However, for those who watch him on a nightly basis, you can easily tell that he is a special talent.

This season, Wallace is third on the Trail Blazers in points per game, third in rebounds per game and first in steals per game. He helps the Trail Blazers in so many areas at both ends of the court and is the definition of an "all-around" player.

With Brandon Roy retiring, the Trail Blazers need a reliable scorer who can also help the team in several other areas such as rebounding and perimeter defense, which Wallace is capable of doing.

Wallace has made Portland a much better team and his importance to the team makes him a player the franchise needs to re-sign long term.

Nicholas Goss is an NBA Featured Columnist at Bleacher Report

Follow @NicholasGoss35