NBA Trade Rumors: Why Gerald Wallace Won't Keep Deron Williams with Nets

The trade deadline is getting closer, and the Portland Trailblazers and New Jersey Nets have made a deal to send Gerald Wallace to join Deron Williams. However, that addition won’t be enough to keep Williams with the Nets.

According to Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports, the Blazers and Nets have struck a trade that would send Wallace to New Jersey. In exchange, Portland would receive Mehmet Okur, Shawne Williams and a protected first round pick.

I applaud the Nets for this deal. I really do. They need to prove to Williams that they want to win and that they are willing to get him the help he needs to do so.

They went out and got what was probably the best trade they could get for the pieces they were willing to give up. However, Wallace will not be enough to keep Williams in New Jersey/Brooklyn for the long-term.

The reason is very simple: Wallace is a second-tier talent in the NBA. He made an All-Star team once, but for the better part of his career he has played the periphery of the NBA.

He spent eight seasons with the Charlotte Bobcats after four seasons that no one remembers with the Sacramento Kings. He was traded to Portland last season, only to be flipped this season for basically just a first round pick.

That’s they guy that you think is going to be the super sidekick to Williams in New York?

Wallace is averaging 13.3 points, 6.6 rebounds and 2.7 assists. He’s having a nice season, but the Nets need more than nice to contend.

Wallace is also 29 years old and playing in 11th NBA season. He’s not the youthful talent that the Nets should be trading for and surrounding Williams with. He may never get back to the level he achieved in his one year as an All-Star, in which he averaged 18 points and 10 rebounds per game.

It’s appearing, right now, that that was his peak, because the last two seasons have seen his numbers decline gradually. One can only expect that this trend will continue.

Also, there’s something to be said about a guy who you can get for basically just a first round pick. That means the Blazers didn’t value him much and were willing to give him away. I know draft picks are more important now with the new CBA, but come on.

The Nets should not be giving up first round picks, anyway. I know it’s protected, so if it is within a certain range they’ll get it back. However, this team does not need to be doing such things.

Even if the pick isn't real low, it is still probably going to be a lottery pick. This team needs young talent and the best way to do that is smart drafting.

This deal is bad for the Nets. Not necessarily for this season on the court, but for afterward off of it. Wallace might help the team win a few more games, but he won’t convince Williams to stay.

And ultimately, that’s what it all comes down to.