Gerald Wallace-Portland Trade Rumors: How Would He Fit On the Team?

Rumors are swirling that the Portland Trail Blazers have made a deal to acquire forward Gerald Wallace from the Charlotte Bobcats. The terms of the trade are still hazy, with Joel Przybilla and Andre Miller being mentioned as possible acquisitions for Charlotte.

Either way, it appears Wallace will become a Blazer. How does that addition affect the current Portland roster?

Wallace is a very versatile player who will contribute at both ends of the floor. He isn’t a great spot-up shooter, but he gets to the rim very effectively and can score against bigger opponents inside. He’s also a decent passer who should keep the ball moving in Portland’s half-court offense.

Defensively, he can guard multiple positions and has enough athleticism not to be overwhelmed by quicker players. While not a stopper, he’ll fit in with Portland’s defensive mindset.

The most obvious place for the Blazers to play Wallace is the small forward spot, forcing current starter Nicolas Batum to the bench. Playing Wallace in Batum’s spot wouldn’t be a huge adjustment for the Blazers, as the two have comparable skill sets offensively. Wallace would be an effective slasher (with or without Brandon Roy on the floor) and a competent jump shooter (whether it’s Miller or Rudy Fernandez feeding him).

Considering that Portland doesn’t have a natural small forward behind Batum, having him available as a reserve might not be a bad thing. The Blazers are already shorthanded in the frontcourt with Marcus Camby rehabbing from knee surgery, and if Przybilla heads to Charlotte in the trade they will only get more so. Having Batum as another body becomes essential at that point.

Wallace could also be used as an undersized power forward. He’s only 6’7”, but he’s a terrific rebounder who wouldn’t be completely lost on defense. That scenario would let Portland move Dante Cunningham, pressed into a starting role by Camby’s injury, back to the bench.

It would give the Blazers an awfully small lineup, and more likely they’ll go with a LaMarcus Aldridge-Wallace-Batum frontcourt in short bursts rather than as a primary option. Still, it does give coach Nate McMillan some alternatives.

The expected return of Brandon Roy will reduce the need to play Wallace as a 2-guard, though Roy’s minutes are likely to be watched very carefully. Wesley Matthews is already a more than capable backup to Roy, so assuming Roy can give the Blazers something for the rest of this season, they should be in decent shape at that position.

When Roy and Wallace are on the floor together, they'll both want to get to the rim, but that shouldn't be enough to prevent them from coexisting. On the other hand, if Roy's knees give out altogether, Wallace provides some insurance for Portland's offense.