Put Wallace on next plane to New Jersey 08/10/03 T he Trail Blazers have it all wrong. They are making a huge mistake by mulling over a trade that would send Rasheed Wallace to New Jersey. They are thinking about a deal with the Nets. They should not stop there. The Blazers should hurry up, shake on it, empty Wallace's locker, place his things in a cardboard box, stick the box on the Rose Garden steps, and then change the locks. That would be about right. It has been clear for some time that the season can not start with Wallace on Portland's roster. Not if Blazers management wants anyone to believe things have really changed. Wallace is in Las Vegas attending a Big Man's Camp, but unless he's receiving a heart transplant, it's not going to help locker room chemistry. Right now, New Jersey probably would make the deal to send Kenyon Martin and Dikembe Mutumbo to Portland for Wallace and Arvydas Sabonis' contract. Martin reportedly is asking for a trade. Let us join him. Wallace is the team curmudgeon. He is well tolerated, not well liked, by his teammates. This offseason all the discussion has been about image and character. Blazers president Steve Patterson, a straight shooter with good intentions, has been a breath of fresh air. But if Patterson is the one standing in the way of making this trade, then he's naive and unaware of the positive message getting rid of Wallace would send. It's difficult to ignore what Wallace symbolizes. He is a talented ballplayer, yes. But he also is a contemptuous, towel-throwing, referee-threatening, marijuana-smoking franchise icon. The NBA suspended Wallace for seven games last season after he confronted referee Tim Donaghy outside the Rose Garden after a game. The Blazers went 5-2 in those games without Wallace, but they somehow missed the obvious lesson. Forget Patterson's 25-Point Pledge. Here's a One-Point Pledge for Patterson: Wear the headband, don't let the headband wear you. Martin, who will make $5.1 million this year, would become a restricted free agent after the season. Mutumbo will make $17.9 million this year and $19.7 million next season. Martin, who averaged 16.7 points and 8.3 rebounds last season, is New Jersey's vocal leader. He is big on loyalty. The Nets, who inflated payroll this offseason by keeping Jason Kidd and adding Alonzo Mourning, haven't committed to a contract extension for Martin. Wallace, who makes $17 million, becomes a free agent at the end of the season a nyway. Sabonis, 38, has two years and $14 million left on his contract. However , his contract isn't guaranteed until Aug. 15, which means the Blazers or another team can waive him and save money. But if you're the Blazers, payroll isn't the key factor in this trade. Portland's locker room chemistry and team leadership would improve overnight. Fans would believe the talk about change is genuine. And Wallace gets a fresh start, too. Patterson and general manager John Nash should be giddy and falling all over themselves at the opportunity to make Wallace a part of their first trade. It would give them instant credibility. If there is an objection to trading Wallace, it should only come from Blazers coach Maurice Cheeks, who doesn't yet have the safety net of a fair contract extension. By trading Wallace to New Jersey, Cheeks would lose his most talented veteran player and have to start his entire system over. Martin is a competitor and Mutumbo a defensive warrior, but for Cheeks, self-preservation is an issue. Still, we're talking franchise preservation here. And if the Blazers are serious about changes, this is one deal that needs to be closed. John Canzano: 503-294-5065; [email protected] -- 你腦袋裡到底是在想什麼？ --

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