Portland trades Wallace to Nets and Camby to Rockets

http://espn.go.com/new-york/nba/story/_ ... il-blazers

The New Jersey Nets acquired forward Gerald Wallace from the Portland Trail Blazers in a deadline deal on Thursday in exchange for center Mehmet Okur, small forward Shawne Williams and New Jersey's protected 2012 first-round pick, the Nets announced. The pick is top-3 protected, according to a league source.

"Gerald gives us some great defense, versatility, he's a hard worker and he'll provide leadership," Nets general manager Billy King said in a Thursday night conference call, hours after the 3 p.m. trade deadline passed.
...
King said it was difficult to give up the pick, but "in meeting with our scouts we felt the player that we may draft beyond the protection would be somebody that would probably take a couple years (to develop), and at this point, we're trying to speed the process up a bit and start winning (more).

"I can understand the fanbase (wanting us to keep the pick), but I'd rather try to balance the roster, add a piece and still have cap flexibility.

The Nets still have Houston's 2012 protected first-rounder, King noted, "so it's not like we got completely out of the draft." At the same time, it appears as though they're in "win-now" mode.

http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/76915 ... ources-say

The Houston Rockets have agreed to terms on a deal to acquire veteran center Marcus Camby from the Portland Trail Blazers, according to sources with knowledge of the deal.

The deal that has been submitted to the league office for approval, sources said, calls for Houston to send guard Jonny Flynn, center Hasheem Thabeet and a future second-round pick to the Blazers for Camby, who has maintained an offseason residence in Houston for some time and has always liked the idea of playing for the Rockets.

Looks like Blazers are cleaning up shop, except for LMA. They should've got rid of Felton (although nobody would've wanted him) & Crawford. I wonder if they'll keep Batum. They might lose him.

Maybe now Portland can move Greg Oden on draft night or something for a 1st round pick and get them a center or power forward or something, to replace the injury prone Greg Oden. I sure am going to miss seeing Wallace playing for Portland, good defender, i kind of think Houston got the better deal, including getting that draft pick from the Lakers that the Lakers got from Dallas, Houston and its fans had a good day to day it seems.

Maybe now Portland can move Greg Oden on draft night

You can't trade players you have waived.

Oh wow, i didn't know Portland waved him, hmmmm.

Damn it. I am hoping Wallace won't take Humphries's rebounds and touches. Humphries was doing pretty good impersonating Dwight Howard this season.

1st round pick and get them a center or power forward or something, to replace the injury prone Greg Oden.

A 1st round pick center! Portland got both!

FML.

Looks like Blazers are cleaning up shop, except for LMA. They should've got rid of Felton (although nobody would've wanted him) & Crawford. I wonder if they'll keep Batum. They might lose him.

I agree on Felton. He simply sucks this season. We'll see if he gets better under a new coach...

Good to finally get Thabeet off the roster. After his acquisition last year I thought he'd get playing time due to the need of a big man, but seeing as how neither Adelman or McHale gave him playing time unloading him was a must. I was also never fond of acquiring Jonny Flynn, so good to see him go too.

I like the acquisition of Camby, but he's probably just about ready to hang it up either this year, if not next year.

Good deals for the Nets and Rockets, "let's start over" deals for the Blazers. Some teams might have taken a chance on Felton for a second round pick as his contract is up at the end of the season, but as it stands it'll be the Blazers who benefit from the cap relief; I doubt they'll be keen to re-sign him.

Andrew, I don't like the deal for the Nets. Say the Nets end up with the 4th or 5th pick, which is a strong possibility. I'd prefer that pick to stay if I was a fan of the Nets.

I should check before posting, but I believe the Nets pick is top 5 protected.

Top 3 protected, according to the article.