Inside the NBA

A Talent Too Tempting  

Despite his latest screwup, many teams still covet Rasheed Wallace

By Ian Thomsen

Is Rasheed wallace a lost cause? The answer from many G.M.'s is a resounding no. Though he was in the midst of a seven-game suspension last week for allegedly threatening referee Tim Donaghy -- the longest suspension the league has ever handed out for a case not involving violence or drugs -- that hasn't soured too many executives on the Trail Blazers' 6'11" power forward. Says one Western Conference G.M., "There'll always be somebody who will covet him because of his talent."

Wallace's suspension cost Portland its top scorer and rebounder for seven games. John W. McDonough

Wallace's suspension began only seven weeks after he and Portland point guard Damon Stoudamire were cited for misdemeanor possession of marijuana. (Both players pleaded not guilty and a court hearing has been postponed until Feb. 18.) His run-in with Donaghy on Jan. 15 came after Wallace had apparently reined in his temper -- five technical fouls through 37 games, down from 27 last season -- and after a Portland victory over the Grizzlies in which he'd scored a season-high 38 points on 16-of-20 shooting. Still, Wallace confronted Donaghy, who had given him a T, on the Rose Garden's loading docks. Eyewitnesses say Wallace cocked his fist and, when the ref recoiled, said, "You better flinch, you motherf------ punk.... I am going to kick your f------ ass." (Wallace denies that he threatened Donaghy with his fist, and the players' union plans to appeal his suspension, which, if it stands, will cost him $1.26 million in salary.)

Wallace's suspension left the Blazers without their leading scorer (17.4 points per game) and rebounder (8.1) at a time when the team was surging. He currently makes $16.2 million, and his contract will provide $17 million in salary-cap relief when it expires after next season. There would be many takers if Blazers G.M. Bob Whitsitt were willing to unload Wallace, but Trader Bob (who did not return calls from SI) does not do fire sales. Nor does Wallace want to be dealt, according to a close friend, who notes that Wallace lives year-round in Portland because he and his wife feel it is the best place to raise their three children.

Some rivals believe that Wallace would be helped greatly if he moved to a franchise that provided him more guidance. They point to Dennis Rodman as a player who won five championships when demands were made on him but bombed when he was allowed to do as he pleased. "Rasheed needs structure," says a rival team executive who believes Whitsitt doesn't take enough of a hands-on approach with his players. "He needs to know what's at stake and that people [he works for] are there with him."

Some believe even that wouldn't help. When asked if he'd want Wallace, one Western Conference general manager said, "Probably not. It would be difficult for our guys to put up with. They would feel he was putting himself ahead of the team." Another G.M. concurs, saying, "There's enough poison in this league."

But those two represent the minority view. It shouldn't be surprising that many teams would look past a player's bad behavior if they thought he could improve their fortunes on the court (see Latrell Sprewell). At 28, Wallace has the rare ability to score in the half-court or on the run, on the block or from the three-point line. He is unselfish almost to a fault, not caring how many points he scores or even whether he starts or comes off the bench. "Believe it or not," says one of Wallace's former NBA coaches, "he is more likely to be upset by injustices to other people than to himself."

Issue date: February 3, 2003

For more Inside the NBA see this week's issue of Sports Illustrated, on newsstands Wednesday, January 29. Click here to subscribe to SI.

 

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