Gerald Wallace

Blazers Interested In Jose Calderon

With point guard Raymond Felton underperforming, the Trail Blazers are looking to shore up their backcourt ahead of next week's trade deadline. And while their name has been in the mix for names such as Steve Nash, Rajon Rondo, Luke Ridnour, and Steve Blake, Hasan Alanam of Canada.com points to their reported interest in Raptors point guard Jose Calderon and explores several trade scenarios.

Alanam mentions possible trades involving Felton and either Gerald Wallace or Jamal Crawford, with Portland possibly also taking back Linas Klezia. In one scenario, the Timberwolves participate in a three-team deal with Malcolm Lee going to Portland and Anthony Randolph going to Toronto.

Calderon is making approximately $9.8MM this season and has one year left on his contract, which will pay him $10.5MM in 2012/13. He is averaging 10.7 PPG and 8.7 APG this season.

Ford On Rondo, Smith, Kaman, Wallace, Nash

While a number of NBA executives are anticipating a quiet trade deadline, the conversations ESPN.com's Chad Ford has had still lead him to believe that significant deals will be made. In an Insider-only piece, Ford listed ten impact players who could be moved, from the most likely (Rajon Rondo) to the least likely (Steve Nash). Here are the highlights from Ford's column:

  • Even though the Celtics insist they won't trade Rondo, that isn't consistent with what rival GMs are saying after talking to GM Danny Ainge. Ford thinks Ainge would move Rondo if he could get two solid pieces in return.
  • The Hawks have been exploring potential Josh Smith deals "for years" and would be interested in an offer that nets them a legit point guard and a decent forward.
  • Chris Kaman has drawn "a lot of interest" from the Warriors, Rockets, and Heat.
  • The Blazers appear more open to trading Gerald Wallace now than they were at the start of the season. Ford thinks the Magic could make a big push for the 29-year-old forward.
  • If the Magic hang onto Dwight Howard, the Nets will stay the course with Deron Williams, but a Howard trade anywhere besides New Jersey could force the Nets to explore trade options for Williams.
  • Ford says it doesn't make much sense for the Suns and Steve Nash not to consider a trade, since Phoenix could end up losing Nash for nothing at season's end anyway.
  • Monta Ellis, Pau Gasol, and Eric Gordon also cracked Ford's list.

Odds & Ends: Howard, Morris, Anderson, Knicks

While there haven't been any big Dwight Howard rumors so far today, Josh Robbins of the Orlando Sentinel indicates that there has been a "shift in tone" in how Howard's desires are perceived.  As we documented yesterday, the rumors are running wild, seemingly due to Howard's ambivalence.  Here is what else is going on around the league on this Wednesday evening:

Wallace Hopes To Sign Long-Term With Blazers

Gerald Wallace's future as a Trail Blazer is uncertain. The 29-year-old could be traded before the March 15th deadline, and he's indicated that he'll opt out of his contract at season's end rather than exercise his player option. However, Wallace would like to remain with Portland long-term, as he tells Chris Haynes of CSNNW.com.

"I want to finish my career in Portland," Wallace said. "This is where I want to be, but at the same time, I know this is a business."

While Wallace says he intends to decline his option this summer, he hopes to renegotiate a deal with the Blazers. Wallace's 13.4 PPG and 15.4 PER are his lowest marks since 2004/05, but he's still productive enough to earn long-term contract offers this summer. So while he may have trouble matching the $9.5MM his option is worth for 2012/13, he should easily be able to exceed that guarantee on a multiyear deal, whether or not Portland is interested in bringing him back.

Wallace's name came up in trade rumors involving the Magic and Nets prior to the season, and ESPN.com's Chris Broussard said earlier this week that the Blazers are open to discussing the forward again as the deadline approaches.

Broussard On Gasol, Rondo, Ellis, Beasley, Kaman

In addition to providing an update on the Dwight Howard sweepstakes, Chris Broussard shares rumors about a handful of big-name trade candidates in his latest Insider-only ESPN.com column. Let's dive in….

  • The Rockets still have interest in Pau Gasol but want to build around Kyle Lowry rather than include him in any Gasol deal. The Timberwolves haven't talked to the Lakers in months about Gasol, while the Bulls have shown some interest in the Spaniard.
  • Sources tell Broussard that the Celtics have determined they're not title contenders this year and would prefer to move Rajon Rondo rather than deal with the "headaches" he brings.
  • Broussard hears that if Monta Ellis were traded, the Warriors guard would like to join the Lakers, Bulls, or Magic (alongside Dwight Howard), but none of those scenarios appear realistic.
  • The Timberwolves offered Michael Beasley to the Lakers in exchange for the higher of L.A.'s two first-round picks, but were turned down. The Lakers are torn on Beasley — because L.A. is over the tax line, the team would be adding more than just Beasley's $6.26MM cap figure. I imagine they'd also prefer to use their trade exception to acquire a point guard.
  • The Hornets' asking price for Chris Kaman has dropped since earlier in the season. They're seeking a draft pick, even just a second-rounder, for the center.
  • LaMarcus Aldridge and Nicolas Batum are "virtually untouchable" but the Blazers would talk about anyone else on their roster, particularly Raymond Felton and Gerald Wallace.

Odds & Ends: Gasol, Thunder, Batum, Rondo

February 13th has historically been a busy day for trades, with the most recent blockbuster coming in 2010 — the Mavericks and Wizards finalized a seven-player deal that sent Caron Butler and Brendan Haywood to Dallas. Other notable Valentine's Eve deals? Shawn Marion to Toronto (2009), Damon Stoudamire to Portland (1998), and Mychal Thompson to the Lakers (1987). With a late trade deadline this season, we're not expecting any big deals quite yet, but the day's still young….