Portland Trail Blazers

The Blazers made the smart decision, coming to their senses about where their current roster stacked up. There were ugly losses, competing interests, reports of a locker room mutiny and lackadasical play. It was time for the rebuilding effort and Wallace's departure represents step one. Wallace had a player option for next season, which he may or may not exercise, and that decision is now someone else's problem.



In Wallace's place, the Blazers get an excellent draft pick, a large expiring contract in Okur (who may or may not have game left in him in the future, althoug he's out for the duration of the season) and Williams, who doesn't seem like a long-term fit and may be bought out.



The whole goal heading into the trade deadline was asset accumulation, and getting the Nets' pick certainly accomplished that goal. Biting the bullet on a rebuild was surely no easy task for demanding owner Paul Allen, but he did the right thing.