Chris Wallace (NBA General Manager)

Chris Wallace is the general manager and vice president of basketball operations for the Memphis Grizzlies basketball team in the National Basketball Association (NBA).

He has been in this role since June 18, 2007. His main responsibilities include free agent signings, trades and draft preparation. Before assuming that position he was the general manager of the Boston Celtics for 10 seasons and has worked in the NBA since 1986, yet unlike many of his general manager peers he has never been a player or coach in the NBA and it shows. He is referred to as the undisputed worst GM in in the NBA. [ [http://www.nba.com/grizzlies/news/wallace_named_vp_gm-070618.html GRIZZLIES: Grizzlies name Chris Wallace General Manager and Vice President of Basketball Operations ] ]

Work in Boston

Drafted Paul Pierce

Work in Memphis

Wallace stated in an initial press conference that his goal is to one day win a championship with this team and head coach Marc Iavaroni. [ [http://www.nba.com/grizzlies/features/wallace_joins_grizzlies-070618.html GRIZZLIES: Chris Wallace joins Grizzlies as VP, GM ] ] He was brought to work in Memphis just days before the 2007 draft, where the Grizzlies chose the promising young point guard Mike Conley Jr. with the fourth pick.

Chris Wallace was heavily criticized for soon trading away Memphis Grizzlies player, Pau Gasol, to the Los Angeles Lakers on February 1, 2008. Many fans and sports commentators of other teams vying for the championship believed that the Grizzlies made it tougher for their team to win. However, most Grizzlies fans were thrilled by the trade and glad that the Grizzlies got rid of Gasol's contracts so they can rebuild through youth and draft picks. It was well know that Gasol didn't want to play in Memphis anymore, and the fans didn't want him there, as there was an obvious disconnect. Gasol is generally viewed as a second or third option player so the Grizzlies didn't hurt themselves to much by trading him and his contract. He's not a superstar, or their greatest player and the Grizzlies future is viewed as much more promising than if they would have kept Pau. Darrel Arthur, Marc Gasol, Javaris Crittenton, 2010 first round pick, and $15 million in cap space for Pau is a horrible trade apparently. [ [http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/dailydime?page=dime-080202-03 ESPN - Weekend Dime: Breaking down the Pau Gasol trade - NBA ] ] [ [http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=simmons/080214 ESPN Page 2 - The Sports Guy: Where was the Rocket's red glare? ] ] The move also puzzled some rivals. San Antonio Spurs head coach Greg Popovich was quoted by Sports Illustrated saying "What they did in Memphis is beyond comprehension. There should be a trade committee that can scratch all trades that make no sense. I just wish I had been on a trade committee that oversees NBA trades. I would have voted no to the LA trade." It is believed that he is only against the trade because he knew his team couldn't beat the Lakers anymore. So far in a little over a year on the job, Wallace has put together a solid young team in Memphis. Rudy Gay, OJ Mayo, Mike Conley, Kyle Lowry, Marc Gasol, Darrel Arthur, Darko Milicic and Javaris Crittenton makes for a young excited core with plenty of potential.

Private life

A native of West Virginia, Wallace and his wife Debby have one son named Truman.

References