Chris Wallace, Accidental GM.
The Thabeet news sent me off to look at Good Ole CW's history of wonderful GM moves over the years and my search unearthed some Great info , starting with this quote from Dick Pitino back on 1997
http://lexnihilnovi.blogspot.com/2013/09/pitino-hires-chris-wallace.html"He's the kind of guy who always finds a game to go to," Pitino said. "If there were a game at the Y tonight, he'd be there."
That's exactly what the president and coach of the Celtics had in mind. That's why he was willing to give up the Celtics' second-round draft pick (30th overall) as compensation to the Heat. In turn, the Celtics received the 55th overall pick. Pitino said that didn't bother him and that Wallace "was worth two first-round picks."Yes, Dick, in the greater scheme of things, I believe you believed that.
It was quite the walk down memory lane reviewing CW's GM record over the years, especially his sparkling array of deals while GM=ing the Celts back in those glory days of (January 8, 2001 - May 9, 2003). Supposedly he get's a pass and a free finger point at Dick P for any moves before Pitino took his ball and went home back in 2000.
Here's links to both their sets of moves, let's give Wallace the benefit of the doubt and say he was trying valiantly to pull the phone out of Dick's hands when ever he had a whim to sign Tyus Edney or re-trade for Eric Williams (or even get 37 year old Hot Rod Williams) and let his moves stand on their own.
Pitino GM MovesChris Wallace MovesI'll just pick out his drafts with Memphis and sigh wi****lly. (seriously? wist Fully is censored?)
June 28, 2007: Selected Mike Conley (1st round, 4th pick) in the 2007 NBA Draft.
August 17, 2007: Traded a 2010 1st round draft pick (Xavier Henry was later selected) to the Washington Wizards for Juan Carlos Navarro.
OH MY GOD!!!!!!!!!!!
June 26, 2008: Selected
Kevin Love (1st round, 5th pick) and Donte Greene (1st round, 28th pick) in the 2008 NBA Draft.
NEVER MIND!!!!!!!!!!
June 26, 2008: Traded Brian Cardinal, Jason Collins,
Kevin Love and Mike Miller to the Minnesota Timberwolves for Greg Buckner, Marko Jaric, O.J. Mayo and Antoine Walker.
June 25, 2009: Selected Hasheem Thabeet (1st round, 2nd pick), DeMarre Carroll (1st round, 27th pick) and Sam Young (2nd round, 36th pick) in the 2009 NBA Draft.
February 18, 2010: Traded a 2011 1st round draft pick (Donatas Motiejunas was later selected) to the Utah Jazz for Ronnie Brewer.
June 24, 2010: Selected Xavier Henry (1st round, 12th pick), Dominique Jones (1st round, 25th pick) and Greivis Vasquez (1st round, 28th pick) in the 2010 NBA Draft.
June 24, 2011: No pick....YAY!!!!!!!!!
Subsequently banned from NBA for ineptitude.
Rehired due to Memphis confusion and name plates already made up so why not?
Ok, the draft is a crap shoot so poor old CW deserves a break I suppose for accidentally putting together a mid level playoff team and, of course, he did win a championship. albeit for the Lakers when he served up Pau Gasol to them in 2008 (he did get Marc Gasol back, jeenyus on his part...riiiight)
All done but a big thanks to the Thabeet news for offering a chance to go back over the wonderama that is Chris Wallace (and I never mentioned the details of the fine job he did with the Celtics)