Report: Bobcats keep top scorer Wallace with $57M deal (http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=2933311)

Gerald Wallace, the Bobcats' top scorer from last season, is reportedly returning to join Jason Richardson in the new-look Charlotte attack.

The Charlotte Observer, citing an anonymous source, is reporting that Wallace and the Bobcats have agreed to a six-year, $57 million contract. The sixth year of the deal will be Wallace's option and he can earn as much as $2 million each season in bonuses.

The Bobcats had stiff competition to keep Wallace. Seven other teams contacted the free agent forward when the NBA free agency period began. Dallas, Orlando, Milwaukee, Detroit, Miami, Portland and Golden State all made inquiries.

Wallace averaged 18.1 points and 7.2 rebounds a game last season, when he made just over $5.5 million. He opted out of the final year of his contract, which would have paid him about $6 million, to become an unrestricted free agent. Wallace was expected to command more than $10 million a season in a deal that could run as long as six years.

The Bobcats took on the first big contract in their three-year history when they acquired swingman Richardson from Golden State in a draft-night trade. Richardson, who the Bobcats hope will be the go-to scorer they've been missing, is due about $51 million over the next four seasons.

The Bobcats believe a nucleus of Richardson, Wallace, power forward Emeka Okafor and point guard Raymond Felton will get them to the playoffs next season.

Wallace, who left Alabama after one season, spent his first three years in the NBA at the end of Sacramento's bench.

But the Bobcats selected the 6-foot-7 slasher in the 2004 expansion draft, and he quickly blossomed.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Be sure to check out the Free Agent movement thread for all the off-season transactions:

http://wtfdetroit.com/forums/showthread.php?t=9733

like there's a metric shit ton of new posters that haven't seen that thread yet... lol

Well, with the Jrich trade they should be improved next year. I'm not sure how they are going to play all their swingmen though (Jrich, Wallace, Morrison, Carroll, Dudley and Derek Anderson). If they were going to sign Wallace they should have just kept Wright IMO.

I think the Bobcats got duped here.

Sure, Wallace is a nice player that put up good numbers last year, but who else was going to score?

He was in a contract year and got paid like that was a typical season for him, and $10m a year would even be a lot for someone that goes 18 & 7, IMO.

Now with JRich in the fold, G-Dub's numbers are primed for a regression, but his paycheck sure isn't regressing.

The upshot is, they have the $/cap room so who else would they spend it on in this weak market? It's nice that they are actually spending for a change.

I still think they'll regret this deal before it's over, this is not a $10m/yr player.

No, he's not a 10 mil/year type player, but that is the NBA now... Overpay. My guess is they'll go with J-Rich at 2, Wallace at 3, while Morrison is more of a 3/4. Then Carroll will play most of the backup minutes at 2.

They might have been better off siging Darko for a lot cheaper. Yeah, Darko is a flake, but he would have a lot more post touches there with Okefor concentrating on defense.

Darko and his agent have both said they don't want him in the post, and they are looking for a team willing to use all of his talents.

Well, I don't mean backing down your defender post touches. They can be touches like Duncan and Sheed have. Face up your man and take him off the dribble. Darko is not Dirk. If he thinks he can get the ball at the three point line and create he's a moron. He needs to sit his ass on the high block, catch the ball, turn and face, and create from there. You can't start him out on the wing though, he's not quick enough.

Lethal from the post and perimeter.