Chris Wallace (NBA General Manager)
Encyclopedia
Chris Wallace, from Buckhannon, West Virginia
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.
before coming to Boston. The Heat won a franchise-record 61 games in 1996-97, and Wallace is credited with discovering many of the Heat's players. His responsibilities included college and international scouting and searching for potential talent in the Continental Basketball Association
as well as the NBA. Wallace was promoted to that position after four years as a scout for the Heat.
Before joining the Heat, Wallace worked in various scouting capacities for the Portland Trail Blazers
, Denver Nuggets
, Los Angeles Clippers
, and New York Knicks
. He also worked as a draft consultant for the United States Basketball League
.
In 1981, while a student at the University of Kansas, Wallace founded Blue Ribbon College Basketball Yearbook, an in-depth preseason guide, which he edited and published until 1996. His work on the publication helped him build a reputation as an expert in the field.
, who inexplicably fell to the Celtics with the No. 10 pick. He also traded for Vin Baker
who had been signed to a large contract and tied up Boston's salary cap for three years while battling alcoholism. He has been criticized for his draft history and his free-agent signings while the Celtics' GM.
for the 2007-08 season. 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
.
He was brought to work in Memphis just days before the 2007 draft
, where the Grizzlies chose point guard
Mike Conley, Jr.
with the fourth pick. Iavaroni lasted for just over a year as coach before being fired.
Wallace was heavily criticized for trading away the Grizzlies' 27-year old franchise player, Pau Gasol
, to the Los Angeles Lakers
on February 1, 2008. In exchange, the Grizzlies received a rookie 2nd round pick who had not played in the NBA yet (Marc Gasol), plus a pair of very low future first round picks (Lakers' 2008 and 2010). Many fans and sports commentators believed that the Grizzlies did not receive enough talent in return for Gasol and that the deal was a salary dump. The move also puzzled some rivals. San Antonio Spurs
head coach Gregg 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."
, Wallace and his wife Debby have one son named Truman.
West Virginia
West Virginia is a state in the Appalachian and Southeastern regions of the United States, bordered by Virginia to the southeast, Kentucky to the southwest, Ohio to the northwest, Pennsylvania to the northeast and Maryland to the east...
is the general manager and vice president of basketball operations for the Memphis Grizzlies
Memphis Grizzlies
The Memphis Grizzlies are a professional basketball team based in Memphis, Tennessee, USA. The team is part of the Southwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association . Along with the Toronto Raptors, the Grizzlies were established in 1995 as part of the NBA's...
basketball team in the National Basketball Association
National Basketball Association
The National Basketball Association is the pre-eminent men's professional basketball league in North America. It consists of thirty franchised member clubs, of which twenty-nine are located in the United States and one in Canada...
(NBA).
He has been in this role since June 18, 2007. His main responsibilities include free agent signings, trades and draft
NBA Draft
The NBA Draft is an annual event in which the thirty teams from the National Basketball Association can draft players who are eligible and wish to join the league. These players are usually amateur U.S. college basketball players, but international players are also eligible to be drafted...
preparation. Before assuming that position he was the general manager of the Boston Celtics
Boston Celtics
The Boston Celtics are a National Basketball Association team based in Boston, Massachusetts. They play in the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference. Founded in 1946, the team is currently owned by Boston Basketball Partners LLC. The Celtics play their home games at the TD Garden, which...
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.
Starting out in NBA
Wallace was Director of Player Personnel for the Miami HeatMiami Heat
The Miami Heat is a professional basketball team based in Miami, Florida, United States. The team is a member of the Southeast Division in the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association . They play their home games at American Airlines Arena in Downtown Miami...
before coming to Boston. The Heat won a franchise-record 61 games in 1996-97, and Wallace is credited with discovering many of the Heat's players. His responsibilities included college and international scouting and searching for potential talent in the Continental Basketball Association
Continental Basketball Association
The Continental Basketball Association was a professional men's basketball league in the United States, which has been on hiatus since the 2009 season.- History :...
as well as the NBA. Wallace was promoted to that position after four years as a scout for the Heat.
Before joining the Heat, Wallace worked in various scouting capacities for the Portland Trail Blazers
Portland Trail Blazers
The Portland Trail Blazers, commonly known as the Blazers, are an American professional basketball team based in Portland, Oregon. They play in the Northwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association . The Trail Blazers originally played their home games in the...
, Denver Nuggets
Denver Nuggets
The Denver Nuggets are a professional basketball team based in Denver, Colorado. They play in the National Basketball Association . They were founded as the Denver Rockets in 1967 as a charter franchise of the American Basketball Association, and became one of that league's more successful teams...
, Los Angeles Clippers
Los Angeles Clippers
The Los Angeles Clippers are a professional basketball team based in Los Angeles, California, United States. They play in the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Basketball Association...
, and New York Knicks
New York Knicks
The New York Knickerbockers, prominently known as the Knicks, are a professional basketball team based in New York City. They are part of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association...
. He also worked as a draft consultant for the United States Basketball League
United States Basketball League
The United States Basketball League , often abbreviated to the USBL, was a professional men's spring basketball league. The league was formed in 1985. The final champions are the Kansas Cagerz, who won the title game on July 1, 2007.-History:...
.
In 1981, while a student at the University of Kansas, Wallace founded Blue Ribbon College Basketball Yearbook, an in-depth preseason guide, which he edited and published until 1996. His work on the publication helped him build a reputation as an expert in the field.
Work in Boston
Was hired by the Boston Celtics in 1997, with Miami receiving a 2nd-round draft pick to end his contract and allow him to take the new job, and became general manager for the 2000-01 season. The next season, Wallace would make a trade-deadline trade with the Phoenix Suns of Joe Johnson for Tony Delk and Rodney Rogers (among others), which would help get the Celtics to their first Eastern Conference finals in over a decade, but the trade became problematic over the long-term when Johnson became a major star with Phoenix and Atlanta, while Rogers left the Celtics after Wallace failed to sign him to a contract extension. One positive of Chris Wallace's time in Boston was the draft of Paul PiercePaul Pierce
Paul Anthony Pierce , nicknamed The Truth, is an American professional basketball player for the Boston Celtics of the NBA. He earned First Team All-America honors in his junior year at Kansas, and has been a starter every season since being selected by the Celtics with the 10th overall pick in the...
, who inexplicably fell to the Celtics with the No. 10 pick. He also traded for Vin Baker
Vin Baker
Vincent Lamont Baker is a former American professional basketball player who played in the NBA. He appeared in four consecutive All-Star Games before his career was halted due to alcoholism....
who had been signed to a large contract and tied up Boston's salary cap for three years while battling alcoholism. He has been criticized for his draft history and his free-agent signings while the Celtics' GM.
Work in Memphis
Chris Wallace was hired to replace outgoing president Jerry WestJerry West
Jerry Alan West is a retired American basketball player who played his entire professional career for the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association . His nicknames include "Mr...
for the 2007-08 season. 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
Marc Iavaroni
Marcus John Iavaroni is a retired American professional basketball player, current assistant coach of the Los Angeles Clippers, and former head coach of the NBA's Memphis Grizzlies....
.
He was brought to work in Memphis just days before the 2007 draft
2007 NBA Draft
The 2007 NBA Draft was held on June 28, 2007 at the WaMu Theatre at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. It was broadcast on television in 115 countries. In this draft, National Basketball Association teams took turns selecting amateur U.S...
, where the Grizzlies chose point guard
Point guard
Point guard , also called the play maker or "the ball-handler", is one of the standard positions in a regulation basketball game. A point guard has perhaps the most specialized role of any position – essentially, he is expected to run the team's offense by controlling the ball and making sure that...
Mike Conley, Jr.
Mike Conley, Jr.
Michael Alex "Mike" Conley, Jr. is an American professional basketball player for the Memphis Grizzlies of the National Basketball Association.Conley is the son of Olympic gold and silver medalist triple jumper Mike Conley, Sr...
with the fourth pick. Iavaroni lasted for just over a year as coach before being fired.
Wallace was heavily criticized for trading away the Grizzlies' 27-year old franchise player, Pau Gasol
Pau Gasol
Pau Gasol Sáez is a Spanish professional basketball player for the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association . He was born to Marisa Sáez and Agustí Gasol, and he spent his childhood in Spain...
, to the Los Angeles Lakers
Los Angeles Lakers
The Los Angeles Lakers are an American professional basketball team based in Los Angeles, California. They play in the Pacific Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association...
on February 1, 2008. In exchange, the Grizzlies received a rookie 2nd round pick who had not played in the NBA yet (Marc Gasol), plus a pair of very low future first round picks (Lakers' 2008 and 2010). Many fans and sports commentators believed that the Grizzlies did not receive enough talent in return for Gasol and that the deal was a salary dump. The move also puzzled some rivals. San Antonio Spurs
San Antonio Spurs
The San Antonio Spurs are an American professional basketball team based in San Antonio, Texas. They are part of the Southwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association ....
head coach Gregg Popovich
Gregg Popovich
Gregg Popovich is an American basketball coach, and is currently the head coach of the National Basketball Association's San Antonio Spurs. With the resignation of Jerry Sloan as head coach of the Utah Jazz on February 10, 2011, Popovich is the longest tenured coach in the NBA and also the...
was quoted by Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated is an American sports media company owned by media conglomerate Time Warner. Its self titled magazine has over 3.5 million subscribers and is read by 23 million adults each week, including over 18 million men. It was the first magazine with circulation over one million to win the...
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."
Private life
A native of Buckhannon, West VirginiaWest Virginia
West Virginia is a state in the Appalachian and Southeastern regions of the United States, bordered by Virginia to the southeast, Kentucky to the southwest, Ohio to the northwest, Pennsylvania to the northeast and Maryland to the east...
, Wallace and his wife Debby have one son named Truman.