PORTLAND — The sign from the Rose Garden stands said it best: “Crash Landing.”
Gerald Wallace still hasn’t played a game since Charlotte traded him to the Trail Blazers on Thursday, but Friday, the 28-year-old known as “Crash” did step into the Rose Garden for the first time as a member of the organization.
The face of the Bobcats for years, Wallace addressed the media with the poise of a leading man, even if his self-description contradicted that aura.
“I’m just a small town kid that loves to play basketball,” he said.
But that small-town kid has developed a relatively big-time game. An All-Star and All-NBA Defensive first team selection last season, Wallace comes to Portland advertised as a scrapper who can produce at both ends of the floor. Whether it’s defensive versatility or create-your-own-shot scoring, the 6-foot-7 forward has little to prove when it comes to his ability.
But how does he see himself fitting into the lineup? What specifically does he see himself contributing?