Wallace Hopes To Sign Long-Term With Blazers

Gerald Wallace's future as a Trail Blazer is uncertain. The 29-year-old could be traded before the March 15th deadline, and he's indicated that he'll opt out of his contract at season's end rather than exercise his player option. However, Wallace would like to remain with Portland long-term, as he tells Chris Haynes of CSNNW.com.

"I want to finish my career in Portland," Wallace said. "This is where I want to be, but at the same time, I know this is a business."

While Wallace says he intends to decline his option this summer, he hopes to renegotiate a deal with the Blazers. Wallace's 13.4 PPG and 15.4 PER are his lowest marks since 2004/05, but he's still productive enough to earn long-term contract offers this summer. So while he may have trouble matching the $9.5MM his option is worth for 2012/13, he should easily be able to exceed that guarantee on a multiyear deal, whether or not Portland is interested in bringing him back.

Wallace's name came up in trade rumors involving the Magic and Nets prior to the season, and ESPN.com's Chris Broussard said earlier this week that the Blazers are open to discussing the forward again as the deadline approaches.

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