Wait...The Blazers did what?

I've been planning on writing Blazers trade blog for the last couple of days, but I figured I'd go something like this.

Blazers fail, again, to use their "assets" to pull off a meaningful trade.

Honestly after the Wallace trade seemed to fall through yesterday I was PO'd. But I've got a big Blazer smile on my face today. Now will this trade bump the Blazers into title contender status? No, but it is a step in the right direction. The Blazers were able to acquire the best player off a team for their own spare parts. Let's break it down.

Blazers get:
Gerald Wallace. A starting small forward and an upgrade at the position. Yes I know most Blazer fans think Batum is the next Jesus Shuttlesworth but will never be much more than a third option on a team and he's not there yet. Wallace has proved he can score rebound and defend in this league. He was even on the All NBA defensive team last year along with averaging a double double.

Wallace's style of play should have a great positive affect on the stale Portland offense. The team is constructed of jump shooters and Wallace is a take it to the rack kinda player. Couple this with the now constant double teams LaMarcus is facing and he should have plenty of assists to the new guy.

Blazers lose:
Joel Przybilla. At this stage of Joel's career he's a back up and looking at him play recently he's a hurt back up. Sure the guy brought toughness and a take no crap attitude. But when all is said and done he was on the last year of a contract that was paying him $7.4 million a year and that's a trade chip that cannot go unused.

Dante Cunningham. A cheap role player. Sure good teams have players like Cunningham on their roster, but you can find these guys everywhere. Dante was also on his last year of a second round draft contract which means he was due for a raise if the Blazers wanted to keep him after this year they'd need to go deeper into the luxury tax and this is not the type of player teams do that for. Sure he brought a toughness and go get'em attitude but Portland got that back in Wallace.

Sean Marks. I was surprised a found a player profile on Marks on NBA.com. Some say he might be the worst player in the league but he's got a big body and that can be enough to keep a job in the NBA. Reports indicate the Bobcats will waive him.

New Orleans #1 pick in 2011. This is the pick Portland acquired in the Bayless trade at the beginning of the year. So Cho was right when he said he was accumulating assets. This pick should be in the early 20's this year much like the Blazers own pick.

Portland's 2013 first round pick. This is a couple of years off so the Blazer obviously feel they won't be a lottery team then and I'm inclined to agree. If the Blazers think they need a mid to late fist rounder in 2013 they have time to complete a trade or just flat our buy one, which they've done twice in the past 3 years.