Celtics discussed trading Gerald Wallace, according to report

The veteran forward is having difficulties adjusting to playing in Boston, and the team could be looking to trade him.

Nov 6, 2013, 5:46 PM UTC

Mark L. Baer-USA TODAY Sports

Gerald Wallace is on his fifth team since the 2010-2011 season and is having a hard time integrating himself into the rebuilding Boston Celtics. The Brooklyn Nets unloaded him to build a roster they hope contends for title with Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce, leaving Wallace with the project roster. Boston has discussed trading the 12-year veteran, though, according to Steve Bulpett of the Boston Herald:

In light of this, it’s not surprising to learn that the Celts have tried to discuss Wallace in trades, though with $10.1 million coming his way this season and the next two, the options are limited in this regard.
“My thing about that is I don’t ask for trades,” Wallace said. “I don’t like to be traded. You know, once I get a place where I’m comfortable, I just want to know what’s expected of me and what my role is. For a guy that goes out and puts 110 percent of himself into it, you’re giving your all and you just want to know that. This is nothing against coach Brad (Stevens). Everyone has to figure out how we need to play with each other and how we can play together defensively and offensively to get the best out of each other.”

Wallace has been vocal recently despite the Celtics' clearly in a win-later roster situation. He called out teammates for being "selfish" and "padding stats" in their loss to the Milwaukee Bucks. Of course, Wallace was also calling the "selfish" team for "not playing with effort" after a preseason loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves, as reported by Baxter Holmes of the Boston Globe. Boston has opened the season 0-4.

Head coach Brad Stevens is starting Wallace at small forward. He is currently averaging a team-high 35 minutes per game along with 5.5 points, 3.3 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 2.8 steals. Despite the large minute load and starter role, Wallace is having a hard time understanding his role with the team, via Bulpett:

“The problem is trying to figure out my role within the team and the situation that I’m called for,” he said. “Last year I had trouble with that in Brooklyn, trying to figure out what was expected of me within the team. Now I come here and pretty much everybody’s looking to see what their role is going to work out to be, what style of play we want, what kind of team we want to be. And when you’re in a situation like that, for me, it’s very difficult at this point in my career.”

It's still early in the season for a team missing Rajon Rondo while adjusting to a rookie head coach and stripped down roster, but Wallace hasn't allowed the reality of Boston's situation silence him. Worse, there doesn't appear to be an imminent trade for Wallace with a fully guaranteed $30.3 million worth of salary due to the 31-year-old forward through the 2014-2015 season, via ShamSports.