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Memphis Grizzlies: Chris Wallace the Greatest GM in Franchise History

By Ed Memphis

MEMPHIS, TN - MAY 2: General Manager Chris Wallace of the Memphis Grizzlies speaks with the media during a Press Conference introducing J.B. Bickerstaff as the Memphis Grizzlies Head Coach on May 2, 2018 at FedExForum in Memphis, Tennessee. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Joe Murphy/NBAE via Getty Images)
MEMPHIS, TN - MAY 2: General Manager Chris Wallace of the Memphis Grizzlies speaks with the media during a Press Conference introducing J.B. Bickerstaff as the Memphis Grizzlies Head Coach on May 2, 2018 at FedExForum in Memphis, Tennessee. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Joe Murphy/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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The Memphis Grizzlies General Manager, Chris Wallace, receives a lot of criticism, but he is the best GM the franchise has seen.

“Only Christopher we acknowledge is WALLACE!” — Jay-Z

Most fans of the Memphis Grizzlies hate Chris Wallace as our the team’s General Manager. However, a few tolerate him to fill out the rest. My friends, there are four corners in a room, and as someone once told me, “examine a room from all four sides.

Most seem to blame Chris Wallace because he is the common denominator in the “Grit-‘N’-Grind” rollercoaster over the past decade, but do we really know why?

Could it be that Chris is a master of the 48 laws of power and knew how to apply each law so effectively, that he always moved well in room full of vultures? Even when Jason Levien came in like Killmonger in Wakanda? Let’s examine things a bit in a two-part series.

Chris Wallace comes in around 2007 and immediately drafts Mike Conley. I am definitely not the biggest apologist of Conley, but no one can question he is a Memphis Grizzlies all-time player. Being a superstar is a topic for later. Wallace swings a home run out of the gate.

Of course Wallace has made some goofy Draft picks. It is the law of averages in Memphis’ luck, but let’s keep it a buck. Who saw Russell Westbrook being what he is today compared to how O.J. Mayo turned out as an NBA player? One had to go for a guy as hyped as Mayo. I was happy with the pick at the time. Nine times out of ten, so were you.

Yes, Darko Milicic was a bust, even during his short time with the Grizzlies. Even so, Wallace flipped him into Zach Randolph by way of Quentin Richardson. That is an NBA all-time steal of a trade.

Fast-forward to the Gasol swap in 2008. At first, the trade looked like a disaster for the Memphis Grizzlies as well as the NBA. Kobe Bryant got another star big man. On the flip-side of that, Marc Gasol (who was looked at as a throw-in to everyone except Wallace, clearly) ended up being just as good — if not better — than Pau Gasol, though not as great in career achievements. If you ask me today, the Memphis Grizzlies won the Gasol swap. Salary was cleared and the team received a younger, borderline Hall-of-Fame center in return.

That is two franchise-changing moves within the first fiscal year Chris Wallace became the Memphis Grizzlies’ General Manager. Both instances are top-five all-time moves for the franchise.

Now we enter the NBA Draft of 2008 where the Mayo debacle happens. When thinking about Kevin Love, most think about Memphis passing on Russell Westbrook. However, the Grizzlies got rid of Brian Cardinal‘s salary, which was a Jerry West signing. Like I said earlier, we all wanted Mayo in Memphis.

Now Beale Street Bears will fast-forward to the 2009 offseason, also known as the year of Hasheem Thabeet.

Chris Wallace sticks with Conley over Kyle Lowry (also to Lionel Hollins’ liking who replaced Marc Iavaroni at the helm). Today, some of us feel as if Lowry is the better player (myself included). However, nobody can question the latter is clearly FAR more accomplished career-wise.

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Michael Heisley wanted to trade Mike Conley every other week, but Marc Gasol, Chris Wallace, and Lionel Hollins insisted that we be patient with Mac-11. My take is that the Conley/Lowry decision is a wash at best.

Now arrives the drafting of Hasheem Thabeet. Most do not know that the late Michael Heisley (who was owner at the time), demanded Wallace to take Thabeet with the second overall pick in the 2009 NBA Draft. Wallace wanted to pick Tyreke Evans. Kenny Williamson, who was the Assistant General Manager at the time, wanted to select Stephen Curry.

Folks can stop trashing Wallace for Thabeet being a bust. They should give him credit for Marc and Mike because they were his moves. Thabeet was not. With Chris Wallace being a master of applying the laws, he took the bullet for his master.

Lastly, Chris Wallace pulls off yet another franchise changing move by having the guts to gamble on the talented-but-troubled Zach Randolph. This was at a time nobody else was willing to take on Z-Bo after the Los Angeles Clippers struggled with Zach. He did not do himself any favors while being in L.A. aside from his 20 & 10 stat line.

Wallace proved to be prophetic with the Z-Bo acquisition, as Zach lead the Memphis Grizzlies through the greatest run in franchise history. Looking back now, Chris Wallace already looks like the greatest General Manager in Grizzlies franchise history.

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