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The date for Wallace opting in on the $9.5 million in the final year of his contract is June 13, which King applauds. “As a team, you want it sooner. You don’t want July 1 because you want to know by the draft,” King said. “I didn’t do it but I think it’s a good way to have it done if he’s opting in, then you know before the draft. If he’s not opting in you know before the draft.” New York Post

Brooklyn Nets, Gerald Wallace 

Billy King on Gerald Wallace, who has a player option, but has publicly said he wants to return to the Nets next season: "We've had conversations with his representatives because actually we can talk about the potential of [an] extension if he opts in. We'll leave that there." (The Nets likely won't make a move with their free agents until they know Williams' definite plans.) ESPN.com

Brooklyn Nets, Free Agency, Gerald Wallace, Billy King 

Wallace has to make a decision on his one-year player option worth $9.5 million by June 15. At any time, the Nets can sign him to an extension of up to two years on top of the one-year player option. The extension could be no greater or less per year than 7 percent of $9.5 million. So we're looking at having Wallace locked up somewhere in the ballpark of three years, $29 million. That would avoid Wallace going to free agency, but obviously at a steep price. If the Nets lose Wallace, they essentially traded a first-round pick for 16 meaningless games with the Nets. If Wallace opts out – which King said he expects – the Nets can sign him up to five years because they retain his Bird Rights. “Deron (Williams) is 27 years old. Gerald is 30. The goal is to win now. Three years can go by quick, four years can go by quick. …When you have that window, you go for it,” King said. “I told (Wallace) that in his (exit interview) as well that he deserves a multi-year contract.” New York Daily News

Brooklyn Nets, Free Agency, Gerald Wallace, Deron Williams 

The Nets plan to sign Gerald Wallace to a multi-year deal in free agency or an extension, according to GM Billy King. “Obviously he’s a big part of it and his reality being 30 years old, this is probably going to be one his last chances to get a big contract before he gets beyond that,” King said today. “So our goal is try to get him where he’s comfortable with the numbers, we’re comfortable with the numbers, and we keep him in the fold.” New York Daily News

Brooklyn Nets, Gerald Wallace, Deron Williams 

Andy Vasquez: Billy King said he doesn't expect Gerald Wallace to opt in to his player option. But "that doesn't mean he's leaving." Twitter

Brooklyn Nets, Gerald Wallace, Deron Williams 

If there were a leader, the players' discontent with coach Nate McMillan never would have spread to the point where the team flat out quit on him. The whining whispers of Raymond Felton, in particular to Gerald Wallace, would have been stopped. The sulking of Jamal Crawford would have been stifled. And the indifference of Marcus Camby would have been challenged. Oregonian

Portland Trail Blazers, Gerald Wallace, Raymond Felton, Nate McMillan, Jamal Crawford, Marcus Camby 

Stefan Bondy: Gerald Wallace says he'll test free agency. He has a one year player option worth 9.5 million with incentives Twitter

Brooklyn Nets, Free Agency, Gerald Wallace 

Stefan Bondy: Gerald Wallace says he wants a multi-year deal but ultimately I think he and Jordan Farmar will exercise player options. Twitter

Brooklyn Nets, Free Agency, Gerald Wallace 

Tim Bontemps: I've rarely seen athletes join a team and command the immediate respect Gerald Wallace has. He's a very impressive guy, and plays very hard. Twitter

Brooklyn Nets, Free Agency, Gerald Wallace 

Stefan Bondy: Gerald Wallace says he'll test free agency. He has a one year player option worth 9.5 million with incentives Twitter

Brooklyn Nets, Gerald Wallace 

Andy Vasquez: Gerald Wallace says he expects to make a decision on his future in the next week. "I don't want to play on a one year deal." Twitter

Brooklyn Nets, Gerald Wallace 

It used to be that “Good Larry’’ dynamic lasted five seasons (Indiana, Philly). Lately (New York, Charlotte) the exasperation exceeds the genius way too quickly. Gerald Wallace and Stephen Jackson were true believers, and then the day before the start of training camp two years ago Larry told them the front office had sold everyone out and they’d be terrible. That’s probably not the best message to send to your two key players entering a season. Whatever purpose LB intended, Wallace and Jackson saw this as renouncement. Imagine your parents telling you, “You’ll be nothing….uh, sorry.’’ Charlotte Observer

Charlotte Bobcats, Coaching, Gerald Wallace, Stephen Jackson, Larry Brown, Rod Higgins 

Gerald Wallace fell awkwardly to the floor after getting tangled up under the Nets basket. He walked gingerly to the bench and slammed a towel in frustration. Then he talked to a trainer, and walked directly out onto the court to play the rest of the Nets’ 106-95 loss at Milwaukee. With so little at stake in the Nets season, even his teammates are questioning why. “That was scary,” DeShawn Stevenson said. “His knee got taken out. I think he should shut it down. He wants to play. D- Will [Nets guard Deron Williams] told him to shut it down, too.” Wallace, unsurprisingly, has not been receptive to their suggestions. “No,” came Wallace’s terse response when asked if he’d consider taking the final two games off. “They’re going to have to shut me down. I’m going to play this game until I can’t play no more, so if they don’t want me to play, they’re gonna have to shut me down. They can’t ask me if I’m gonna play. I’m going to play.” Bergen Record

Brooklyn Nets, Gerald Wallace, Injuries 

But while stressing nothing has been decided, Wallace, who could opt out of the final season of his contract and into free agency, can see himself in a Nets uniform next season. “Yes, sure,” Wallace said about Brooklyn in his future. “Me and my agent have begun to talk about it, but right now we’re just going to wait till the offseason.” New York Post

Brooklyn Nets, Free Agency, Gerald Wallace 

Andy Vasquez: Gerald Wallace, strained hamstring, declined to talk to reporters. But when Deron Williams asked if he was ok, he responded that he was. Twitter

Brooklyn Nets, Gerald Wallace, Injuries 

Gerald Wallace returned to the Rose Garden as part of the New Jersey Nets on Wednesday, his first game in Portland since being traded on March 15. Before the game, Wallace met with Portland reporters in the visiting locker room and talked about the trade, his former team and other topic. Some of the highlights: On his reaction to the trade: "It was kind of shocking. I didn’t see it coming. I didn’t think I was on the trading block. It was kind of surprise to me. But at the same time, it’s a business, and you get used to it." Oregonian

Brooklyn Nets, Portland Trail Blazers, Trade, Gerald Wallace 

Wallace, who admitted he was shocked to be traded, also admitted missing the playoffs will be hard to deal with. “Every year you miss the playoffs, it’s always disappointing, especially for me, so late in my career,’’ he said. But he praised the Nets’ young talent and said he thought the injured Lopez is “a big piece of the organization’’ who “could potentially boost us over from where we are right now. And I’m looking forward to that.’’ Newark Star-Ledger

Brooklyn Nets, Gerald Wallace 

The Nets have won once in six games since Gerald Wallace was acquired in a deadline-day trade with Portland two weeks ago. But Wallace’s impact hasn’t been lost on Nets coach Avery Johnson. “Gerald has been so good it’s scary,” Johnson said after yesterday’s practice ahead of tonight’s game against the Pacers at Prudential Center. “He’s just steady. ... He’s a flat-liner. We met this morning in my office and just talked about vision and talking about his role and the team’s not winning, and obviously he wants to win, but he likes what we’re doing here. New York Post

Brooklyn Nets, Gerald Wallace 

Also, Gerald Wallace would not have been part-payment. Months ago, when the Magic appeared fed up with Howard, the Nets were set to give the Blazers four (not a typo) first-rounders for Wallace in order to satisfy Orlando’s roundabout demand, but not this time. New York Post

Brooklyn Nets, Orlando Magic, Portland Trail Blazers, Trade, Gerald Wallace, Dwight Howard 

Nicolas Batum: Very hard to see great teamates and friends like @Marcus Camby , G-Wallace and CJ go. Widh them all the best Twitter

Portland Trail Blazers, Trade, Gerald Wallace, Nicolas Batum, Marcus Camby