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When the Charlotte Bobcats decided to trade Gerald Wallace to the Portland Trail Blazers, it was news to everyone, including Wallace. The forward had no idea that he was being shopped, and the trade completely blindsided him.

"I was shocked," Wallace told HOOPSWORLD. "I was kind of disappointed because I didn’t see it coming. It was just one of those things that you’re not expecting and it catches you off guard."

In the hours leading up to the trade deadline, Wallace was confident that he wasn’t going anywhere. That’s because the decision makers in Charlotte repeatedly told him that he wouldn’t be traded. Even on the morning of Feb. 24, the team reiterated that they had no plans to move him.

"I think you always see it, but it’s harder when the organization is telling you, ‘We’re not going to trade you. You’re good. You’re the one guy we’re going to keep.’ When hours later, you end up getting traded, that’s the tough part about it. That’s how it goes," Wallace said.

When the team finally broke the news to Wallace, he couldn’t believe how they went about it. Rather than communicate with him throughout the process or even explain the thinking behind their decision, they simply told the veteran: "We’re ready to part ways."

"That’s what makes it so difficult," Wallace said. "When you grow up in a situation and in an organization like I did, and then see them turn their back on you and get rid of you with no explanation or nothing, it’s a hurtful thing."

"My kids are still in Charlotte and it’s definitely a transition," he added. "But that’s part of the business."

While Wallace’s stint with the Bobcats came to an abrupt, unpleasant end, he’s embracing his new opportunity in Portland. He is enjoying himself and has already started developing chemistry with his teammates.

"This is a great situation for me. Other than Wesley [Matthews], everybody is pretty good," Wallace said before sharing a laugh with Matthews, who was sitting one locker away.

"Seriously though, it’s a great situation," he said. "It’s a good team and they’re a good group of guys. They’re playoff bound. Everyone is experienced in different situations and this is a very experienced organization. I’m just trying to come here and make the best of my situation."

The fact that the Blazers are an experienced group poised for the playoffs makes the transition much easier for Wallace. After qualifying for the playoffs just once during his seven years in Charlotte, the veteran is excited for the opportunity to contribute in the postseason.

"That was very important because I’m in my tenth year in the league. I was already with a franchise that started from nothing and worked our way up. The one thing that I had been saying was that if I were to get traded, I didn’t want to go to an organization that was starting to rebuild all over. I wanted to go somewhere that was established, in the playoff hunt and contending for a championship. Portland is exactly the kind of team I was talking about," Wallace said.

Because the Blazers are an established team, inserting Wallace into the lineup has been difficult. He has yet to start since arriving in Portland, and that’s something he hopes will change in the near future.

"My main thing is just getting back there because that’s where I’m comfortable," Wallace said. "I worked so hard over the past seven years to make myself a starter, to make myself an All-Star in this league, and that’s what I’m accustomed to. That’s where I want to be, a starter in this league. It’ll come, hopefully."

Blazers head coach Nate McMillan wouldn’t say whether or not Wallace would eventually be moved into the starting lineup, and the forward said he hasn’t been given any indication one way or the other as of yet.

"He’s still trying to get adjusted," McMillan said. "I’m sure he hasn’t even unpacked his suitcase yet. He’s only been with us for a few games and we’re trying to slowly involve him in our style of play and the things that we do. He’s done some great things, but there’s still an adjustment period for him. It’s a new team, new address, new system, new style of play and new teammates. Everybody has to make adjustments. When you’re traded, that’s part of it. You have to adjust. For him, adjusting to the team midseason and seeing where he can fit in to help is where his focus is at."

Although Wallace is unhappy with how his stint in Charlotte came to an end, he now finds himself surrounded by veterans on a playoff team. At the end of the day, he’s in a better place and part of an organization that isn’t interested in parting ways anytime soon.

Watson Loving Chicago: Derrick Rose has emerged as one of the best point guards in the league, but the man that spells him has also emerged as an important role player in Chicago.

C.J. Watson has helped the Chicago Bulls become of the deepest teams in the league. They’re so deep that Rose admits that the second unit has beaten the starters during practice on more than one occasion this season.

Watson is the floor general that leads the bench, and he couldn’t be happier in Chicago. He joined the Bulls in July after being acquired from the Golden State Warriors in exchange for a second-round pick, and he’s enjoying the change of scenery.

"It’s been good. I’m still just trying to make my minutes productive when I’m out there on the court. I’m trying to get the lead and push the tempo while I’m in there. I like it. It’s just a little bit too cold. I’m not used to that yet," Watson told HOOPSWORLD.

When he first arrived in Chicago, he wasn’t used to playing for a defensive oriented team. After spending three years under Don Nelson in Golden State, Watson was used to running and focusing primarily on offense. It didn’t take him long to realize that wouldn’t be the case under Tom Thibodeau.

"First of all, there’s more defense," Watson said. "It’s been good because I’ve always tried to play good defense. It wasn’t that tough, adjusting to the new system or style. It’s actually been a lot of fun and easier because our bigs are way better defensively."

{AUTHOR_BOX}He also likes having a clear-cut role. With the Warriors, Watson’s minutes fluctuated throughout the season and his role was always changing. In Chicago, he understands what is being asked of him and he’s been able to develop a routine.

"It’s more structured, offensively and defensively, which is a big thing. When you’re a winning, that structure comes with the territory. It’s a lot easier," Watson said.

While he has adjusted to the Bulls’ system, he has also tried to incorporate some of Golden State’s run and gun offense with Chicago’s reserves.

"It gives us a good advantage," Watson said. "When our starters go out, we’re able to keep the lead and push the tempo. I think our second unit actually plays faster than our first unit so it’s a lot better having almost two different teams. I think you need a different look from the first to the second unit, and that’s what we provide."

Rose’s ascent to stardom has only made Watson’s job easier. When Rose checks out of games, teams focus their attention elsewhere, and allow Watson to get open looks.

"They don’t really adjust to me and they let me get wide open shots," he said. "That’s good for me and good for my confidence."

This will be Watson’s first postseason appearance, and he’s looking forward to participating in the playoffs rather than watching the events unfold from his couch.

"I’m really excited," Watson said. "I can’t wait. I’m really hoping we get the one or two seed, go from there and have an easy route. We have a lot of pieces. From one to thirteen, we’re all good and our second unit is one of the best. It literally keeps us in games until the end and gets us big leads. It’s going to be fun."

Around this time last season, Watson was frustrated because the Warriors were once again lottery-bound. Now, he is a contributor on a contending team. Once the weather gets warmer in Chicago, Watson will have no complaints.

NBA News and Notes: Here are some items from this week’s news and notes bin.

• Darington Hobson will undergo right hip surgery this afternoon. Hobson underwent surgery on his left hip in October and recently completed his rehab. The 23-year-old needed surgery on both his right and left hip, which is one reason that the Milwaukee Bucks waived him in December. Hobson is expected to resume basketball activities this summer and sources close to the situation believe that the Bucks will try to re-sign him.

• The general consensus around the league is that Erik Spoelstra made a huge mistake by outing his emotional players after Sunday’s loss to the Chicago Bulls. Players around the league had no issue with members of the Miami HEAT crying – in fact, many admitted to crying after tough losses themselves – but nobody could believe that a head coach mentioned the intimate moment to reporters.

• The Boston Celtics’ Paul Pierce and Oklahoma City Thunder’s Russell Westbrook today were named the Eastern and Western Conference Players of the Week. Pierce led Boston to a 4-0 week, averaging 21.8 points on .587 shooting (27-for-46) to go along with 8.0 rebounds. Westbrook led the Western Conference in scoring with 27.0 points per game, and his average of 9.7 assists ranked third in the conference, while his 3.0 steals ranked second.