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Portland deals McCarty to D.C. United for Wallace

 DaxMcCarty (ISIPhotos.com)

Dax McCarty's tenure as a Portland Timber lasted all of a few hours.

Just three hours after selecting McCarty with the first pick in the 2010 MLS Expansion Draft, Portland shipped McCarty and allocation money to D.C. United for Rodney Wallace and a fourth-round pick in the 2011 MLS Draft.

Wallace is the second young and quick wide player acquired by Portland in the last two days. Both deals were for former Maryland Terrapins as Wallace and Jeremy Hall were teammates on the 2008 NCAA champion Terps.

Wallace can play left back or left wing, though Portland also selected left back Anthony Wallace in the expansion draft, meaning another trade could be in the works.

What do you think of the trade?

Share your thoughts below.

Comments

  1. I don’t think Portland understands how important experienced MLS caliber players are worth. To trade just about every good pick you got from the draft for next years MLS College Draft picks was just stupid! The players you have left are average at best and the few players you get from the draft will be questionable at best since they have no experience outside college or some US-20 games. I think Portland will finish dead last next season unless they can do some magic between now and the start of the season. I was really hoping Portland would have looked at the last 2 years of expansion drafts and worked with that logic. They clearly didn’t and I’m sure next season will be the worst for any expansion team in MLS history. I was really looking forward to watching them play. This SUCKS!

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  2. And his distribution is horrible. Time and time again I’ve seen him take the ball away from an attacker only to give it right back to the other team’s midfield.

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  3. Besides the last sentence, which is moot considering what has been said about signing another CM, you’re very correct that this wasn’t a bum deal. Wallace was just an injured guy on the worst team in the league. I think too many people are projecting the win-loss column of the two teams to judge the quality of the player.

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  4. That or Portland’s plan has been to build through the draft from the beginning so they chose him knowing they could get draft picks

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  5. We know about his citizenship, but he did recently get his green card — permanent residence. He’s headed for US citizenship, and that’s why his name was floated in discussions about the USMNT’s future.

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  6. Well, he is fast — a much better athlete than McCarty. But, not nearly as good a soccer player. Wallace could develop — he doesn’t have anything like McCarty’s wealth of experience, even at a young age. If Wallace can ever learn to play the ball with his right foot, he could be a good player.

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  7. This is one DC United fan who is thrilled by the trade..and really surprised that the front office was able to pull off such a one-sided deal.

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  8. He’s a lousy defender. With the ball, he’s a one-footed player. He’s terrified of using his right foot. He’s fairly fast,especially when cutting into the middle, but his speed doesn’t seem to help him going down the wing. He couldn’t beat a defender, and every single cross he attempted on the run was blocked by the defender. On the other hand, he won more corner kicks than anybody I’ve ever seen.

    I actually think his strongest position could be in central midfield, but eh could do OK as a left wing. He should be a great left back, as he does make nice overlapping runs, but nothing ever seems to come of it…and he really is a subpar defender.

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  9. This is a good move for both clubs. Wallace is left footed, young, and an excellent addition to a new franchise. His departure adds another spot to be filled in the offseason for United. However, Dax will fill DC’s most awful need: A midfield marshall. Somebody with skill, passing, vision, but most of all a fiery, infectious spirit. Dax fits the bill, and should improve play much like Salt Lake improved with Beckerman’s arrival.

    It also makes DC’s Super Draft picks more interesting. We can really go after a forward now.

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  10. You are making a great point about loosing both Graye and Wallace, although I believe that Wallace was a regular starter (either at left mid or left back) rather than a back up. By the way, Wallace does not have US citizenship so he is not eligible to play for the US.

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  11. Wallace is strong, fast and good on the ball. He is also quite versatile and can play as a left back or left midfielder. He has lots of talent, had a great season as a rookie, but last year he sustained a season ending injury. Timbers are getting a good player if he fully recovers from injury.

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  12. DCU Wins 7 of 10: Needed (quite desperately) a player who could organize the middle and if he continues his excellent form may bring DCU back into the playoff hunt.

    Portland Wins 9 of 10: Wallace has incredible potential. You could have a player who may be an a multi-year MLS all-star. He’s young and might need 2 seasons to really get in form. I also believe who could go to Europe. Be nice if he could play for the US, but I think he’ll play for Costa Rica.

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  13. LOL! Gingers and their attitudes. Bunch of Prima’s. I guess if you have no soul you might as well be pissed of and mean to everyone.

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