After college, Wallace played professionally in Italy for several years before returning to the United States to pursue a career in basketball management. He began his career as a scout for the Portland Trail Blazers in 1986 and later worked as an assistant coach for the team. In 1995, Wallace was hired as the general manager of the Boston Celtics, where he helped build a team that reached the NBA Finals in 2002.
In 2007, Wallace was hired as the general manager of the Memphis Grizzlies, where he remained until 2019. During his tenure with the Grizzlies, Wallace oversaw the team's transformation from a perennial lottery team to a playoff contender. He was responsible for drafting several key players, including Marc Gasol and Mike Conley, and making trades that helped the team reach the Western Conference Finals in 2013.
Wallace was known for his analytical approach to basketball and his ability to identify talent. He was also known for his willingness to take risks, as evidenced by his decision to draft high school phenom Kwame Brown with the first overall pick in the 2001 NBA Draft while he was with the Celtics.
Overall, Chris Wallace had a successful career in basketball management, helping to build competitive teams in both Boston and Memphis. His legacy will be remembered for his ability to identify talent and his willingness to take risks in order to build winning teams.
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