"There are those who think the Trail Blazers' current makeup isn't of NBA championship mettle. Count their newest player not among the doubters.

"It's an exciting team, a team that's in the hunt for not only a playoff berth for a championship," Gerald Wallace said before Friday night's Portland-Denver game at the Rose Garden. "This is a great opportunity for me to contend for a championship on a team that's right there in the fight for it."

The 6-7 forward, acquired Wednesday in a trade with Charlotte, took his physical but was not in uniform against the Nuggets. He is expected to make his debut in a Blazer uniform Sunday against Atlanta.

Asked what he expects to bring to the Blazers, Wallace - a starter through his 6 1/2 seasons with the Bobcats and an All-Star and first All-Defensive Team selection in 2009-10 - shrugged."