Ben Wallace to the Bulls

Axtell

Quite a shock, as the contracts weren't all that different ($52 million with Chicago, $48 with Detroit) and Detroit you have a known quantity in your teammates and you supposedly love the city.

I have to wonder, is this guy a Scott Boras client?

ToppsCo1lector

It's official(Well as official as before the signing starting date)?

Well, I know that Ben Wallace didn't like the new coach a great deal. He saw less involvement offensively this past season as well. A smart move IMO for Ben Wallace, as he's going to a younger/deeper team.

He's not a Scott Boras client, he actually just fired he's agent this past season and hired a lawyer to do his negotiations.

Well, I can go out and say that Detroit threat for a title is over. I think they might now be kicking themselves for getting rid of Darko.

zef204

<< <i>Quite a shock, as the contracts weren't all that different ($52 million with Chicago, $48 with Detroit) and Detroit you have a known quantity in your teammates and you supposedly love the city.

I have to wonder, is this guy a Scott Boras client? >>

Holy tits!

The Bulls are going to be tough next year!

Boopotts

Definitely a bummer, although the number I've heard is $60,000,000 over 4 years, and I don't blame Dumars for saying 'no thanks' at that price. If you want 15 mill a year and can't shoot free throws your name better rhyme with 'Ramberlian' or ' O'Peel', and last I checked 'Wallace' didn't meet either criteria.

I never begrudge a guy for leaving, but I'll be a little disappointed if he doesn't agree with Dumars to work some kind of sign and trade. He's meant a lot to the Pistons, but for everything the Pistons and this city have done for him I think that would be a nice parting gesture.

A761506

Thank you Ben Wallace - for leaving and not taking that ridiculous $48M contract we offered.

The Bulls will be regretting this significantly in the future with his albatross contract which now renders him virtually untradable for the next 4 seasons.

The Pistons will move on and play just fine without him. Honestly, he has become more of a liability than anything in important games that are close - especially the playoffs which are about all that matter in the NBA anyways.

zef204

<< <i>The Pistons will move on and play just fine without him. Honestly, he has become more of a liability than anything in important games that are close - especially the playoffs which are about all that matter in the NBA anyways. >>

The Pistons will be much worse of a team without him.

ToppsCo1lector

^^
Exactly. Better make a push for someone who plays in the paint, meaning someone the polar opposite of Rasheed.

ctsoxfan

I always liked Wallace, but is he nuts? Leaving a potential NBA champion team to go to the Bulls - did I miss the Jordan is coming back news?

Boopotts

As Piston fans we cross our fingers and pray that The Great Magician (aka Joe Dumars) persuades Big Ben to work a sign-and-trade that brings Tyson Chandler to Detroit. If that doesn't happen then I will have to agree with those that say the Pistons will be in deep doo doo next fall.

In any event, things could be worse. We could be Nugget fans, for instance, and be staring down the barrell at the insane max out deal for Carmelo.

Boopotts

<< <i>I always liked Wallace, but is he nuts? Leaving a potential NBA champion team to go to the Bulls - did I miss the Jordan is coming back news? >>



The Bulls are actually a lot closer to contending then most people realize IMO. Hinrich has come along nicely, and so long as the front office doesn't fall in love with Ben Gordon and offer him a stupid contract they should be in really good shape for the next 4-5 years.

detroitfan2

Thank you Ben Wallace - for leaving and not taking that ridiculous $48M contract we offered.

The Bulls will be regretting this significantly in the future with his albatross contract which now renders him virtually untradable for the next 4 seasons.

The Pistons will move on and play just fine without him. Honestly, he has become more of a liability than anything in important games that are close - especially the playoffs which are about all that matter in the NBA anyways.


Amen, amen, and amen. See ya Ben, don't let the door hit ya on the way out.

zef204

<< <i>Thank you Ben Wallace - for leaving and not taking that ridiculous $48M contract we offered.

The Bulls will be regretting this significantly in the future with his albatross contract which now renders him virtually untradable for the next 4 seasons.

The Pistons will move on and play just fine without him. Honestly, he has become more of a liability than anything in important games that are close - especially the playoffs which are about all that matter in the NBA anyways.


Amen, amen, and amen. See ya Ben, don't let the door hit ya on the way out. >>



You guys kill me. Ben was the heart and soul of that team. Denile ain't just a river in Africa.

detroitfan2

<<You guys kill me. Ben was the heart and soul of that team. Denile ain't just a river in Africa. >>

I'm not trying to be unappreciative of an athlete that did pour his heart and soul into a team . . . at one point.

Three years ago, I would watch game after game in amazement as this guy (Ben Wallace) with zero tangible basketball skills could single-handedly change the outcome of a game sheerly through his desire and hustle (not unlike a Dennis Rodman).

This is just my gut instinct, and I might be totally wrong, but over the last year plus, I've seen things that just didn't sit right, for me anyway. The first thing was the infamous Artest brawl at the Palace, which Wallace had a hand in. Even more disturbing was that his brother got involved in the mess. Then late in this past season he refused to check into a game in the 4th quarter when instructed to do so by his coach, apparently to prove some point about him not getting the ball enough. The Pistons record was something like 1,000 and 2 at that point, but I guess Ben knew more about how to win than his coach and the rest of the team. And finally, quite frankly he was a liability in the playoffs. The 10% free throw shooting is one thing, but the "heart and soul" was not there either. For many guys, it's difficult to tell when they're not giving their usual 100%. For Wallace it's easy . . . when he does it, he changes the game, when the effort's not there, I'd rather have Antonio McDyess playing.

To me, the final straw was that he was insulted by the Pistons offer. Again, just my opinion, but I would have never made that offer to him in the first place, I just didn't see him being worth that. In any case, and maybe I was just dreaming, but I was hoping the Pistons were turning into the New England Patriots of basketball, where guys would do whatever needed to keep the "team" intact with the reward being a perennial chance at a championship. Apparently, Ben isn't that type of guy.

So long run, I might be completely wrong. I have a hunch that deep down, Joe Dumars is relieved right now and is thrilled to have the $48 million to pursue other players. Only time will tell.

Boopotts

There's a really good Dan Wetzel article on Yahoo right now explaining the reasons behind the Ben Wallace signing. I'd never thought about it in the way Wetzel puts it, but it makes a lot of sense now that I reflect on it.

Axtell

While he did have an impact, $15 a mill a year for this guy seems overpaid. The initial reports I read had the difference at $4 million over 4 years, turns out it was $12 million. That's tough to say no to.

Detroit can spend that money better elsewhere.

dirtmonkey

Ben was a great player for a few seasons here in Detroit, but last year it became obvious it was time for Ben to go elsewhere. He became a large distraction during much of the season, complaining about his role on a team that was having tons of success. A guy with extremely low offensive ability was asking for more touches and began complaining when they pulled him out of games late because he cannot make a free throw. He is a very good defender, seemingly making it look like Detroit is playing 6 guys against other teams 5 players because he is all over the court. But the negative is that he usually makes it look like Detroit is playing shorthanded on offense.

Detroit has signed Muhammed which will help relieve a little bit of this loss. They also have the 7 footer they picked up from Senegal that they claim to be very impressed with, but time will tell. Detroit will still contend, even without Ben. Dumars is an amazing GM and he has made some spectacular moves. Sure, Darkko was a failure but he wasn't the only GM fooled there. Most of the other teams were going to take Darkko either second or third (after Carmelo and before Wade) if given the same opportunity. Detroit was hoping to get a 7 footer that could post up, shoot from the outside and play tough D, a commodity that's nearly impossible to find in the NBA. They missed out. But the Rip/Stack trade obviously benefited them, even though everyone said it wasn't a very good trade. Picking up Chauncey has paid off very well. The deadline trade for Rasheed likely won their title. Getting Ben for Grant looks genius now. Tayshaun was a super mid pick and so on. Dumars will keep them in the hunt.

In the end, Chicago fans should be happy to see Ben playing for them... He's a fun player to watch, unless he tries to post up or make a free throw and then you better close your eyes. He's not worth the 60 mill he's getting (by the leagues standards), but that's for the Bulls front office and season ticket holders to worry about. From a Pistons fan, I can say it was fun while it lasted Ben, but it was definitely time for both sides to move on.

mnmcoin

Detroit will be fine, at least up until the EC finals or the NBA finals...if not for an impress run at the end by Miami, the EC is awful. What other teams are there in the EC?

morris <><