<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">the NBA's 2002 draft was re-staged today, it's not a major stretch to suggest that a slender, long-limbed lefty named <font color="#0000ff">Tayshaun Prince</font> would be a top-three overall pick instead of No. 23. Prince averaged career-bests in points and rebounds last year. At the very least, Prince is now the third-richest player to emerge from the first round of that draft. That was confirmed Sunday evening, when the <font color="#0000ff">Detroit Pistons</font> and their perimeter defensive ace reached an agreement in principle on a five-year contract extension believed to be worth at least $47 million. Pistons president Joe Dumars and Bill Duffy, the agent for Prince, told ESPN.com that the deal will be formally signed Monday, just in time to beat the Halloween deadline on extensions for players entering their fourth season. Without an extension before the Oct. 31 buzzer, Prince would have become a restricted free agent July 1. <font color="#0000ff">Ben Wallace</font>, Detroit's defensive anchor, becomes an unrestricted free agent July 1. Although the 31-year-old is sure to attract considerable interest on the open market, no one really expects Wallace to leave the team and city where he became an All-Star rebounding machine and a cult hero synonymous with the Pistons' hard-hat style. In the interim, Prince joins <font color="#0000ff">Rasheed Wallace</font> (four seasons left at nearly $48 million) and <font color="#0000ff">Richard Hamilton</font> (five seasons left at just over $50 million) on the list of Pistons starters with long-term deals. The 6-foot-9, 215-pounder added some offense to his game last season, averaging a career-best 14.7 points and 5.3 rebounds.</div> http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/columns/stor...marc&id=2208888 Think this contract was a steal honestly. If he became a FA he may of ended up getting offered 60+ from some other teams needing a defender, scorer, rebounder.
He certainly deserves to get paid in my opinion. He's one of the best utility men in the league...if not THE best. Not too many weak areas of his game...great defender, good shooter, low post presence on both sides of the ball...never forces things...runs the floor well. I got mad love for Tay's game
Larry Brown said that bringing him back was the most important part of their offseason. I still believe that the Pistons can come out of the East.
I wonder how this will affect Ben Wallace contract because they are already teams that are said to pursue him already, like the Hawks.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Avery:</div><div class="quote_post">I wonder how this will affect Ben Wallace contract because they are already teams that are said to pursue him already, like the Hawks.</div> This contract will not effect the Ben Wallace situation at all. Pistons have Ben's rights and have one of the richest owners in the league who isn't afraid of spending.
I'm glad we locked Prince up for 5 more years. I feel calmer now. I'm not worrying about Ben Wallace, the chances of him leaving are very low. We have the money to pay him, and this is his team, he is the Pistons, he wouldn't just casually leave.
I think this is a very good move for the Pistons. It's a fair deal, and it's wise to lock up Prince. I'd say he's darn near as responsible for the Pistons' postseason success as anyone. He brings it all together for them, and I think he's one of the most underrate players in the game. Congrats Pistons.
