<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">The name Ben Wallace is automatically associated with defense, strength and the Detroit Pistons , but is his time in the Motor City over? According to a option piece in the Orlando Sentinel, it may well be. Wallace recently hired high powered agent Arn Tellem to represent him this summer in free agency, and according to reports is chasing a contract which will run into nine figures. Will the Pistons pony up that much for a guy who turns 32 in September? Wallace himself admits that a return to Detroit is no guarantee. "Nothing in this league is automatic,'' Wallace said last week. "I was never supposed to leave Washington. I was supposed to retire in Orlando. "Strange things happen. It's not automatic [that he will re-sign in Detroit]. You just never know what might happen</div> Source
Honestly, I don't see Ben on the Pistons. He wants the money, in my opinion. Atlanta and Chicago can give him the money. I wouldn't be surprised if he was one of those teams.
Yeah I also have this feeling Ben won't be returning next season. I mean re-hiring the agent just proves that he is willing to move on, taking on offers, and there are teams out there with more cap than us. Money talks, its all a matter of where his heart is at.
I think he knows that the Pistons time is up and that he needs to go to a team that can build around him. The Hawks could be superb for him because we need a big man and we sure have the money for him, that is if he is leaving.
I dont think any team can build around Ben. I mean sure he plays awesome defense, but his offense is horrid and that evens him out to an average player. I just wish good luck to the team that gets him (if its not us) that the fans dont tear their hair out in frustration when he shoots free throws...
If I'm the Pistons I wouldn't spend too much resigning Ben.......Ben's a great defensive player, but his lack of offense hurts them at times....if I'm the Pistons I spend my money trying to get younger and deeper.
Coming into this season, I think the Piston's approach was to lock up their starting lineup. But the way their lack of depth was exposed in the playoffs, I could see them backing off a bit if Big Ben asks for too much. I mean, he's 32. And for a player that relies so much on his athleticism, is starting to show signs of wearing down. His playoff performance was less than impressive. Who knows, maybe an Atlanta or Chicago offers too much and Detroit pursues a sign-and-trade.
i dont see how you give a player whos in his 30's and is only a defensive minded player a 9 figure deal
Heard on the radio Ben met with Joe Dumars for 3 hours in his exit interview. His agent told reporters him and Ben are adament at signing a max deal, which is 6 years and $72Million. Out of the teams who are under the cap, I don't see any of them spending that type of money on Ben Wallace. He's not a franchise player and with the league making it harder for teams to play physical defense, his value takes a hit. Plus he's over 30 years old, it doesn't make financial sense.
Last summer when Flip became the head coach of the Pistons, a rumor floated around about the possibility of trading both Wallaces for KG. I know McHale has come out and said KG isn't going to be traded unless LeBron or Kobe are in the mix. However, getting Ben and Sheed for KG, has to be a deal Minnesota would consider. One possibility we could see is Ben signing a 1 year deal and trying the free agency market next summer when more teams will have cap space to bid for his services. It would give both sides to evaluate their long term deals, and still give Detroit a chance to make another run with their current roster. A 1 year $10 or $11 Million deal would benefit both Ben and Detroit.
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Will the pistons give Ben up for KG? I hope not, i want to keep Ben, he's the core of this team</div> I don't think that's something you have to worry about, Ben Wallace averages less rebounds then KG, not to mention 18 less points and 5 less assists...
I'd be happy with aquiring Garnett, although who could we get to replace Ben at C? Tayshaun, Billups, Rip & KG would be sick though.
There's not a team alive that has a smart man that'll take Ben Wallace, averaging 6 pts, 11 boards and 2 blks, Ben Wallace must be the most useless player in basketball. When BW says he owes it to his team-mates for his DPOY awards, he really does mean it.