<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">[IMGR]http://espn-att.starwave.com/i/page2/photos/060602/ben_wallace_shaq_195.jpg[/IMGR]You've probably heard by now that this isn't the best free-agent crop in history. Maybe so, but that won't stop phones from ringing at 12:01 a.m. Saturday to open the bidding. As stated at the top, too many teams feel too close to championship contention to sit back. Plus, there should be a frenzy feel to this free-agency season thanks to the trade possibilities alone. Promise. A few starting points before the buzzer sounds: ? In its quest to re-sign Ben Wallace, Detroit is deeply concerned about only one team: Chicago. The Bulls are believed to be the only club of the five out there with salary-cap room that Wallace would consider. And with a rich six-year offer, Chicago might have a real shot at stealing him away. The Pistons, by all accounts, are reluctant to offer Wallace anything longer than a four-year deal, albeit with a starting salary that exceeds $11.5 million to make Big Ben their highest-paid player based on annual wage. Yet I'm still betting big that Wallace stays, even though he's hired high-powered Arn Tellem to find opportunities via sign-and-trade if necessary. Big Ben remains the face (and hair) of the modern-day Pistons and I struggle to imagine him playing for anyone else. I'm guessing he struggles to imagine that, too.</div> Source The pros on getting Ben Wallace far out weigh the negatives. First Big Ben is at the peak of his game, coming off a year in which he gathered his fourth defensive player of the year trophy Wallace is set to make a big splash for whatever squad signs him next year. We ranked first in opponents field goal percentage last year without a true force inside to anchor our defense, let?s face it Chandler is a good shot blocker, but not a defensive stopper. Most of his blocks come from his athleticism and leaping ability more than instincts for the ball. Ben Wallace could come into our team next year, and make us instant contenders, yeah I said it. Although, we still lack an offensive superstar, at least according the media. I think our defense would be enough to get use to at least the eastern conference finals next season. Ben Gordon, Deng, Nocioni, and Hinrich together give us a lot more offense then one single superstar would. By bringing in Big Ben we also get the best mentor we possibly could for our rookie sensation Tyrus Thomas. Can you imagine Tyrus Thomas learning from Big Ben? Better yet Big Ben and Tyrus playing together down low? It would be one big squat party. Although, Wallace is getting up there in age he keeps his body in top physical condition so he is a young 30 ish year old guy. Now the negatives. If we where to acquire Ben we would be left with no other choice, but to trade Chandler. Chandler is making too much money, money we will need to resign Gordon, Hinrich, and Deng should we sign Wallace. Now finding a trade for Chandler is easier said then done. Although, still a young seven footer with a lot of potential, Chandler?s contract and lack of production on the offensive end make him less attractive to other teams. But hey if all else fails there is always the Knicks right? Another negative would be our low post scoring. Unless Thomas can come in, and produce at least 13-15 points his rookie season we will have absolutely no offense coming from the low post. We will be relying on our guard play, and defense more than ever. That is unless we some how manage to also acquire Al Harrington from the Hawks. I can see us being able to work out a sign and trade for him involving Chris Duhon, or maybe just sign him straight up depending how much money we spend on Wallace. At the end of the day adding a four time defensive player of the year can only improve our team, and we will still have enough room to sign our young talents by shipping off Chandler. I would be just as satisfied signing two solid centers in Pryzbella and Mohammad though. Either way we are in perfect position for a big, and I mean big 2006-07 season.
Like I said in the other thread, unless we're unloading Chandler, I'd say no to this. However, if we can find a taker for the last 5 years of his deal, I'd be more than willing to bring in Ben. He makes our defense immediately better and will really help in the development of Tyrus on that side of the ball.
I do agree with both you guys. We would have to trade Chandler in order for this to happen, because he's getting paid too much. BTW, do any of you guys know how much cap room the Bulls have available?
I believe it's somewhere along the lines $15-17 mil. That's just a rough estimate though from me, and I'm sure BKS or someone like Shape might have a better figure for ya.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting TheFreshPrince:</div><div class="quote_post">how about a sign and trade, chandler for big ben? maybe fillers</div> Why when we don't need to do it? We sign Big Ben then trade Chandler to some other team for expiring contracts. We don't need to do a sign and trade to get Big Ben.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting TheFreshPrince:</div><div class="quote_post">but, then you could nab someone else inthe deal or a first round pick</div> We don?t need anyone else from Detroit really unless it?s someone else in their starting five which I highly doubt. I don?t think there about to give up a proven player in their rotation for Tyson Chandler. If we do acquire Wallace it will be in a straight up signing. We would then likely include Chandler in a trade for some expiring contracts, more than likely to Isiah Thomas in NY, since we always seem to end up doing those deals with NY.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Moo2K4:</div><div class="quote_post">I believe it's somewhere along the lines $15-17 mil. That's just a rough estimate though from me, and I'm sure BKS or someone like Shape might have a better figure for ya.</div> Yeah, in other articles, it's said some where around there.
I agree with you guys, if they get Big Ben, the Bulls have to be prepared to trade Chandler. I don't think Big Ben is worth a max deal at this stage of his career, and the new league rules make it harder for Big Ben to contribute on the defensive end. Max deals should be reserved for franchise players, and Big Ben isn't someone you build a team around. I don't think Paxson should rush into anything this summer. This year's free agency class isn't very good, but 2007 and 2008 has a lot of talent. Being patient for another year might be the best move for the Bulls at this point. Let Tyrus Thomas get a year under his belt and then re-evluate your team's strengths and weaknesses.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting shapecity:</div><div class="quote_post">I agree with you guys, if they get Big Ben, the Bulls have to be prepared to trade Chandler. I don't think Big Ben is worth a max deal at this stage of his career, and the new league rules make it harder for Big Ben to contribute on the defensive end. Max deals should be reserved for franchise players, and Big Ben isn't someone you build a team around. I don't think Paxson should rush into anything this summer. This year's free agency class isn't very good, but 2007 and 2008 has a lot of talent. Being patient for another year might be the best move for the Bulls at this point. Let Tyrus Thomas get a year under his belt and then re-evluate your team's strengths and weaknesses.</div> New rules this season?
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting I-Miss-MJ:</div><div class="quote_post">any word on the meeting?</div> <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post"> John Paxson came through Saturday on his promise to think big in free agency. The Bulls' general manager and coach Scott Skiles visited the Pistons' Ben Wallace, the biggest name in free agency, in Detroit on the first day teams could have discussions with available players. Paxson declined to comment on the meeting with the 6-foot-9-inch, 240-pound defensive ace, who was expected to be the Bulls' top target as they decide how to spend about $15 million they have available under the NBA's salary cap. The attempt may be in vain unless the Bulls are willing to give Wallace a five-year deal, and there is good reason for the Bulls to avoid such an offer. Teams could be reluctant to give Wallace a contract longer than four years because of the league's "over-36" rule, which stipulates that salary payable after a player turns 36 is prorated over the previous seasons and counts against the salary cap in those seasons. Wallace will be 32 on Sept. 10 and a four-year deal would expire just before his 36th birthday. Efforts to reach Wallace's agent, Arn Tellem, were unsuccessful. Without a five-year deal, Wallace might not have enough incentive to leave Detroit, which he helped win an NBA title in 2004. He is a four-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year, and with him Detroit has advanced to the NBA Finals twice. Apparently, the Bulls are the only team seriously in the running for Wallace. Other teams with salary-cap space--Atlanta, Charlotte and Toronto--have not shown significant interest. Philadelphia reportedly contacted Tellem, but the 76ers are over the cap and could obtain Wallace only in a sign-and-trade with the Pistons.</div> Source
i wouldnt touch wallace for more than 3 years 7-8 mil each. he is going to be way overpaid in his high thirtys if he gets the deal he wants. I dont get this. big ben seemed like such a team guy, but now all he wants is a big payday, he doesnt even care if its with a horrible team, as a vet, that is weird. I see him going to atl. i doubt charlotte, you guys, or toronto re going to give him as big of an offer as atl.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting TheFreshPrince:</div><div class="quote_post">i wouldnt touch wallace for more than 3 years 7-8 mil each. he is going to be way overpaid in his high thirtys if he gets the deal he wants. I dont get this. big ben seemed like such a team guy, but now all he wants is a big payday, he doesnt even care if its with a horrible team, as a vet, that is weird. I see him going to atl. i doubt charlotte, you guys, or toronto re going to give him as big of an offer as atl.</div> Can you blame the guy? He was an undrafted free agent, and bounced around the early years of his career. He never had that big payday guys like Lebron, Melo, Wade, etc are getting at such a young age. He has helped redefine the league. With the contract he wants it?s sort of going to be like the one Shaq has right now with Miami. Are you willing to overpay him in the latter stage of his career so you can have a shot at a title now? My answer is yes, because I don?t really know how much Wallace?s game is going to decline with age. It?s not like his game is based on speed, or something that diminishes as he gets older. It?s about strength and defense. Something that he can maintain. If you read the article the only two serious options are the Bulls and Pistons he wants to get paid, but he also wants to win.
He isnt, or ever will be as good as bron, melo, and wade. he doesnt deserve such a big contract imo. i am not sur if i'd even give him this contract 3 years ago. He isnt a franchise player. he is a great role player. like a poor mans dennis rodman. and sorry, but i dont see you guys winning a title in the next few years. especially if you sign ben. he will take up your cap space for actual frnachise players. the bulls have been one of my favs since jordan. i love the bulls roster right now, and would love to see them keep it together and wait for a few years. hinrich and gordon need like 2 more years imo to become what you guys need for a title. i just am not sure whether or not wallace will have it still?
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting TheFreshPrince:</div><div class="quote_post">He isnt, or ever will be as good as bron, melo, and wade. he doesnt deserve such a big contract imo. i am not sur if i'd even give him this contract 3 years ago. He isnt a franchise player. he is a great role player. like a poor mans dennis rodman.</div> He is a role player? Wow. A four time defensive player of the year is a poor mans Dennis Rodman in your book. It?s great how people say defense wins championship, but then say arguably the best defensive player of our generation. Is not worth big money. The Pistons would not have won that title without Big Ben in the middle. Bron, Melo, and Wade will never be as good defensively as Ben Wallace.
wallaces defense is very overrated. he doesnt deserve 4 DPOY. artest should have one, KG should have one, and AK should have one. He isnt in the same league as Dikembe or D Rob or Hakeem or many others of our generation. i lov his game, and yes Rodman is better than him. hes a better defender and rebounder, and a more versatile defender. Wallace fit browns system. Why do you think he wants to leave now? He is a system guy, and shouldnt get big bucks imo. let him whine about coaching and big money, i hate big bens attitude right now. he being selfish, and nobody deserves to act like that. Just because he wasnt good enough to get minutes when he was younger, doenst mean he should be compensated for it later in his career.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting TheFreshPrince:</div><div class="quote_post">wallaces defense is very overrated. he doesnt deserve 4 DPOY. artest should have one, KG should have one, and AK should have one. He isnt in the same league as Dikembe or D Rob or Hakeem or many others of our generation. i lov his game, and yes Rodman is better than him. hes a better defender and rebounder, and a more versatile defender.</div> I don?t know what you have been smoking lately. According to you he shouldn't have four defensive player of the year, but guess what he does. By the way Artest does have one. Dennis Rodman was not as good as Ben Wallace, in my opinion. Although, a better rebounder Rodman never even came close to Ben Wallace in the shot blocking category. Most of Rodman?s defensive game was based on the mental aspect. Not much else. He didn?t reject many shots at all. He never even averaged 1 block for an NBA season. Hakeem averaged a block more than Ben Wallace did for his career high, but Wallace rebounded better than him. The fact that you can only name three players you think are better then Wallace defensively all time, and even then it is questionable shows how good Wallace is. Also take into account how many of the games rules have changed over the last couple decades. That is why I said Ben Wallace is the best defender of our generation and not all time. <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post"> Wallace fit browns system. Why do you think he wants to leave now? He is a system guy, and shouldnt get big bucks imo. let him whine about coaching and big money, i hate big bens attitude right now. he being selfish, and nobody deserves to act like that. Just because he wasnt good enough to get minutes when he was younger, doenst mean he should be compensated for it later in his career.</div>Wallace fit Browns system? Why did he win a defensive player of the year award before Brown got there then? Get out of here with Wallace?s attitude. Just because you don?t like it doesn?t mean you should go and try to discredit the mans defensive game. Whine? Be selfish? It?s a business you have to look out for yourself, because if you don?t no one else will.
i only mentioned 3 guys off the top of my head from this generation, not all-time. and blocks dont make a great defender. i would take rodman over any other pf/tweener center in the league today defensively, except for kg and duncan. i know he is great at defense, but that doesnt deserve top dollar. from 1999 on these guys are better big man defenders than wallace. KG, Duncan, ZO, Shaq, Dikembe, charles oakley, D Rob, and AK if he counts. so, he is clearly not the best of our generation. i see him as between rodman and oakley all time.
