Is Ben Wallace going to Chicago good or bad for the Magic? On one hand, you have the fact that the Pistons are broken up and will most likely feels the effects of losing Big Ben. They might not be top seed anymore and are going to struggle in the East against big men like Dwight, Bosh, Shaq, Jermaine and now Wallace. On the other hand, you have a young Bulls team (who is very similiar to us when it comes to our youth) acquiring one of the best centers in the game. In the long run, is this going to be good or bad for Orlando?
I think it's going to be bad for us and other teams. The Bulls were very hot towards the end of last season, winning 9 out of their last 10 games. With that young Bulls team and the signing of Ben Wallace, the Bulls are going to be one of the top seeds in the East. I'd rather Big Ben stay with the Pistons. Their an old team, Chauncey is turning 30 in September, along with Ben and Rasheed turning 32 in September also. They might not have enough energy to play all the games in an NBA season and the post-season. However, the upside is that if we were to meet up with the Pistons in the playoffs, then we would have a chance of advancing past them if Ben is dealt.
I think bad. the pistons were on the decline anway while the bylls were ont he move already ahead of you guys. they just widened the gap a lot, and the pistons may still be better than the magic.
The bulls team added a lot of pieces this offseason its going to be interesting to see how they play as a team. I think the trade is bad for east teams because this makes a pretty good bulls team, a very good team on paper. I think they will be even stronger on D but hopefully for us their offense will get weaker.
Like Fresh said I think it’s bad for the Magic. The Pistons had reached their peak in my opinion. There run was pretty much done. Although, they would still have been a good regular season team I don’t think they where going to get back to the finals, but now with Ben on the Bulls a new elite team has emerged. A team who’s core has no one over the age of 26. The Bulls where close to knocking off the champion Heat in the first round of the playoffs. All we really needed was an inside defender/scorer. Well we got that defender. Shaq dominated Chandler in game five that is where we lost hold of that series in my opinion. We had the Heat on the ropes, but couldn't deliver that knock out punch. I also think that you guys should consider the Bulls where ranked number one overall last season in opponent field goal percentage. Now add in a four time defensive player of the year, and wow. The possibilities are limitless. This season it will be different if we meet in the playoffs. I think if we do meet it will most likely be in the eastern conference finals. I know this sounds cocky, but there is no other way to say it. I see the Heat and Bulls being one and two in the Eastern Conference which will be one and which will be two I don’t know. Back to the point if we do meet in the Eastern finals we have someone who can guard an even older Shaq now. I’m pumped for this season that’s all I can say. By the way has anyone been watching SportsCenter? Greg Anthony ranked the top five teams in the Eastern Conference in his opinion and here is how he put them... 1. Heat (default) 2. Bulls 3. Cavs 4. Nets 5. Pistons I don’t think the Nets are that good I would put the Pistons before them, and put the Magic at five, but that’s just me. The Nets have zero front court players, Kidd is getting up there in age, and VC/RJ can’t carry them in the playoffs as we have seen the last two seasons.
Good question. Another factor in this is that Tyrus Thomas gets to learn from Ben Wallace, although now with Ben Wallace, Thomas might not get much time(Darko2?) especially if they don't find a taker for Chandler. To be honest with you, I think the signing is overrated. I think the Bulls would have been a Top 3 team without Ben and with Chandler and I think this will keep them about the same, in the Top 3. Bulls biggest weakness last year was low post scoring and this certainly didn't help that cause. Ben was starting to slow down at the end of last season and didn't really have that great of a playoffs. I think he will have 2 more good years and then take up a whole lot of capspace for the future. On the Pistons side, this might actually help them. Ben was a cancer in the playoffs, IMO. He complained about Flip Saunders to cause a distraction. They will still have good defense because Tayshaun, Rip and Sheed are still there, but it allows them to put a more offensive Antonio McDyess into the starting lineup. Their only problem is depth at PF/C. Sure they are starting to get old, but they still have great chemistry and great defense, a little more offense is going to do them a lot of good. It could be addition by subtraction. So basically I think this will really hurt us, but from different reasons. I think the Pistons will still be a Top 3-4 team in the East and the Bulls will be Top 3. I think this puts the Magic at 6th-7th best team in the East now. 1. Heat(can't question that) 2. Cavs(I hate to say it, but King James and I love the Shannon Brown pick) 3. Bulls 4. Pistons 5. Nets 6. Wizards 7. Magic 8. Raptors 9. Bucks
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting GatorsowntheNCAA:</div><div class="quote_post">Good question. Another factor in this is that Tyrus Thomas gets to learn from Ben Wallace, although now with Ben Wallace, Thomas might not get much time(Darko2?) especially if they don't find a taker for Chandler. </div> Tyrus plays the power forward spot. Big Ben at center. So his playing time will not be affected. Chandler will likely be traded Friday.
Here are my top teams in the East. 1. Heat 2. Bulls 3. Cavaliers 4. Pistons 5. Magic 6. Nets 7. Wizards 8. Pacers
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting GatorsowntheNCAA:</div><div class="quote_post">Good question. Another factor in this is that Tyrus Thomas gets to learn from Ben Wallace, although now with Ben Wallace, Thomas might not get much time(Darko2?) especially if they don't find a taker for Chandler.</div>Tyson should be packing his bags by Friday. He should be heading to New Orleans in a deal that brings PJ Brown's expiring contract to us along with JR Smith. We might also be sending Malik Allen but that's not a positive yet. <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">To be honest with you, I think the signing is overrated. I think the Bulls would have been a Top 3 team without Ben and with Chandler and I think this will keep them about the same, in the Top 3. Bulls biggest weakness last year was low post scoring and this certainly didn't help that cause.</div>In all actuality, it does help the issue. Pax said it himself I believe that the only way we pursue a Brown for Chandler swap is if we land Wallace. Well, we landed Wallace, and here by the end of the week, we should have Brown too. I also disagree with the Bulls being top 3. I really think the addition of Wallace will put them over the top. His defense is tenfold that of Tyson's. Tyson was a great shot blocker and rebounder because of his height and athleticism. Wallace is great at that because of instincts. We now have a more consistent shot blocker with Wallace down low and a better all around defender. Also, Chandler proved that he's too small to guard the likes of Shaq. Now we bring in Big Ben, we have someone strong enough to guard an aging Shaq. <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Ben was starting to slow down at the end of last season and didn't really have that great of a playoffs. I think he will have 2 more good years and then take up a whole lot of capspace for the future.</div>The big reason I think Ben slowed down was because of the way they played that year. With Flip running the show, they became more of a run n' gun team, and that's gonna wear you out by the end of year. And if you look at the playoffs, that's a big reason why they lost. They were a tired team by the end of the year, and Wallace took a hit in productivity because of that. The Bulls on the other hand, aren't a run n' gun team. Skiles likes to set up in the half court and slow down the pacing of the game, making it more of a defensive bout, and that's exactly why Wallace will prosper. With less pressure on him sprinting down the court to get set up on offense, he'll be able to conserve more energy and use it on the defensive end. <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">On the Pistons side, this might actually help them. Ben was a cancer in the playoffs, IMO. He complained about Flip Saunders to cause a distraction. They will still have good defense because Tayshaun, Rip and Sheed are still there, but it allows them to put a more offensive Antonio McDyess into the starting lineup. Their only problem is depth at PF/C. Sure they are starting to get old, but they still have great chemistry and great defense, a little more offense is going to do them a lot of good. It could be addition by subtraction.</div>I have to disagree here as well. I think this kills the Pistons. The whol reason why the traded Darko was to free up cap space to bring back Ben. Now that Ben is gone, they're frontcourt is much thinner. Sure, they bring in Nazr Mohammed, but he's not the defender Wallace is. And with McDyess' knees, I'm not too sure if he can play extended minutes. So, while this may help out in the long run, giving them some cap flexibility, this hurts them as a team. Wallace was the anchor of that defense, and I think their defense as a whole will suffer from losing him next year. <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">So basically I think this will really hurt us, but from different reasons. I think the Pistons will still be a Top 3-4 team in the East and the Bulls will be Top 3. I think this puts the Magic at 6th-7th best team in the East now.</div>I can still see the Pistons breaking the top 4, but it'll be difficult this year. The Bulls are better with the Wallace signing, and if they bring in PJ Brown and JR Smith, they get even better and deeper once again. The Cavs will improve again this year. Shannon Brown is a great signing and maybe the Cavs will get a healthy Larry Hughes this year. However, I've heard the Cavs might be looking to trade him after an inconsistent and for the most part, an injury riddled first season in Cleveland. I think the Nets will also be right there once again. They return their core and added Marcus Williams, allowing them to give Jason Kidd an extended break throughout the game. I think Krstic will continue to improve for them and the RJ and VC duo will once again be deadly. All in all, the Pistons will have a tough time this year out East. And for my rankings: 1. Miami - Defending champs get it by default. They've done nothing to hurt themselves this offseason either. 2. Chicago - Bring in Wallace and are days away from bringing in PJ Brown and dumping Chandler. Selfolosha, Thomas, and potentially JR Smith will also strengthen an already strong bench. 3. New Jersey - They'll win their division again and make a run at 50 wins or so I think. Marcus Williams helps take pressure off Kidd and will allow him to rest and help his legs remain fresh for the postseason. 4. Cleveland - Shannon Brown will prove to be a great draft pick. He stretches defenses and might make Hughes indispensible if they choose to trade him. I don't think they do and they'll give a Hughes/James combo another run. They also have the 2nd best center in the East in Z and that never hurts. 5. Detroit - Losing Wallace will hurt a lot. They replace him with Nazr, and while it's a good signing, he's no Ben Wallace. I bet they wish they didn't trade Darko now. 6. Orlando - Darko and Dwight will be a great frontcourt combo. Jameer Nelson is going to be a star in this league. JJ Redick is the shooter they needed. This young team is heading in the right direction and should be playoff bound next year. 7. Washington - No major subtractions from a team that's made the playoffs the last two years running. No reason to think they shouldn't do it again this year. Arenas will once again put up MVP numbers and will, Jamison will be solid again, and Butler should do well in his second year in Washington. 8. Milwaukee - Addition by subtraction here. They bring in Charlie V and lose TJ. Great move in my opinion. This gives them one of the best young frontcourts in basketball in Bogut/Charlie. Throw in Mike Redd and Mo Williams having great years and this team should see the playoffs for the second straight season.
