with this transaction, this means n shaq gets a higher chance of another finals appearance!!
You're insane if you think that Wallace is worth max money. Yeah, maybe he is for the next 2 seasons, but after that what a rip off. He's way too old to get a contract like that, the Bulls are screwing their future, and the Pistons would be too if they matched it.
BTW, that is the second time I've seen you call Wells a scrub, why? If you really think he's a scrub, then better believe that 75% or more of the players in the NBA are scrubs as well.
I'm also pretty sure bonzi wells wouldn't be brought in with the intention of him playing ben's role.
Exactly, they have nothing to do with each other.
That, and the fact that Ben doesn't fit into Flip's system. And I agree, Chauncey was definitely deserving of that finals MVP trophy; he was very good in those playoffs.
Here is the new bidding. Pistons 48 million for 4 years, Chicago 52 million for 4 years. Please stay Ben.
So Chicago didn't offer 60M+?
Nobody knows. There are several numbers put forth by the Detroit media today ranging from 52 (Jahnke) to 60 (Blakely, Parker), but they're probably guesses. When they're not spinning thinly-disguised propaganda for some faction of the Pistons organization, the Pistons beat writers are as far out of the loop as anyone else.
I'd guess that 52 is probably accurate as a starting offer, but Chicago will undoubtedly go higher. This spinning-shadows business isn't nearly as fun as an outside observer.
Yep Detroit Beat Writers suck. Until you here some national use we can't be sure
Yeah, I've heard/read a lot of different things.
The latest thing was that Chicago offered a 4 year deal starting at 13M ... so if that is with 8% raises, it's about 58M.
I still think he bolts
he can say he got the bulls to the ecf or finals
bye bye ben..i don't think he wants to come back to detroit..i think hes just saying he does so people won't think hes stabbing them in the back
Bulls vs. Pistons: Ben Wallace has 2 offers
By Krista Jahnke
Detroit Free Press
(MCT)
DETROIT - As other NBA free agents came to quick conclusions and signed new contracts over the weekend, Ben Wallace pondered the two deals on his plate and waited to see if others would top it.
The Pistons have offered a four-year deal worth approximately $48 million to keep their defensive-minded center in Detroit. And the Chicago Bulls, who sent coach Scott Skiles and vice president of basketball John Paxson to Detroit, have started bidding at closer to $52 million for four seasons.
Wallace is an unrestricted free agent and can verbally agree to a deal at any time, but he can't sign a contract until July 12 at the earliest.
Only four teams - Chicago, Atlanta, Charlotte and Toronto - have the salary cap space to target Wallace without arranging a sign-and-trade. Of those, only Chicago has shown real interest to this point.
Any team can try to acquire Wallace through a sign-and-trade, and the Philadelphia 76ers' Web site reported Saturday that the team called his agent, Arn Tellem.
The Pistons, meanwhile, also have placed calls to William Phillips, the Detroit-based agent who represents Sacramento shooting guard Bonzi Wells. Although Wallace is the team's primary concern, Wells also is high on Detroit's summer shopping list.
Wells dominated the Kings series against San Antonio in the playoffs, a showing that might have raised his worth around the league.
He reportedly wants a deal for five years starting near $8 million a season, a figure the Pistons might not be willing to pay, especially since Wells would come off the bench. But he fits the profile of one of their primary needs - a scorer who can slash and attack defenses off the dribble.
The Sacramento Bee reported Sunday that general manager Geoff Petrie started the bidding for Wells at something more than the roughly $5-million trade exception. The Denver Nuggets are also high on Wells.
I say him. Let's sign some free agents who want to win a le. We need some damn hunger again. I don't wanna be the favs anymore. I want people to predict we get bounced in the 1st round next year.
Here's another article
http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll...42/1004/SPORTS
Pistons' initial offer irks Wallace
Center expected it would be for more than $49.6 million, but hasn't closed door on team.
Chris McCosky/The Detroit News
AUBURN HILLS -- The Pistons' negotiations to re-sign free agent Ben Wallace have gotten off to a rough start.
Wallace, in an interview with The Detroit News on Sunday, said he wasn't pleased with the Pistons' initial offer.
"It was disappointing," he said. "It was not at all what I expected."
The Pistons' initial offer was a four-year deal starting at $11.5 million and would pay him $49.6 million over four years. It would make Wallace the highest-paid player on the team next season, eclipsing Rasheed Wallace's salary by $100,000.
Pistons president Joe Dumars, reached by e-mail, said he didn't want to negotiate through the newspaper and declined comment.
Wallace met with Chicago Bulls general manager John Paxson and coach Scott Skiles in Detroit on Saturday. He characterized the meeting as "real good" but added that no official offer was extended.
Reports of the Bulls offering a contract starting at $13 million or $14 million were overstated, as were reports of the Bulls offering a five-year deal.
"I ain't looking for more than four years," said Wallace, who will turn 32 on Sept. 10.
Wallace said he expects to hear from several other teams, including Washington, New York and Cleveland, as early as today. Those teams don't have the salary cap space to sign Wallace, but would be looking to facilitate a sign-and-trade in case the Pistons and Wallace reach an impasse.
They are not yet at that point, Wallace said.
"No, the door's not closed (on the Pistons)," he said. "I know it's a business and they have to run their business."
Wallace also understands that it was only an initial offer and those typically are lower than what the Pistons truly intend to pay.
"I just thought we had a pretty good run there (with the Pistons) and I thought the offer would have been a bit better," he said. "I didn't think we had to really negotiate like that at this point. I just thought that initial offer wasn't altogether fair."
It is somewhat interesting that the Bulls would visit with Wallace and not leave him with an offer. Initially, Wallace didn't figure into the Bulls' offseason plans. They drafted Tyrus Thomas, a rugged, 6-foot-9 power forward much in the mold of Wallace with the same offensive limitations. They have been shopping 7-footer Tyson Chandler around the league in hopes of getting a more offensive-minded big man, perhaps someone like Golden State's Troy Murphy or Utah's Carlos Boozer, and had their free-agent sights on a less-expensive center such as Joel Przybilla or Nazr Mohammed.
Paxson started making overtures toward Wallace only after being encouraged by owner Jerry Reinsdorf. Reinsdorf has done a lot of successful business over the years with Wallace's agent, Arn Tellem, who might have pushed for the Bulls to consider Wallace.
It could be a win-win situation for the Bulls. If they sign Wallace, they can lessen the pressure on Thomas' development. And if they don't , they still damage the Pistons by raising Wallace's sticker price.
"I am just sitting here on the unemployment line, waiting," Wallace said. "That's all I can do right now."
Meanwhile, the Phoenix Suns have met with Lindsey Hunter and apparently offered him their bi-annual exception, which would pay him $3 million over the next two seasons. Hunter, who is leaning toward returning for a 14th season, has said he wants to finish his career with the Pistons.
---------
It sounds like he wants to stay if the price is right
That article at least has some quotes from Ben.
Looks like the Bulls didn't offer him anything concrete.
I don't know why he's so upset by the Pistons offer. Seems more than fair to me.
I agree. It's obvious his game is slightly declining and I would have hoped he would have been a little more grateful to have been given an offer that would make him the highest paid player in Piston's history.
I wouldn't raise the offer if I were Dumars/Davidson.
Is Ben just telling the press what Tellum wants him to in order to milk the Pistons out of every dollar possible?
Greedy Ben Wallace.
B B B B BYE BYE BEN
I'm a little suprised by Ben's quotes aswell.
4/48 is more than fair IMO.
I think Ben is going away unfortunantly
ouch........
Joe Dumars and his owner are a bunch of idiots. They may as well trade away Rip, Chauncey, and Sheed for some young talent.
I can't believe a team as close to the NBA le as Detroit is willing to let its defensive centerpiece walk. Dumbasses.
It's not about a willingness. Ben left for essentially the same amount of money, which leads me to believe he never had any intention of coming back.
Or, as I've said since the playoffs - it was Flip or Ben. Joe Dumars and Bill Davidson chose Flip.
Which is completely stupid. Did Dumars all of a sudden feel the need to give Isiah a run for his boneheaded GM le?
Confirmed on SportsCenter.
Bulls will sign Big Ben for 60 mil/4 years
I love Ben Wallace, and he is the heart and soul of the team, but paying him 15 million dollars when he will be 36 years old might have gotten Joe D. the bone headed GM le. I know it is a little different, but Joe D. lost Grant Hill as well, and he was able to turn that into something good too. I know there is no sign and trade, but maybe now we can go get a servicable center and address some other needs as well. Good luck Ben Wallace, I wish you nothing but the best. I hope you never wish were you were still in Detroit when things go bad, but just ask Grant Hill, things may not be greener on the other side.
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