lol..did you see ben at the line? trust me they didn't rely on him..but i don't think they needed nazr they need more speed and an offencive forward if there gonna keep getting coached by flip
I don't think there is a Piston fan alive that didn't want Ben back.
Some will say he is worth the 60 million, and others will say he isn't (me).
I will say Ben is always a contender for DPOY, but I along with many other Piston fans here actually said that BB deserved it more last year.
As for the overrated thing ... I think it's more about the size of the contract he got. If Chicago really think he's worth that money ... they definetly overrated him, that's for sure.
We will absolutely feel the loss of Ben next year. Especially now that we signed Nazr
But I really, really, deep down in my gut, feel that this can be a positive in regards to the focus and effort from the other remaining 4.
They got lazy and depended upon Ben way too much. They knew when they let their man get by that Ben would be there. They knew they didn't have to hustle for rebounds because Ben would get them.
Their reliance on Ben took all their individual games down a notch. There was little accountability. Now each individual blunder will be glaring. The personal accountability will make them all exert a higher degree of effort ... I hope.
lol..did you see ben at the line? trust me they didn't rely on him..but i don't think they needed nazr they need more speed and an offencive forward if there gonna keep getting coached by flip
Hilarious.
They absolutely relied upon him defensively. I don't recall a game that we lost because of his FT shooting ... but I know a few that we lost when the fella's expected Ben to show up ... and he didn't.
They went from an elite team to one that'll make the playoffs and need to get lucky/hot to win a le.
I am guessing they'll end up with the 5th seed in the ECF and lose in the Conference Semis.
Go Lions?
Ben has been released and traded alot in his career and Chicago this offseason really made him seem wanted. Not saying he didnt think Detroit didnt want him back but I think he felt so wanted in Chicago and he got a deal he couldn't turn his back on he just had to do it. Its gonna be wierd to see Big Ben in a Bulls uniform and not hearing the gong at the Palacebut I wish him the best in chicago. I know probaly everyone thinks Detroit is just done right now but Nazr is a solid Center who can rebound, play some defense and score from time to time so i still think Detroit is at the top of the east. No question we're not on Miami's level but I think we'll survive next year and next year we have a couple of 1st round draftpick and stuff we can get some young guys in that are ready to play now and a free agent with our MLE and Detroit Pistons are back.
Have Piston fans renamed their former center Benedict Wallace now that he's a member of their hated rival?
I think they'll atleast end up with the 3rd seed I mean remember we are still in the Eastern Conference. The Bulls has added Ben Wallace and everything and good for them but I still dont see how this makes them so much better than Cleveland and Detroit. I still pick Detroit to win the Central because they still do have 4 great starters who have been together for a long time and have plenty of experience which is something the Bulls dont have alot of.
so they payin ben wallace that much to replace the guy who was workin as a bulls mascot??
I hold absolutely no ill-will toward Ben.
How weird the NBA is...2-3 years ago it was Indiana and Detroit contending for dominance. Now? Miami, Chicago and ing Cleveland.
The Pistons are cooked. No question. Still going to the playoffs. Still going to win the first round, but nothing beyond that.
This makes the Darko fiasco much worse than it already was. At some point your GM needs to be looked at. No way should JoeD have matched the Bulls offer. But no way should a GM ever assume a player in todays world is a lock. He did, and had no plan in case Ben left. Unless his plan was Nazr, if so, let me be the first to fire your ass.
All in all, it removes Detroit from le contention immediately. And wanes my interest in watching Flip Saunders-ball this November. No offense, but I like defense (pun intended). I cant stomach to think of Detroit running up and down the court letting people score at will, which is what is going to happen.
The Pistons are still le contenders without Wallace. They peaked at the wrong time, forgot what got them there, and couldn't correct it at the end. If they are playing well in the playoffs, there's no reason they can't win it all.
Someone is going to have to get 'sheed of the perimeter. Is there anyone in the organization with the balls to tell him? Larry Brown is probably available as a consultant.
I wonder if it still fits...
BEN, IN HIS OWN WORDS
*
Ben Wallace talked with WDIV-TV Local 4 sports anchor Fred McLeod on Tuesday. Some excerpts from the former Piston:
* "Everything happened so fast. You know, I think the Bulls are a great organization and a young and up-and-coming team. They made me an offer that I pretty much couldn't refuse."
* "In order for me to leave Detroit it had to be under these cir stances. Anything else, you know, I wouldn't even consider. But I feel like it was an offer I couldn't refuse. Everybody in this league would like to have an opportunity to do something great and have an opportunity to be successful in this league financially. And I thought this was my opportunity to take care of not only my family, but my family's family."
* "With me coming here, in the way they opened up and accepted me, it was a dream come true. It's tough to go into any situation feeling like you wasn't wanted, but coming here, I feel like the fans appreciated what I did and what I brought to the table. And they always inspired me to be a little bit better than the last year, and try to be a bit better the next year.
And you know, next year's going to be tough, especially having to come back here and play in front of these fans, it's just going to be tough."
* "I hate to leave, but it's going to be a situation where I got an opportunity to go out and do something different. And for the most part (the Piston players) have been supportive, they've all given me great advice throughout this whole thing. Some guys you play with because they're your teammates, and some guys you play with long enough, you become friends and you build that bond. I definitely think I'm leaving some lifetime friends here."
* "I didn't shed any tears, but it's tough. You work so hard all your life to feel like a part of something and I definitely thought that what we had here was something great, something special. And now to get up and leave, it's tough.
But I feel like I'm going to a great organization, a great city and I hope we become a team who comes out and plays hard every night, and if I thought it was anything less than that I'd still be in Detroit."
* "I think biggest problem is I had some coaches who didn't feel like they had to coach me, that I would police myself, and do whatever it takes to get the job done. But sometimes you're out there and you need someone to push you to try to take it to the next level and not let you settle."
* "I think Chauncey probably (politicked) the hardest (to keep me here). Me and Chauncey have been here for a minute, we had a brief stay in Orlando, and I think the level of respect we have for each other as players and as a person is great. He's just one of those guys that when I was having tough times here in Detroit, he'd always pick up the phone and call me and be like, 'I don't want nothing, I'm just calling to see what you're doing. Just making sure you got your head right and you're coming ready to play.' " He's always been one of those guys that you know everybody would love to have as a teammate."
* "I was never insulted (at the Pistons' offer). I'm from a small town in Alabama, we only got one stop light, and when I left Alabama, I pretty much left with the clothes on my back and my pride and who I was. And to say that I was insulted by someone offering me $46 million, that would be crazy. I didn't feel insulted. But looking at the league and the market and what players are paid, I thought I could get more, I thought I deserved a little bit more, but I was never insulted by the offer. $46 million, I mean, at the end of the day who can say they had an opportunity to turn down $46 million."
* "Every time I got an offer, me and my agent were talking and before we'd hang up I'd be like, 'Call Joe (Dumars), call the Pistons,' and see if they've got any flexibility or just see what's going on. Every time I got an offer, I definitely called Joe and talked to him and tried to see if they had any flexibility or see if they were willing to budge or move up a little bit. ... They held firm to their numbers."
* "I think my relationship with Flip (Saunders) is pretty good. At times we bumped heads when we're out there on the floor, but that's a given. When you're out there trying to reach greatness, and try to do something special, you're going to have conflicts. I don't think there's anything wrong with conflicts. I think the way you sit down and get them resolved are the key. My relationship with Flip had nothing to do with my situation of me leaving, because since I've been here, every other year or every two years, we've been having different coaches, so how can I get along with five or six different coaches and not get along with Flip?"
Are the reports true that he refused to do a Sign and Trade?
Why is he saying 46 mill?
I thought they offered him 48 starting and then upped it to 51.8 (or something to that effect).
I'm so confused by this entire situation
I think we are, but we need either Tay to take his game to a more agressive level or Sheed does. Pistons have a shot, but it would help if Joe can get someone else here by midseason.
atleast ben wallace has common sense, that comment made me respect him 1000x more.
'Business decision' doesn't diminish Wallace's six great years
The initial response to Ben Wallace's exit from Detroit was probably good riddance.
After all, Wallace took the bigmoney and ran, breaking up the best group since The Beatles.
In reality, Pistons fans should simply wish Big Ben good luck.
It would be silly to be upset at Wallace for taking a four-year, $60 million deal from the Bulls. The offer made by the Pistons -- a reported $49.6 million for four years -- was respectable, but not enough.
This was all about business, not basketball.
"I appreciate everything that happened in Detroit," Wallace said. "Fans supported me 100 percent. They adopted me as one of their sons. I'm thankful for that."
Without question, Wallace was the cornerstone of a beautiful six-year run that helped turn the Pistons from wanna-bes into champions.
The last five years, in fact -- five straight 50-plus victory seasons and four straight trips to the Eastern Conference finals -- elevated the Pistons to yet another level -- the elite.
When we look back at what we've watched, it will give us a warm feeling inside and make us relish the memories Ben and Co. delivered.
Best of all, Wallace embraced and represented this city well. He was what we're all about -- working hard and getting the job done even when the odds are stacked against us.
Seeds of a championship
Let's face it, the only thing more shocking than the Bulls breaking their bank for Wallace is what Big Ben accomplished during his stay in Motown.
Nobody, except maybe team president Joe Dumars, could have known what Wallace would do when he came here along with Chucky Atkins in the sign-and-trade deal with the Orlando Magic for Grant Hill.
At that point, Wallace, an undrafted player out of Virginia Union, hadn't played that much, first with Washington and then the Magic.
Admit it, you probably said, "Ben who?" when the Pistons made the move.
Well, Wallace turned out to be the first building block this franchise needed.
If you were going to win, you had to be able to play defense. No players gave more of themselves on defense than Wallace. That's why he's been named defensive player of the year four of the last five seasons.
We'll always have memories
Sure, it won't be the same around The Palace. There won't be Big Ben's bell. The Afro wigs will be missing. We won't hear PA announcer John Mason say "BBBBBBen Wallace" anymore.
Still, it's better to have had something so special and lose it than to never have had it at all.
"It's nothing personal," Wallace said. "It's a business decision."
That's why you have to pull for Wallace to succeed in Chicago -- except, of course, when the Bulls play the Pistons.
http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll...607050348/1127
Plain and simple, Wallace took the higher-paying job
By A. Sherrod Blakely
AUBURN HILLS -- For six years, we watched Ben Wallace do some pretty amazing things, the kind of things that made us feel as though he was different from everyone else.
As we found out Monday night, he's really not that different than the guy making minimum wage who wants a job with better pay, or the corporate executive who takes a similar position with a higher-paying rival company.
He took the money, plain and simple.
That Wallace agreed to a four-year contract for about $60 million with the Chicago Bulls -- at least $10 million more than the Detroit Pistons were willing to offer -- should not be a shock.
It wouldn't be that big a surprise if we were talking about someone other than Wallace, who never seemed the least bit bothered by the fact that he was consistently one of the NBA's top players even though his pay didn't reflect it.
He had no problem with other players like ex-teammate Mehmet Okur (six years, $50 million), Carlos Boozer (six years, $68 million) or even Erick Dampier (seven years, $73 million) landing huge contracts though they had accomplished little in the NBA compared to Wallace.
Wallace's time would come, he thought -- there would be an offer that would take all that he had done into account, as well as recognize what he still had to offer.
The Pistons offered him a four-year deal worth about $48 million that would have made him the highest-paid player in franchise history, and would have cemented his legacy as one of the greatest Pistons ever.
Wallace had to weigh that against a bigger contract offer from the rival Bulls, who are led by defensive-minded coach Scott Skiles and feature a group of young, talented players who were in dire need of someone with Wallace's leadership skills.
All those factors were in play, but the only one that really mattered in the end was the money. Of course, that's an all-too common path taken by most NBA players
Tim Thomas, who like Wallace is represented by Arn Tellem, had said for weeks he wanted to re-sign with the Phoenix Suns. However, he wound up committing to the Los Angeles Clippers because the Clippers offered more money.
We see the same thing happen with engineers, doctors, lawyers -- and yes, journalists -- who bolt for whoever is writing the biggest check.
But with Ben, there was always a sense that, well, he was different than the rest of us.
His small-town, blue-collar upbringing made him connect instantly with the Pistons fan base. He didn't have a flashy jump shot, or great size, or any of the other tangibles that most great NBA players have.
He outworked guys, every game.
Because of that, and of course, the `fro, Wallace became a player that fans across the country embraced and players respected.
But as his status in the NBA began to grow, so did his ego.
He wanted the Pistons to play a certain way, to practice a certain way. When that didn't happen, he complained.
When he didn't feel like he was involved enough in the offense, he grumbled about that.
And when the Pistons struggled in the postseason, rather than acknowledge that his horrid free-throw shooting and inconsistent help-side defense was among the team's problems, he instead shifted the blame to head coach Flip Saunders.
To watch what Wallace was doing, to see it unfold like that, well, it was pretty amazing.
But it was also a reminder that, even with all the incredible things Wallace does on the court, in the end, he's no different than you and I.
When all was said and done, Wallace handled his free agency no different than a low-wage worker looking for a better life, or a corporate big wig wanting to get a little bigger.
He took the money, plain and simple.
http://www.mlive.com/pistons/stories...760.xml&coll=1
Ben Wallace audio notes: I'm leaving for multiple reasons
Ben Wallace tells WDFN that there are multiple reasons he's heading to Chicago, but he wants to let his emotions calm before he reveals his reasoning. Ben says it wasn't about money, his teammates or his relationship with Flip Saunders, but he does mention that his role in the offense really bothered him.
Notes are paraphrased.
Q: Everyone knows what you meant to this team. They built the whole "going to work" image around you. Was it just the money? Is that the reason you're going to be a Bull on July 12th?
A: It was a couple different things that I won't go into details about. It was never really about the money, it was just a couple things that happened that really helped me make this decision.
Q: Does it have anything to do with you being upset, or even insulted as it was written, with the Pistons first offer?
A: Anybody in there right mind wouldn't be upset about that kind of offer. Regardless of the cir stances, it was a $40+ million dollar offer, and you can't be upset about that.
Q: If the Pistons offer was closer to the Bulls would you have stayed or was it other things?
A: Like I said, it was a number of things that helped me make this decision. I feel like I did everything I could possibly do, on and off the court, to remain a Detroit Piston. Things just didn't work out.
Q: Were you happy here this season?
A: Of course. It's tough to not be happy when you are setting franchise record for wins.
Q: Talk about your thoughts on Flip Saunders. A lot of people think the Orlando situation had a lot to do with your decision. Did you respect Flip as a coach?
A: Yeah, I respect Flip as a coach. I think he's one of the better coaches in the league and I had a lot of fun playing with him. People say Flip and I didn't get along, but I feel like our relationship is great. Throughout the course of a season you'll always have a little controversy, a few disagreements, you can't always agree about everything that happens on the basketball floor. The way those things are dealt with really reveal the player / coach relationship you ultimately have.
Q: In hindsight of your playoff struggles, was it a mistake not having Larry Brown stick around as coach of the Pistons?
A: No, I can't say that. We won 64 games this year with Flip. The bottom line was that teams were a lot more prepared for us this season. They made us work hard for everything and wouldn't give up anything. The way Miami played, it was apparent they were preparing for us from game one.
Q: Your offensive production went down this season and I know you like to be more involved on that end of the court. Does that anything to do with your decision to leave?
A: Yeah, a little bit, but it was not the key. My bottom line is to go out and play basketball. With five guys on the court, you need to get five guys involved. It's not fair to the team, the fans and the organization to play four on five on the offensive end of the court. Five guys need to be involved.
At times it really frustrated me because teams would take advantage of that of the fact that I wasn't involved in the offense. Guys would tell me, "I won't sit and guard you, you're not getting the ball. I'm going to go over here or there and try to bog your offense down." That was always frustrating.
Q: Did you express that frustration to Flip, Joe or any other members of the coaching staff?
A: Oh yeah, I probably expressed it more than they wanted to hear.
Q: Well that's part of your job as a leader is to voice your opinion.
A: Yeah, I think earned the right to voice my opinion on ways to help the team. For the most part people respected what I had to say, but sometimes people would overanalyze what I had to say. People knew I was going to be a free agent, so they were trying to read into everything I was saying.
Q: I assume you're cool with all your teammates?
A: It's the best group of guys I've ever played with. These last four years everyone that has come through this system have done what we wanted them to do. The relationship I have with these guys goes far beyond basketball. When we all hang it up someday, I think we'll still all be friends.
Q: So you're cool with your teammates, you say you're cool with Flip and you're saying it wasn't about the money. People are going to want to know, why did Ben leave?
A: I expect those questions, and in time they will get their answers. Right now I want to let the emotions get out of the equation. Right now I'm focusing on moving to a great organization, a great city and a great group of young guys who are going to come out and fight for every inch of the floor. I think I made a decision that's going to help me out and my family out.
Q: Did you feel that the Pistons disrespected you at all this season?
A: No, I enjoyed my time here. When I came to this city nobody knew who Ben Wallace was. The Pistons gave me a chance to show what kind of player I was and what kind of player I could become. Now that I'm leaving, everyone in the NBA knows who Ben Wallace is, and I'm very thankful to the Pistons for that opportunity.
Q: Did you just need a change of scene?
A: No, not really. My wife loves it here and I have a few family members living in the area. Sometimes change is just good.
Q: What do you tell the kids, the young fans?
A: I still love them and I appreciate what they mean to me. Without the fans coming out every night and supporting me, I would be nothing. They made Ben Wallace a household name.
Q: Is it strange to you that you were offered more money than Grant Hill when he left?
A: Yeah, that's strange.
Q: What's your fondest memory in your six years here?
A: Just coming here and not knowing what to expect. You worry about the fans embracing you because they just lost a guy like Grant Hill, and now, after being here for six years, it's been amazing to be embraced and welcomed into peoples' lives. That goes above and beyond anything in basketball and I will never be able to put a price on that. It's impossible to describe what it feels like to not become identifiable as part of the Detroit Pistons, but identifiable as part of the city of Detroit and what it stands for.
Q: How strange will it be to be booed?
A: I know it will happen and expect it to happen. In fact, I don't expect anything less from these fans. I know how these fans love the team and how hard they come out and cheer for this team. When I'm gone they're still going to come out and support this team because that's what they do. They love this team regardless of who they are playing and regardless of the situation.
Q: Are the Pistons still a favorite in the Central, or are you picking the Bulls now?
A: (laughing) I don't know, we'll see how it plays out.
In the words of Michael Rosenberg....
"As for Ben, I don't think he has any idea how bad he looks. In the past few months, he has a) refused to re-enter a tight game, b) complained publicly (and incorrectly) about his coach in the middle of the playoffs, c) called a $48-million offer unfair and d) left a 64-win team for a 41-win team because his ego got the best of him."
I'm gratefull to Big Ben for what he did for the Pistons, he meant so much to the city of Detroit. I still feel like he's a traitor and a sellout, though. I'm sick of him, and I hope he blows as a Bull.
a team with no ego??????????????
i have to words for you:
CHAUNCEY-BILLUPS
A.K.A.MR.LUCKY SHOT.
If the pistons will contend next year,then you can call the heat a dynasty already
\
Oh, you mean the guy who transformed his game from being purely a scorer to someone who unselfishly sets up the offense and gets everybody involved? Yep, sounds like he has an enormous ego all right.
Stop polluting every ing thread. At least have a goddamn take...
If the pistons will contend next year,then you can call the heat a dynasty already
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