Ben Wallace leaving Pistons to sign with Bulls

[AmerikazMost]

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=2508742

For the last six years, Ben Wallace has been the face of the Detroit Pistons. No more.

A league source said Monday night that Wallace has told the Pistons he has accepted an offer from the Chicago Bulls.

While exact details are unavailable, the offer is thought to be a four-year, $52 million deal.

A deal can't become official until July 12, when the salary cap is set for the 2006-07 season and exact contract values can be computed.

The move will come as a shock to Pistons fans who thought the chances Wallace would bolt from Detroit were slim to none.

The Pistons came out of the gate Saturday offering Wallace a whopping four-year, $48 million deal, but they told the four-time defensive player of the year that it was their final offer.

The signing clearly upgrades the Bulls' front court, albeit at an exorbitant price. The Bulls will have to use roughly $13.5 million of their projected $16.7 million in cap space to secure Wallace.

However, Wallace adds the veteran toughness and defensive presence the Bulls felt they lacked up front.

Look for the Bulls to now explore trade scenarios involving Tyson Chandler.

One potential opportunity, according to sources, is New Orleans, which is mulling a Chandler-for-P. J. Brown swap. Brown is in the last year of his contract, which would give the Bulls even more cap relief next season.

The Bulls also have explored Chandler trade scenarios with the Hawks (via an Al Harrington sign-and-trade) and the Warriors.

The move puts the Pistons in a difficult position.

They lose Wallace for nothing and don't have anything more than the $5.1 million mid-level exception to offer to potential replacements.

There are a few starting center-caliber free agents out there, such as Joel Przybilla and Nazr Mohammed, but none who can give the Pistons what Wallace did.

Instead, the Pistons may opt to beef up their backcourt and to move to a more up-tempo style with Rasheed Wallace at five and Antonio McDyess at the four.

I'm truly shocked. I thought he'd stay in Detroit.

 

[EDouble]

shit this is major

 

[2PacThug4Life]

Wow, that's a huge shock.

 

[Butt Rubber]

yeah, i was surprised

wonder if the pistons are going to try to go into an offensive direction now?

 

[Vaudeville]

fucking crazy. You would thinkg the Pistons would stay intact for ages.

 

[Butt Rubber]

its all about the money

 

[ArtsyGirl]

Plus he's got a 5 year contract instead of 4, how old is he? Might be lookin for more security in his older years..

 

[Snowman]

Detroit Bad Boys No More...

Ive heard a report he turned down a 4yr $48 million dollar contract from detroit. And accepted a 4yr $60 million dollar contract from the bulls.

Can you say Chicago Bulls NBA Champs.. well not now, but in the near future

 

[Butt Rubber]

Can you say Chicago Bulls NBA Champs.. well not now, but in the near future

No.

 

[ArtsyGirl]

No.

You quoted it and thats close enough.

 

[Snowman]

No.

Yea right, another veteran on the squad. Paxson knows how to put a team together unlike Isiah an whats his face the guy who use to run Utah.

06-07: playoffs
07-08: playoffs
08-09: playing for a title
09-10: winning a title

2009-2010 will be around the time the Knicks make the playoffs again. after all the mess they gotta cleanup :thumb:

 

[Tito]

Bulls are now the best team in the East. They have a chance of winning it all next year.

 

[The.Menace]

Let's wait if it's true, first of all. If it is - strange to see BigBen in another than the Pistons uniform. The Pistons might have to rebuild if Wallace leaves.......

 

[troublesome2004]

Bulls are now the best team in the East. They have a chance of winning it all next year.

Too optimistic. They'll have opponents like Miami, Detroit, Cleveland & New Jersey... Anyway, this really shocked me. Detroit lost their icon. Their offer wasn't bad but maybe Ben wants more $ and a new challenge. Chichago is close so this makes whole thing more sad. Like Snowman said, Bad Boys are over. They won't be near their level soon. I would like to be suprised but without Ben Wallace that won't be easy...

 

[EDouble]

yeah they sayin 60 mil now

"I appreciate everything Detroit did for me and my family," Wallace told the Detroit News on Monday night. "They gave me an opportunity to make a name for myself and we had an opportunity to win a championship together."

 

[yak pac fatal]

bulls got a sick squad
theyre gettin rid of chandler
spurs and bulls in the final next year spurs in 6

 

[Dogmatic187]

I found this out late last night, and I was shocked. I honestly thought he would re-sign with them. I don't know how Detroit is going to bounce back from a huge loss like that.

As for Chicago, it's a huge pick up. That trade with Phoenix for Shawn Marion can still be done.

Can you image that line up


C - Ben Wallace
PF - Shawn Marion
SF - Andres Nocioni
SG - Ben Gordon
PG - Kirk Hinrich

they would be contending for a title in no less that 2 years.

 

[Tito]

Tyson Chandler is also about to be traded for PJ Brown and JR Smith. That is a great pick up for Chicago as well. They are turning into the best team in the east.

 

[Saint33]

nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo


big ben stay with ur beloved pistons :sad:

 

[AmerikazMost]

hahahahhahaha

I can't believe y'all think this makes Chicago that much better. Chicago's got a solid squad, but they not a championship team right now. Maybe if they make the trade for Marion they will be serious contenders in the East, but right now they are no better than a playoff team.