Big Ben-A Big Mistake?
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by user Fornelli
ESPN's Chad Ford is reporting that 4 time NBA Defensive Player of the Year, Ben Wallace, has told the Detroit Pistons he will be signing with the Chicago Bulls on July 12th.
So just like that the biggest name on the NBA free agent market is off the boards. Apparently Wallace preferred the 4 year $52 million dollar offer from the Bulls over the Pistons 4 year $48 million dollar offer.
I have no idea how I feel on this yet. Ben Wallace is 32 years old, and is past the best years of his career. This contract also will eat up about $13 million of the Bulls $16 million in cap space.
Also, where as Wallace is a terrific rebounder and defender, he is a liability on offense. The Bulls need a front court presence that can score on the blocks, and hit jump shots coming off of screens. Last season the Bulls ran into trouble in games when their heavily relied upon backcourt of Kirk Hinrich and Ben Gordon struggled from the field.
So really I feel like the Bulls just signed a better, older version of Tyson Chandler.
A huge positive of this deal, to me anyway, is that it's just about 100% that Tyson won't be a Chicago Bull next year. I think it would be good for both parties, as maybe Tyson Chandler just needs a change of scenery. He's never had much of a chance in this city being the guy that former GM Jerry Krause traded for fan favorite Elton Brand.
Back to Wallace.
Wallace's numbers have been on the decline over the last few seasons.
From 15.4 rebounds per game in 02-03 to 11.3 last season.
From 3.5 blocks per game in 01-02 to 2.2 last season.
Then there is the free throw problem. Wallace has never shot better than 49% from the free throw line in a season, and as we saw in the Detroit/Miami Eastern Conference Finals, can be exploited at the end of games.
My biggest problem with the signing is that Ben Wallace just seemed to lack the intensity he had become known for during the playoffs. I'm hoping it had something to do with reports that Ben wasn't happy with Flip Saunders and the situation in Detroit.
I want to be happy about this signing, I really do, it's just I don't think I can be. John Paxson has done a terrific job during his tenure as Bulls GM, but I fear this may be the second summer in a row he's made a mistake. (The Tyson Chandler deal)
Here's hoping Ben Wallace proves me wrong.
Date
Mon 07/03/06, 6:50 pm EST
