July 03, 2006

Say it ain't so!! First Stevie Y., now Big Ben. Not a banner day for Detroit sports.

posted by ctal1999 at 08:01 PM on July 03, 2006

wow

posted by Barry-from-H-town at 08:52 PM on July 03, 2006

So much for being part of team... Big Ben's loss!!

posted by reiffer9 at 09:19 PM on July 03, 2006

So much for being part of team... Big Ben's loss!! True hoop has it down pat (except for the part where they say ben wallace is worth 20-30 wins; that's ridiculous). If he does leave, Ben's going to the a younger, tough on D, up and coming winner and leaving the old guys in the dust. Not a bad career move, imo. The bummer is that that DET will be just about capped out if they extend Tayshaun, leaving only the MLE to sign Ben's replacement. Not good.

posted by ninjavshippo at 09:40 PM on July 03, 2006

The first couple years will be awesome. However, he is 32 and will begin to wear down................

posted by wdminott at 10:00 PM on July 03, 2006

Ben Wallace has SOME offensive game... Every single person who has ever made a post on SportsFilter has SOME offensive game. Wallace possibly has the worse offensive ability out of anyone in the NBA. People make a big deal how he was undrafted out of Virginia Union, but there was a reason for that. Plus, there is no way in hell you can have an offensive game that will have even a small impact when you consistantly airball free throws. As for Wallace leaving, it is just like everything else in sports, its all about the money. $52 million is more than what the Pistons were offering, so he took it. This sort of thing happens all the time in all sports, and I'm not saying I like it, but it happens. Yes he won a championship, was part of an amazing group of players, was the most loved Piston by the fans; but this was his oppurtunity to make more money than he ever has before, something that won't be around in a few years. So, he took it. However, I don't think this move will put the Bulls into the finals. Will they become a contender? As long as somebody can pick up the scoring lax coming from their new center. Unfortunatley, it has been said many a time, this is the coming age of the superstar. LeBron James, Wade, Howard, Arenas, and even Bosh; they are the future of the NBA. And as they get into their primes, watch out because the East will be a very dangerous conference indeed. Also, do not count out the Pistons just yet. I believe they can win without Ben Wallace, it just depends on how much they can pick it up on the defensive end. The transition will be made easier in that almost nothing will have to be done to make up for a loss in offensive production.

posted by Ying Yang Mafia at 05:48 AM on July 04, 2006

Chicago looks great with this deal. I like their team against 90% of the NBA now. I see depth, defence, bigs, smalls - and they can play almost any type of game. A great signing - and four years was the right length. Detroit would surprise me if they were even remotely the same team after this. They dogged it in the playoffs with Wallace (their heart and soul) and without him they lose a huge part of their defensive intimidation.

posted by WeedyMcSmokey at 08:37 AM on July 04, 2006

ben wallace is just the stepping stone, I think the possible trade for P J Brown and the depth of bench is going to be unreal....watch out for thomas, the boy can ball

posted by s_faehr at 09:41 AM on July 04, 2006

Actually, the Bulls offered Ben Wallace $60 million over 4 years. The Pistons were offering $49 mill over 4 years and an extra $12 mill sure works for me. People can gribe all they want about Big Ben taking the money and running off to Chicago...and your point is? The man has a family and future to think about and regardless of what zip code he may play for, his family comes first. Ben Wallace has been underpaid for 10 years now considering the 'rare' type of player that he is and it's time for Ben to get paid. Not one player besides Dennis Rodman has played the boards as aggressively as Big Ben does, besides...my Sixers couldn't lock him up so what do I care LMAO

posted by BornIcon at 10:34 AM on July 04, 2006

Somebody's got to put a fro wig on the Jordan statue outside the United Center.

posted by Bill Lumbergh at 11:53 AM on July 04, 2006

The man has a family and future to think about and regardless of what zip code he may play for, his family comes first. Dude, his family is not going hungry either way. That's such a bullshit argument. He went for the duckets, and I'd have done the same. Let's leave the "feed my family" bit to fools like Latrell Sprewell.

posted by dusted at 04:00 PM on July 04, 2006

I think this is definitely Ben's loss. Joe Dumars and the recent nucleus of pistons are no fools. They may miss his image but his talent for that price is easily replaced. These are a bunch of hard working guys that will pick up where they left off and be a formidable force again next year. I don't think chicago can even come close to what the pistons have even without big ben

posted by mgobluefan at 08:41 PM on July 04, 2006

Stop it with this "family comes first stuff". Our family comes first not only because we love them but because we are not getting paid millions to do our job. Let me ask you all this...Will the difference of 2.9 million break him or keep him from securing a great financial future for his family? Ben left out of anger and he will pay the price for leaving in haste. Hind sight will be 20/20 for him and there is nothing that he will be able to do about it. The bulls will not be a contender with him. He can rebound and block shots . I will give him credit there but he is a disgrace on the line and scoring in general. He makes Chicago lose offensive production and they cant contend with any other NBA team if they are going to lose offensive productiom. Think about it Ben!

posted by gunz4u at 11:13 PM on July 04, 2006

BornIcon: "Actually, the Bulls offered Ben Wallace $60 million over 4 years. The Pistons were offering $49 mill over 4 years and an extra $12 mill sure works for me. " I think you mean an extra $11 milllion. mgobluefan: "I think this is definitely Ben's loss. Joe Dumars and the recent nucleus of pistons are no fools. They may miss his image but his talent for that price is easily replaced. These are a bunch of hard working guys that will pick up where they left off and be a formidable force again next year. I don't think chicago can even come close to what the pistons have even without big ben" Dude, wtf are you smoking? You need to hook that up. "They may miss his image but his talent for that price is easily replaced." How is that easily replaced? Do you even know what the NBA stands for?

posted by STUNNER at 01:20 AM on July 05, 2006

They may miss his image but his talent for that price is easily replaced. That makes very little sense at all. He led the team in rebounding six years in a row, was named to the All-Defensive Team four years in a row, was the NBA Defensive Player of the Year three out of the last four years, is only the fifth man in NBA history to record 100 blocks and 100 steals in five consecutive seasons, is the first person in NBA history to record 1000 rebounds, 100 steals and 100 blocks in consecutive seasons, and is the only man in Detroit history to grab 1000 rebounds and 200 steals for three consecutive seasons. Yeah, guys like that just fall off the turnip truck everyday. Should be no problem replacing him.

posted by The_Black_Hand at 04:47 AM on July 05, 2006

Does Big Ben know that Jordan and Pippen retired already?

posted by dmontez1392 at 06:30 PM on July 05, 2006