NBA: Big Ben joins Bulls

[Appels]

Ben Walace spurns Pistons for Bulls
Detroit - AP

Free-agent center Ben Wallace is leaving the Detroit Pistons to sign with the Chicago Bulls, a person within the NBA said Monday.

The person, who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because NBA free agents can't officially sign contracts until July 12, said the Pistons offered Wallace a four-year contract worth about $50 million. That would have made him the highest-paid player on the team next season with a salary of $11.5 million.

Ben Wallace is leaving the Motor City for the Windy City. (Jesse D. Garrabrant / Getty Images)

Messages were left Monday night for Wallace's agent, Arn Tellem, and a call to Wallace's home in suburban Detroit went unanswered. But Wallace told The Detroit News that he will sign a four-year deal with the Bulls.

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

Wallace helped Detroit advance to four straight conference finals - the first team to do so since the Bulls of the early 1990s.

Detroit had wanted to keep its starting lineup together, and Joe Dumars, the Pistons' president of basketball operations, said late last week that his top priority was to re-sign Wallace.

But Wallace said he was disappointed with the Pistons' offer.

"We tried to work out a couple of deals," he told the newspaper. "But there was nothing that Joe felt would work."

Wallace, a four-time Defensive Player of the Year, could be a good fit for an up-and-coming Chicago team that needs help with rebounding and defense.

He was just what the Pistons needed when they acquired him and Chucky Atkins from Orlando before the 2000-01 season in a sign-and-trade deal for Grant Hill.

Wallace helped Detroit advance in the playoffs in 2002 - for the first time since 1991 - get to the conference finals in 2003, win a title in 2004 and reach the finals last year. The Pistons won an NBA-high and franchise-record 64 games last season, then lost to the eventual champion Miami Heat in the Eastern Conference finals.

During the regular season this past year, he ranked fourth in the NBA in rebounding (11.3), ninth in blocks (2.2) and 10th in steals (1.78) - the only player among the top 10 in all three categories. The undrafted free agent from Virginia Union became the fifth player in league history to have 100 blocks and 100 steals in six straight seasons, a list that includes Hakeem Olajuwon, Julius Erving, Sam Lacey and David Robinson.

Wallace, who turns 32 on Sept. 10, scored 7.3 points a game this past season and has not averaged double digits in any of his 10 years in the league. Since beginning in his career with the Washington Wizards, he has averaged 6.6 points and made 42 percent of his free throws.

The Pistons center, affectionately known as "Big Ben" by his fans, became the first player to win the Defensive Player of the Year award four times in a five-year span.

Copyright Associated Press 2006

[F4L]

Yes The Bulls Are Now Poised For A Title Run!!! The Dynasty Shall Be Reborn!!! Rejoice Chicago!!! Bulls= Nba Champs 06-07!!!!

U Heard It Here Everyone!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Go Bulls!!!!!!!!!!!!

[digitalv]

oh well I guess, Big Ben sold out for money, just like any other professional player. Guess my Stones will have to move Sheed over to C and promote McDyess to PF.

[babybulls]

This is a great acquiasition for the bulls because they needed a plyer like wallace who could guard big cneters and also it would help if ben would teach tyrus a few pointers, overall a great move

[XXKSXX]

This is good move by the Bulls. Ben will help the defence out alot and Ben should make the Bulls alot better.

[digitalv]

this could be a bad move for the Bulls as well in the long run. They could be in a world of problems with cap room once its time to resign all their young guys like Duhon, Hinrich, Deng, and Thomas. Offering a C the same money as what LeBron makes was pretty stupid for the Bulls.

And the Pistons wasted no time finding Ben's replacement in Nazr Mohammed from San Antonio, letting Sheed keep his PF spot.

[babybulls]

this could be a bad move for the Bulls as well in the long run. They could be in a world of problems with cap room once its time to resign all their young guys like Duhon, Hinrich, Deng, and Thomas. Offering a C the same money as what LeBron makes was pretty stupid for the Bulls.

And the Pistons wasted no time finding Ben's replacement in Nazr Mohammed from San Antonio, letting Sheed keep his PF spot.

Ya but now they are trading Tyson chandelr to the horents for pj brown who is on a contract year meaning that the bulls can resign noce and kirk who will be free agnets next year...Dont underestimate paxson he has got it all figured out:agree:

[digitalv]

yea, but what about the year after that, or the year after that? Like I said, it was a good move for now. Wait about 2 years and then you will start to wonder why they gave Ben all that money. It's cool though, if Ben went anywhere I'm glad he went to Chicago.

[babybulls]

yea, but what about the year after that, or the year after that? Like I said, it was a good move for now. Wait about 2 years and then you will start to wonder why they gave Ben all that money. It's cool though, if Ben went anywhere I'm glad he went to Chicago.

Yaa i am happy he came to the bulls hey quick question is everybody up there shcoked after he left or is it just like old news?:dunno:

[F4L]

I heard the Bulls might acquire JR Smith too in the deal with Tyson Chandler. That would give us more spark off the bench and a spot starter if needed.

By the way, sweet banners babybulls, representin the BULLS BABY!!!