Suns buy out Ben Wallace...back to Detroit?

[Now_Im_Not_Banned]

Former Pistons center Ben Wallace back to Detroit?

by A. Sherrod Blakely
Tuesday July 14, 2009, 1:30 PM

AUBURN HILLS -- The Detroit Pistons are in need of a big man, a relatively inexpensive one.

Ben Wallace, $10 million dollars richer after being bought out by Phoenix, is looking for a new home.

While there's no deal imminent, the Pistons are going to explore the possibility of bringing one of the franchise's greatest defenders, back to Detroit.

Detroit has about $3.5 million to use towards free agents, but would probably not use all of that to sign Wallace.

Boston's Glen Davis remains an option, but the Pistons are reluctant to make him an offer because he's a restricted free agent. And the Celtics have said repeatedly that any reasonable offer Davis receives - and Detroit's offer would fall under that category - they would match.

And while Detroit could surely continue its youth movement and pursue someone like Chris Wilcox or Drew Gooden, Wallace might be a better fit.

When he first came to Detroit in 2000, the Pistons were in a similar rebuilding mode. But as the franchise grew in prominence, so did his stature as one of the game's top defenders.

That Ben Wallace won't be running down the tunnel at The Palace of Auburn Hills anytime soon.

But he's still got enough left to give a team 10, 15 good minutes most nights.

And make no mistake about it.

He would return in a reserve role, with a reserve player's salary that would likely be for less than $2 million per season which is a far cry from the $14 million he was supposed to earn this season.

But the Suns, who are also in a rebuilding mode right now, cut Wallace a $10 million check to play elsewhere.

And wherever Wallace's next NBA destination is, it'll likely be his last as a player. So it seems it would only be fitting that he finish his career off in Detroit, the place where it really got started.



LOL.i wonder if anyones even guna sign this washed up mufucka

[tempo2]

i think ben wallace is certainley finished. he's been a great ambassador for players trying to find a niche in the game without having to hit a jump shot, his a role model too us all! lol.

but seriousley in his prime he was a beast and was probabley the best interior defender and rebounder over the past 8 years.

[thisoneguy360]

He should retire...he was an elite defender in his day but he's old and his offensive game isn't getting any better

[Now_Im_Not_Banned]

^I still cant believe how fast he subsided from a premier big to a bench scrub.....i guess thats what happens when you depend on size and power as opposed to skill

[7even]

He went from ridiculously underrated to slightly overrated to shockingly washed up.  What a career.

He's done. He should do himself, his family, the NBA and the fans a favor and retire, just like he promised he would.