Wallace to Bulls
What a huge move, that really fits with the cliche about the balance of power in the Eastern Conference shifting. Most of the guys that get to free agency in the NBA aren't worth the trouble. The players that can truly make a difference are locked up and don't get to that point. And yet teams foolishly run out and offer way too much money to the Al Harringtons of the world. Ben Wallace is different. This guy is a genuine difference maker, and he's just the sort of inside presence the Bulls could use. With their young and talented back court and Wallace in the middle, they are going to be very good, very soon. And the Pistons all of a sudden look in trouble, after weak performances in the playoffs and the loss of one of their most important players.
posted by Todd Martin at 6:28 PM
5 Comments:
I bet they'd like to have Darko Milicic back at this point, becuase Detroit has very little depth at center or anywhere for that matter. Not that Milicic is a superstar, but he performed quite respectably (16 PER) for Orlando, only at age 20.
The Bulls must now be considered the favorites for the Eastern Conference title next year. The strength of the draft, in particular the addition of Tyrus Thomas, along with Big Ben gives them a physical presence that nobody in the East can come close to touching. Detroit is in big trouble, as they have no one to play the middle, and there is a general dearth of 'big men' in the NBA, as it is. Denver wisely re-signed Nene, otherwise I'd guess that the Pistons would have tossed him an enormous deal. Good lord, when did John Paxson get so smart?
Miami, despite it's title, is no more than D-Wade and an expiring Diesel; Iverson's going to Boston to rot; LeBron still can't get any body to play ball with; I like what Milwaukee is doing, and I do believe that New Jersey is likely the second best team in the East, now ( keep an eye on a kid from Arizona they drafted named Hassan Adams...Todd, you probably know him well as a Bruin fan...as he is even more athletic than Richard Jefferson. He's not much of a shooter, but in the open court, and the way the Nets run the break with Kidd, et al...man, he is one dynamic ballplayer. Prediction in July:Adams wins the slam dunk contest next year. ). At this point, I don't think too many teams can match-up with the Bulls, particularly as Ben is a perfect fit for a coach like Skiles. They could be a helluva lot of fun.
Wallace will be a difference maker but the Bulls still have a few issues.
They have locked up $15M/season on Wallace and that'll be problemsome when it comes time to resign some of the Baby Bulls to extensions.
That being said, Tyrus Thomas is going to be a real good player and so is Greg Oden who the Bulls have the inside track at getting after the Knicks tank next season and the Bulls flip picks next year with them.
Wallace and Oden, if it happens, is going to be a deadly combo.
I don't know if I would call the Bulls the favorites for next year yet. I still think in the NBA that the formula of getting two superstars and surrounding them with bit players works. And that's what the Heat have. If they could get by the Pistons, I think they'll be able to handle the Bulls, at least next year. I've really been enjoying your comments, by the way, Charlie.
Wallace would have to add 12-15 wins to the Bulls in order for them to be the favorites (54-57 wins), I can't see him doing that. Basketball Reference has Wallace with 32 win shares for last year while Bulls center Tyson Chandler had 15. So that's a 5-6 win difference.
Win shares are far from a perfect methodology as even if they were, you can't get at the difference that quick, but I think that's a reasonable estimate.
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