Thoughts on the Pistons

Got an email from a friend this morning. Caused me to think a little more about the Ben Wallace thing. Here is his email and my response. Next year might be down a little, but the future is still bright.

I know this is probably a sore subject for you but I saw this in an article today and thought you might like it. I think Ben was over here the minute he didn't go back in to the game late in the season. I think it was wise of Joe not to overpay him but he needs to make some big moves to make up for the fact that he has drafted us jack crap the last few years.

Ben Wallace (26) went from being wildly underpaid and underrated to wildly overpaid and overrated in the blink of an eye. Just check his regular-season and playoff stats, for God's sake. He peaked two or three years ago.

(That reminds me, am I the only one who thought Chicago wasted much of its cap space for two extra rebounds per game, a mild defensive upgrade and the ongoing comedy of a Buckwheat-caliber afro? Congratulations, you get to play four-on-five for the next four years in a league where every rule adjustment favors teams that can score. Why not just keep Chandler for two-thirds the price? Instead, they overpaid for Wallace and gave away Chandler for a washed-up P.J. Brown and a draft bust that New Orleans was trying to dump? I don't get it. This is like Paramount Pictures signing William H. Macy to a four-picture, $60 million deal -- sure, he's a great actor, but that doesn't mean you pay him like a superstar. They will eventually regret this one almost as much as Wallace probably regrets filming that T-Mobile commercial that made him seemwhipped.)


Yeah, I read the article and I think it's right on. Though not too many people around here think so. Joe and the Pistons are being financially responsible. They were true to their word and were set to make him the highest paid piston ever. Don't know if he really deserved that even.

I think they knew it was coming, and that's why Joe was saying things like "We want him back, but ultimately it's up to Ben." They were already spinning the "he left us" line. I think the more telling thing, unless they were told to keep quiet, is the teammates silence. Not one has come out and questioned not signing Wallace. Hmmmmm, you think maybe they were tired of playing 4 against 5 on offense?

As far as drafting, how often do the teams in the Conf finals/Finals have a good draft? Rarely, if ever. The Spurs got Ginobli in a fluke 2nd round thing. We had a chance with the #2, and took a flyer on Darko.

But the elite teams rarely get a good draft, if they even draft. They usually trade away picks for vets so they can try and stay near the top.

I wouldn't grade Joe much on the last 3 drafts. Other than Darko. But it's not like he picked some guy that noone else would have. Most people had Darko #2, and some say if Cleveland wasn't picking, Darko could've gone number one.

If you're gonna grade Joe on his last 3 drafts, than you have to grade the Spurs, Heat, Phoenix, and Dallas. Other than Devin Harris on Dallas, no rookie for those teams played significant roles.

Beside I want to see how Maxiell, Acker and Johnson pan out. Max and Amir seem to have alot of upside. Think that might be why the Pistons let Ben leave?

Plus, Ben was on the way down. He peaked in 04. Nazr's not Ben, but he's also not 15 mil a year. He's younger, and can score.

There hasn't been much talk, but the Pistons have 2 1st round picks next year. Next year is supposed to be a deep talented draft. Plus, next year Dice and Davis contracts are up. We'll have to resign Chauncey. Either way,that's 9-16 mil and 2 draft picks hanging around with the core pretty much intact.

I guess it's all along way of saying "Let it pan out."

PS. I don't think it will happen, but Lebron hasn't reupped in Cleveland yet. Which makes him a free agent next year.

PSS. Another parting Ben comment. You would think a guy who has knocked off such money driven ego's as Kobe, Shaq, Iverson, etc, would see that less is more. He takes less money, and diffuses his ego thats now as big as his hair, and plays the way the team and NBA are heading, the Pistons would be in better shape.

He could've retired a Piston, left a legacy, and guaranteed his name and number in the rafters. It's no longer a guarantee with the way he left. He spurned Joe and Mr. Davidson, and probably burned bridges. Sounds alot like Dennis Rodman. Last I checked, Rodman isn't in the Palace rafters and he was here about 6 years, with 2 titles and 2 DPOY awards.

Ego kills. Now his big salary and lack of FT shooting and offense will eventually ruin the Bulls. Ben was great here, but as his latest coach always said. "Adapt or Die." Ben's wasn't adapting.