End of an Afro
According to preliminary reports, Ben Wallace is no longer a Detroit Piston.
He reportedly took $60 mil over four years that was offered by Chicago as opposed to the $51 mil over four years we offered.
Needless to say I am disappointed and more than a little disheartened. We are certainly no longer the same team that we were before this happening. Ben Wallace was the heart and soul of this team, but was seemingly a bit malcontented at the end of the season and during the playoffs.
This, just like when we lost Grant Hill, will be another pivotal point for the future of this franchise. Our continued success depends on how Joe Dumars rebounds from this loss. Personally I think the best option would be a sign-and-trade with Portland for Joel Pryzbilla, not sure what we would give but we do have a lot of spare parts lying around which would probably be more palatable to Portland than just losing Przybilla outright - as he seems unhappy with the Portland organization.
But the worst part about this is that today was also the day that Steve Yzerman retired. I wish that Ben would have at least had the respect to wait a few days so that we could properly reflect on Stevie Y before dropping this bomb on the city of Detroit.
*edit* 2:20 am, reports have come out that Detroit is in negotiations with Przybilla and is the front-runner to receive his services next year. I enjoy being right. Let's see if my next proposed, much more radical, idea of trading Chauncey for Luke Ridnour and any one of the following :Nick Collison, Chris Wilcox or Damien Wilkins, comes true.
He reportedly took $60 mil over four years that was offered by Chicago as opposed to the $51 mil over four years we offered.
Needless to say I am disappointed and more than a little disheartened. We are certainly no longer the same team that we were before this happening. Ben Wallace was the heart and soul of this team, but was seemingly a bit malcontented at the end of the season and during the playoffs.
This, just like when we lost Grant Hill, will be another pivotal point for the future of this franchise. Our continued success depends on how Joe Dumars rebounds from this loss. Personally I think the best option would be a sign-and-trade with Portland for Joel Pryzbilla, not sure what we would give but we do have a lot of spare parts lying around which would probably be more palatable to Portland than just losing Przybilla outright - as he seems unhappy with the Portland organization.
But the worst part about this is that today was also the day that Steve Yzerman retired. I wish that Ben would have at least had the respect to wait a few days so that we could properly reflect on Stevie Y before dropping this bomb on the city of Detroit.
*edit* 2:20 am, reports have come out that Detroit is in negotiations with Przybilla and is the front-runner to receive his services next year. I enjoy being right. Let's see if my next proposed, much more radical, idea of trading Chauncey for Luke Ridnour and any one of the following :Nick Collison, Chris Wilcox or Damien Wilkins, comes true.