This is the ultimate question- imho, we shouldn't extend his contract but try to work out a sign and trade.
Ben is declining and the east is getting stronger and stronger. I don't think our aging frontcourt is going to be good enough against the other teams around. I don't like the idea of having the same team with 4 jump-shooting scoring options, no low- post thread next season. It may work well during the season but not in the playoffs. Maybe it's time to split up the core since it seems like they've been a unit for too long.

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I'm a wannabe- GM, but I stand to it.

Tay and Sheed can both post up. So can Billups if he's being guarded by someone smaller. We just didn't see much of it during the playoffs. Gotta re-sign Ben, but at no longer than four years. And you can't be afraid to bring him off the bench.

Ralphi, it's a good question, completely valid, but we need to hear some alternate solutions.

So you sign and trade. That means the same amount (or close) in salary comes back. What talent out there should we be looking to trade Ben for?

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Nov 13 LW Milan Lucic had an active night. He scored his first goal in eight games since his Oct. 25 hat trick and also pounded Michael Komisarek in a third-period fight. Lucic cut his hand in a fight with Michael Komisarek. "I'll be fine," he said. "(X-rays are) negative, but there's so many broken bones in there from before you can't really tell."

That is the biggest problem. Who can you even potentially replace Ben with? Re-sign Ben and get a back up center who can help reduce the minutes and wear & tear. How about Pryzbilla?

I wish we could get value for Sheed instead. He tends to be a slacker. Ben goes out there on most nights and gives it his best shot. From a personal standpoint I don't have the same attachment for Sheed that I have for Ben, so losing him is not an emotional issue for me. Ben looks right in a Pistons uniform.

trade ben. when two straight playoff opponents see not checking ben as the way to stop the pistons and it worked we need to get rid of the guy. he signed a high powered agent so that means he wants money. he won't be worth the money in year 3 of his contract. he has no jumpshot or post moves to fall back on when the body starts failing him ala webber. ben is on decline so his salary shouldn't be on the incline. signing ben for big money would also tie our hands for years to come because ben wants a long term deal.

i would sign and trade ben for darko, turkoglu.
sign and trade ben for diop and josh howard.
sign and trade ben for mo williams and magloire.
sign and trade ben for kwame brown and odom.
a bag of chips and zach randolf. etc.

Orlando already has a Ben in Dwight Howard. Those 2 would just cut eachother's rebounding stats in half.

Kwame would be eaten alive in this town. I love Odom's offensive skills. He'd have to learn how to play D. I think you're on the right track with Odom, though. Versatile swingman. Kwame at center? In a Detroit uniform? I can't envision that. I'd think Ben would be well-liked in LA, though, after he destroyed them in 2004. That brought some respect undoubtedly.

Sign him. Not for over 12mil per though. That is ridiculous. We need to find some young talent to replace him and use him like Miami uses Zo. Ben as a defensive specialist off the bench would be INSANE. He earned a 10mil/per contract and I want him to retire here. But the guy isn't exactly making chump change, I'm not going to feel sorry for him. He is 100% defense and brings nothing to the table offensively, yet he STILL has many many off nights.

I know he wants to be here so I think he will sign for around 10mil/per. The only thing that would prevent that is if he wants more money for his grandkids' grandkids to live off of.

We got you, you don't think very highly of Ben Wallace. None of those offers are even reasonable. (well, maybe a couple aren't too bad)

I posted this before but here it is again. Now I want to resign BW, but not at all costs. 12-14 per yr for 4 years is about right (more than what I said before b/c of Micro's take on the situation).

One of the few offers I would take is L. Deng & B. Gordon for Ben. It doesnt work cap wise and I'm not sure Chicago would even consider it, so use your imagination.

Maybe Ben, Carlos, (Davis?) + pick(s) (whatever picks to make it work) for Deng, Gordon and Chandler?

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"We will not lose game 2...put it on the front page, back page, middle of the page, wherever, we will not lose game 2" - Rasheed Wallace after game 1 loss (on the road) to Indiana during the 2004 playoffs

The one thing nobody thinks about is... what is BW's wife telling him to do. She controls the Fro and probably controls the dough.