Wallace to meet with Bulls on first day of NBA free agency
By A. Sherrod Blakely

AUBURN HILLS - Two NBA officials confirmed Friday night that Detroit center Ben Wallace, considered by most to be the top free agent available this summer, is scheduled to meet with the Chicago Bulls in Chicago today. Teams can begin negotiating with free agents today, but they can not sign players to contracts until July 12.

The Bulls are one of the few teams that will have enough salary cap space to sign Wallace, who as an unrestricted free agent can sign with any team he wants.

And so it begins...

Will Ben run with the Bulls?
Rob Parker: Clubhouse Confidential

My moles are telling me the Pistons have one team to beat in the Ben Wallace sweepstakes: the Bulls.
Although there are other teams interested in Wallace's services, the Bulls have made it clear they want the defending defensive player of the year and are willing to spend some big-time cash to secure him.
That's the only way a team will pry him from the Pistons.

Parker throws some actual numbers around...



Big Ben sweepstakes begin
by Krista Jahnke

Early this morning, Ben Wallace's phone -- and that of his super agent Arn Tellem -- most certainly started ringing.

At 12:01 a.m., Wallace was scheduled to become the highest-profile player in this summer's free agent crop, and at least one team -- the Pistons -- must have placed a call as soon as possible to see what it would take to get Wallace back.

Late news today. A nice cut on the tip of the index finger apparently is my internet achilles heel. Not being able to scroll is like washing clothes in a river or baking bread before you can make a sandwich.



Big Ben won't be going anywhere
by KEITH LANGLOIS

It raised both red flags and eyebrows a few months back when news leaked that Ben Wallace had hired Arn Tellem, who is to agents what the sun is to the solar system.

Maybe it shouldn't have.

In fact, maybe Wallace hiring Tellem was the surest sign he'll be back with the Pistons.

Keith remains my favorite columnist. An intelligent look at the reasons why Ben likely hired Arn Tellum. Excellent read.



Wallace begins free agency today
Only a few teams have the cap space to chase All-Star center
By DANA GAURUDER

AUBURN HILLS - He came here as a complete unknown.

Ben Wallace is now one of the most recognizable names in the NBA and a sports icon in the Detroit metropolitan area. Wallace joined the Pistons six years ago from Orlando and developed into a perennial All-Star center, leading the franchise from the depths of mediocrity to the heights of a league championship in 2004.





Running with the Bulls: The Prize of Free Agency
By Joel "Brigs" Brigham

Now that the draft is over, all the attention in the NBA offseason can be turned to free agency. At midnight last night, teams were allowed to begin negotiating with free agents, and Carmelo and LeBron have already been offered max extensions. Of course, few teams will have more attention turned to them this summer than the Chicago Bulls, who are one of only five teams with enough cap space to make a big deal happen.

It's always interesting to get the out of town perspective, in this case from an internet Bulls writer. Unfortunately like most rapidly published pieces (why does no one develop these stories days in advance?) it's short on science and long on hyperbole. The Bulls can only offer Ben a maximum contract length of 5 years, not 4 +2.



Big Ben's Bulls flirtation no slap at Pistons

Ben Wallace may seem super human to most of us, but it's times like this when Ben is like any other working stiff trying to get the best deal he can.

Wallace's interest in the Chicago Bulls should not be taken as a slight to Detroit. What it is is a man, well aware of his bargaining power, trying to maximize that to its fullest.

Perhaps it's my arrogance, but why would the Bulls trade Chandler to get Wallace? What is apparent through all of this "don't take it personal" blather is that the Pistons grossly miscalculated by not pushing earlier for an extension to Wallace. Releasing him to the free market, albeit only with one serious bidder is a tactical error on the part of Detroit.

With Chicago driving up his value, all of the pressure is on the Pistons to take a risk by either sign or pass. For the Bulls this is a win-win situation. It's eerily reminscent of what Jack "The Trader" McCloskey did to the Atlanta Hawks 17 years ago. (*link*)

Koncak was a one hit wonder in a short playoffs. The Pistons bid his price so high that it tied the hands of the Atlanta franchise to match, basically removing a perennial playoff team from the mix of legitimate Eastern Conference contenders. The 52-30 Hawks sank to 4th, 5th and 6th place division finishes for the next 4 seasons.

There are two parties involved. If Ben had wanted an early extension he'd have made that clear. If he didn't want it, trying to force it on him would make things worse. We also don't know much about Ben's deteriorating relationship with his previous agent, Steve Kauffman. That could have killed the chance of a midseason extension.

Sioux Falls Skyforce Watches Timberwolves and Pistons Drafts With Anticipation of New Players

MLN Newswire - Sioux Falls, SD (June 29, 2006) – The Sioux Falls Skyforce announced today that the 2006 NBA Draft was conducted last night at Madison Square Garden in New York. While some fans were interested in the #1 overall pick, Skyforce fans were anticipating the picks of the Detroit Pistons and Minnesota Timberwolves, their affiliates for this coming season.

Bulls think big . . . Big Ben
Paxson, Skiles meet with Pistons' Wallace in Detroit
By Marlen Garcia

John Paxson came through Saturday on his promise to think big in free agency.

The Bulls' general manager and coach Scott Skiles visited the Pistons' Ben Wallace, the biggest name in free agency, in Detroit on the first day teams could have discussions with available players.

Paxson declined to comment on the meeting with the 6-foot-9-inch, 240-pound defensive ace, who was expected to be the Bulls' top target as they decide how to spend about $15 million they have available under the NBA's salary cap.

Detroit radio rumour is that the Bulls offered Wallace $15 million.





Pistons offer Wallace 4-year, $48 million deal
By A. Sherrod Blakely

AUBURN HILLS -- The Detroit Pistons got the ball rolling on negotiations with Ben Wallace on Saturday, offering the unrestricted free agent a four-year contract worth $48 million.

In presenting the proposed deal to Wallace's agent, Arn Tellum, Detroit offered Wallace a contract that would make him the highest-paid player in Pistons history.

$12 million is less than $15 million. Over 4 years, $12 million dollars less.




Bulls visit Big Ben; agent says 'process is just beginning'
From the Detroit Free Press

DETROIT -- Bulls coach Scott Skiles and general manager John Paxson wasted no time launching their bring-Ben-Wallace to-

Agent Arn Tellem said Skiles and Paxson came to Detroit on Saturday to meet with Wallace, the Pistons' longtime center who is the brightest star on the free-agent market that opened Saturday.

I love how reports had Ben in Chicago, and yet now it was the Bulls who came to Detroit. This is a good sign for the "keep Ben" crowd.

Still, it's a game and an important one for the future of the Bulls and Pistons. The only clear-cut winner in this one is Ben Wallace. Sounds like he is gunna get paid. Good for him.

Sixers keen on Pistons' Ben Wallace
By Joe Juliano

Two of the 76ers' biggest deficiencies last season were defense and rebounding, so president and general manager Billy King went after the guy who is one of the best in the NBA in both areas.

On the first day NBA teams could negotiate with free agents, King pulled a bit of a surprise yesterday and contacted the agent for Detroit Pistons center Ben Wallace, a four-time NBA defensive player of the year.

If you are using Firefox and can't read the above article, here is a link to a copy.

http://www.pistonsforum.com/images/p...lly_070206.gif

Bulls vs. Pistons: Ben Wallace has 2 offers
By Krista Jahnke of the Detroit Free Press

As other NBA free agents came to quick conclusions and signed new contracts over the weekend, Ben Wallace pondered the two deals on his plate and waited to see if others would top it.

The Pistons have offered a four-year deal worth approximately $48 million to keep their defensive-minded center in Detroit. And the Chicago Bulls, who sent coach Scott Skiles and vice president of basketball John Paxson to Detroit, have started bidding at closer to $52 million for four seasons.

[Detroit News]

Pistons' initial offer irks Wallace
Wallace, in an interview with The Detroit News on Sunday, said he wasn't pleased with the Pistons' initial offer.

"It was disappointing," he said. "It was not at all what I expected."

The Pistons' initial offer was a four-year deal starting at $11.5 million and would pay him $49.6 million over four years. It would make Wallace the highest-paid player on the team next season, eclipsing Rasheed Wallace's salary by $100,000.

Pistons president Joe Dumars, reached by e-mail, said he didn't want to negotiate through the newspaper and declined comment.

Wallace met with Chicago Bulls general manager John Paxson and coach Scott Skiles in Detroit on Saturday. He characterized the meeting as "real good" but added that no official offer was extended.

Reports of the Bulls offering a contract starting at $13 million or $14 million were overstated, as were reports of the Bulls offering a five-year deal.

"I ain't looking for more than four years," said Wallace, who will turn 32 on Sept. 10.

And so it begins. Expect lots of posturing, lots of talk and a boatload of misinformation. Apparently Chicago came and visited, but did not actually make an offer.