Wallace to meet with Bulls on first day of NBA free agency
Saturday, July 01, 2006
By A. Sherrod Blakely
L I N K
Chicago Sun Times
Orlando Sentinel
Will Ben run with the Bulls?
Detroit News
Saturday, July 01, 2006
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.
While all indications have been that Wallace would re-sign with Detroit, several league officials contacted on Friday said that they're not surprised that the 31-year-old Wallace will consider all his options.
"This is going to be the biggest contract of his career," said one Western Conference official. "He wants to come back to Detroit. Everybody knows that. But he wants to get the best deal he can, too. The only way to make sure that happens, is to see what other teams are willing to offer."
Another factor in negotiations is Wallace's new agent, Arn Tellem, who represents some of the NBA's top players like Los Angeles Lakers' guard Kobe Bryant, Houston's Tracy McGrady, and Indiana's Jermaine O'Neal.
Tellem was instrumental in convincing the Bulls this past season to release one of his clients, Tim Thomas, in time for Thomas to be eligible for the playoffs. Thomas signed with the Phoenix Suns, and was a key performer in helping Phoenix advance to the Western Conference finals.
That relationship, coupled with the Bulls likely to have $15-17 million available to offer Wallace, might be enough to entice the five-time All-star to leave a Pistons team that's expected to offer him a contract in that's expected to start in the $12-14 million range.
Joe Dumars, Detroit's president of basketball operations, has every intention of re-signing Wallace. However, earlier this week he mentioned that the team has a number of contingency plans they will consider if Wallace decides to play elsewhere.
"You have to have an initial plan and you have to have contingencies in a situation like this," Dumars said following Wednesday night's NBA draft. "Because everything is not in your hands, so you better have contingencies. If this were like a restricted free agent, you could sit here and plot out, 'here's (plan) A and here's (plan) B.' But when it's someone else's call at the end of the day, it puts you in a position where you have to have one or two different plans."
Among those options would be to work out a sign-and-trade, similar to what they did with Grant Hill in 2000 when they traded him to Orlando for Wallace and ex-Piston Chucky Atkins. If the Pistons were to pursue a sign-and-trade with the Bulls, they would probably ask for the deal to include Tyson Chandler who, like Wallace, is a defensive-minded shot blocking center.
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.
While all indications have been that Wallace would re-sign with Detroit, several league officials contacted on Friday said that they're not surprised that the 31-year-old Wallace will consider all his options.
"This is going to be the biggest contract of his career," said one Western Conference official. "He wants to come back to Detroit. Everybody knows that. But he wants to get the best deal he can, too. The only way to make sure that happens, is to see what other teams are willing to offer."
Another factor in negotiations is Wallace's new agent, Arn Tellem, who represents some of the NBA's top players like Los Angeles Lakers' guard Kobe Bryant, Houston's Tracy McGrady, and Indiana's Jermaine O'Neal.
Tellem was instrumental in convincing the Bulls this past season to release one of his clients, Tim Thomas, in time for Thomas to be eligible for the playoffs. Thomas signed with the Phoenix Suns, and was a key performer in helping Phoenix advance to the Western Conference finals.
That relationship, coupled with the Bulls likely to have $15-17 million available to offer Wallace, might be enough to entice the five-time All-star to leave a Pistons team that's expected to offer him a contract in that's expected to start in the $12-14 million range.
Joe Dumars, Detroit's president of basketball operations, has every intention of re-signing Wallace. However, earlier this week he mentioned that the team has a number of contingency plans they will consider if Wallace decides to play elsewhere.
"You have to have an initial plan and you have to have contingencies in a situation like this," Dumars said following Wednesday night's NBA draft. "Because everything is not in your hands, so you better have contingencies. If this were like a restricted free agent, you could sit here and plot out, 'here's (plan) A and here's (plan) B.' But when it's someone else's call at the end of the day, it puts you in a position where you have to have one or two different plans."
Among those options would be to work out a sign-and-trade, similar to what they did with Grant Hill in 2000 when they traded him to Orlando for Wallace and ex-Piston Chucky Atkins. If the Pistons were to pursue a sign-and-trade with the Bulls, they would probably ask for the deal to include Tyson Chandler who, like Wallace, is a defensive-minded shot blocking center.
Source: Bulls targeting Wallace as top priority
July 1, 2006
BY BRIAN HANLEY Staff Reporter
The Bulls begin making telephone calls today as the NBA's free-agent contact period officially starts.
Teams can negotiate with players on the market but cannot sign them until July 12.
A source close to the Bulls said the team has targeted Detroit big man Ben Wallace, 32, as its top priority. Wallace, an unrestricted free agent, was expected to be a lock to remain with the Pistons until he and coach Flip Saunders had a late-season falling out.
If the Bulls are unable to land Wallace, Atlanta forward Al Harrington (unrestricted) and Seattle power forward Chris Wilcox (restricted), 23, are next on the Bulls' list of front-court free agents.
July 1, 2006
BY BRIAN HANLEY Staff Reporter
The Bulls begin making telephone calls today as the NBA's free-agent contact period officially starts.
Teams can negotiate with players on the market but cannot sign them until July 12.
A source close to the Bulls said the team has targeted Detroit big man Ben Wallace, 32, as its top priority. Wallace, an unrestricted free agent, was expected to be a lock to remain with the Pistons until he and coach Flip Saunders had a late-season falling out.
If the Bulls are unable to land Wallace, Atlanta forward Al Harrington (unrestricted) and Seattle power forward Chris Wilcox (restricted), 23, are next on the Bulls' list of front-court free agents.
Chicago Sun Times
Wallace is likely to receive the biggest contract of any free agent. The four-time Defensive Player of the Year helped the Pistons win the 2004 NBA title.
The Bulls, who might be only a center away from being a serious contender, are expected to make a big-money offer. The Pistons are reportedly set to make him a four-year offer starting at $12 million.
If Wallace stays in Detroit, as expected, the Bulls will try to land Joel Pryzbilla of Portland, the second-best center available. Harrington and Stojakovic will command salaries in the $8 million to $10 million range.
The Bulls, who might be only a center away from being a serious contender, are expected to make a big-money offer. The Pistons are reportedly set to make him a four-year offer starting at $12 million.
If Wallace stays in Detroit, as expected, the Bulls will try to land Joel Pryzbilla of Portland, the second-best center available. Harrington and Stojakovic will command salaries in the $8 million to $10 million range.
Will Ben run with the Bulls?
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.
Wallace, the cornerstone of the Pistons' turnaround that included the 2004 title, has made it clear he would love to stay in Motown. But he knows this is business.
At the end of the day, finances will determine the future.
The free-agent rush began at midnight, and you can bet Wallace's people received at least two phone calls -- one from the Pistons and the other from the Bulls.
Word is the Pistons will offer Wallace, 32, a four-year, $48 million deal. The Bulls are prepared to offer Wallace about $15 million per season -- for three or four years.
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.
Wallace, the cornerstone of the Pistons' turnaround that included the 2004 title, has made it clear he would love to stay in Motown. But he knows this is business.
At the end of the day, finances will determine the future.
The free-agent rush began at midnight, and you can bet Wallace's people received at least two phone calls -- one from the Pistons and the other from the Bulls.
Word is the Pistons will offer Wallace, 32, a four-year, $48 million deal. The Bulls are prepared to offer Wallace about $15 million per season -- for three or four years.
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