Tales of Two Cities

Ben Wallace is a Bull (real soon now) and whether this intra-division move is good or bad depends on how you measure value.

Detroit offered 48 M and the Bulls something like 60 M. Chicago won. Detroit did not budge on their offer.

Detroit says the Bulls overpaid for an aging and waning player. They'll retool knowing the NBA rules favor perimeter shooters, athletic slashers and pogo stick post players.

Chicago now has the tough center they needed to establish a post game and anchor their defense. They'll make a run at the title now, no more rebuilding or waiting.

Who is right?

We'll find out -- but remember this: Chicago blew up the aging Bulls championship team and retooled and drafted and retooled and drafted. It was a disaster. Why? They lost players who defined the team's tough character and it took three coaches and new GM to bring back the work ethic by assembling the right kind of players.

Chicago has that new NBA style team with slashing players, outside shooting and ball movement yet this modern style NBA team sought out old-school Ben Wallace.

Do not pAnIc!!!!

I think teams get close to being good or great and they identify a free agent who will make or break them. The guy is good and fills a need but multiple teams want him. A bidding war begins and the winner overpays; loaded with a large, long term contract. The team gets better but never best. After a few frustrating playoff losses, they blow up the team and start over.

It all beings with some needed piece and the GM panics.

John Paxson, Don't panic!

If the Bulls are eager to sign Joel Przybilla, they need to move quickly.
[...]
Przybilla ranks high on the Bulls' wish list. The Blazers want to
re-sign Przybilla but can offer him only the midlevel exception of
about $5 million because they are above the salary cap.

Show your respect

Free agency has begun. The Bulls will contact each available free agent in sequence, not according to priorities, but following the status of each professional player and his agent. Ben Wallace is the best big man available and then Harrington. Their Agents are under pressure to deliver so Paxson's call means he recognizes talent is available and the Agent has gotten the Bulls to show interest. Detroit's Ben Wallace may never sign elsewhere but there was interest in signing him from some top teams with available money. Someday his Agent will do Chicago a favor in return.

Source: Bulls targeting Wallace as top priority

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.