Tuesday, July 04, 2006

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.

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