"I just thought we had a pretty good run there (with the Pistons) and I thought the offer would have been a bit better," he said. "I didn't think we had to really negotiate like that at this point. I just thought that initial offer wasn't altogether fair." Well, Ben, you made noise about leaving and met with another other team. Sheed and Rip didn't do that, nor did they have to complain to the press.
Yes I read that. I also found in interesting that the Bulls were pushed by the owner to consider Ben and that he was not really factoring into what Paxson was planning. Not off to a good start at all. I can almost see Davison blowing his stack over this. Not so much what Ben thought of the offer but how he spouted off in the press about it. Kind of a slap in the face to the rest of the Pistons. I thought this may have been a long drawn out process. Hopefully the Bulls are not really serious and if there is another team out there we can at least get something for him on a sign/trade.
Strange, this notion that Reinsdorf is pushing it. I'm sure our team will take it in stride, and that Ben's speaking from Tellem's script. But on a team that insists five good guys can beat a few stars, I dunno how anyone can be insulted at being the highest-paid player. There's wiggle room, though. I think he'll stay at a slightly higher wage.
One other interesting note was that Cleveland, NY & Washington may be entering the picture... Not sure what his impression of Washington is from playing there... Since these teams are only able to get Ben via S&T, we'd have to look at their rosters to see what matches (13M?) The Wiz can't offer Haywood cause he's a BYC player... but they can offer Etan Thomas, Ramos & Antonio Daniels.
"I am just sitting here on the unemployment line, waiting," Wallace said. Careful Ben. You're getting perilously close to the infamous Latrell Sprewell "I've got to feed my family" fiasco with this quote. LOL.
Yeah, the whole thing comes off badly. Lesson One: shut up and let your big-name agent do the talking.
this is somewhat similar to tays talks last season. he had that initial offer then the slight increase but tay didn't go to the press. i just hate it when players argue over millions. they bandy it around like monopoly money.
Insulting or disappointing you have to look at... Peja - $13 million a year Cassel - -$13 million a year Anthony - $15 million a year Nene - I forget - $10 million? These guys ought to be making more than 4 time DPOY with a grudge?
Good point dba. It's all relative to what the other guys are getting. Nene at 6 years and 60 million? And then there are other big guys in the same pay range like Samuel Dalembert and Tyson Chandler. That's the insulting part of it.
Here is my question... if the Pistons do a sign and trade with Ben going to Chicago in exchange for Tyson Chandler, how much worse are the Pistons going to be over a 4 year stretch? I've watched a lot of Tyson here in Chicago and he is getting better each year. He never shoots jumpers, rebounds well, and blocks shots. He's obviously not as good as Ben yet, but is on the rise while Ben is on the decline. Tyson is also surprisingly intense, which many Pistons fans probably don't realize. He has a better FG% than BW. He also dunks better, which is something that really frustrates me with Ben. I don't know how it would turn out, but I'm guessing that it would not be a terrible outcome. Maybe we could get another Bull included in the deal. Gordon/ Hinrich/ Nocioni are probably too pricey for this package, but maybe Duhon/ Deng/ or Songaila.
i'd definitely be up for picking up deng. chandler and deng would be one of the best case scenarios if ben does leave.
In some ways Chandler is about the closest replacement you might find for Ben, but there are reasons why the Bulls might pay to trade a guy who's five inches taller and a decade younger than Ben. He's inconsistent, picks up fouls like crazy and has some back issues. A better offensive than defensive rebounder, but he is indeed intense and has a history with Tay from their high school days.
They can afford Ben and then trade Chandler for another solid talent. The only thing stopping this is Ben's mood and their future contracts
``there are reasons why the Bulls might pay to trade a guy who's five inches taller and a decade younger than Ben'' Yeah, that says enough to make you wonder. Either way, the Bulls look like they're trying to trade him elsewhere. It's either all a huge smokescreen or we're unlikely to get a sign-and-trade.
If we gotta lose Ben, (heaven forbid) I am reluctantly in favor of sign and trade for Chandler & Deng or Chandler and Duhon. We got Ben under the same circumstances and look what fruits benefited from that deal Gordon would be great, but that will never happen,
