Official 2006 NBA Free Agency Thread (Discuss Signings Here)

[volsey]

Goodbye Pistons, finaly now somebody else will be in the eastern conference finals (hopefully).

[[C][B]#4]

Well, I can't say I'm surprised Wallace decided to move to Chi-town. With their team not able to make the Finals again, he probably decided that the Pistons would be on the decline after that. Bold move by Paxson to acquire the four time Defensive Player of the Year. The Bulls are a 50+ win team next year. Book it.

[Drex]

This is when they could've used Darko

[-Young Buck-]

This is when they could've used Darko

good point.

[Anthony15]

This is when they could've used Darko

True, I think they'll put Rashit...sorry Rasheed at C and McDyess will play at 4. Next time they'll think about getting a 1st rounder instead of 60th round pick all the time.

[iKe7in]

I think they'd settle for Elden Campbell at this point.

But again, its good to see that there is no loyalty in this league anymore, and that money can indeed buy happiness. Now would the difference in happiness be very different with $48 million compared to $52 million? Hopefully one day I find that out.

[Silas]

Wow for a team without much depth at Center already this only gets worse for Detroit. Maybe Kelvin Cato will get some real minutes now.

The Bulls look set for the playoffs now

Hinrich/Duhon
Gordon/Smith
Nocioni/Deng
Thomas/Sweetney/Songalia
Wallace/Brown

Who better to teach Tyrus Thomas toughness than Ben Wallace?

[iKe7in]

Umm, maybe having a frontcourt that has one 6'9 center and a 6'7 power forward is going to be a problem?

Tyrus Thomas won't have enough time to learn toughness from Wallace, he'll be spending too much time looking up at the guy he's defending.

[Abctest123]

Wow for a team without much depth at Center already this only gets worse for Detroit. Maybe Kelvin Cato will get some real minutes now.

The Bulls look set for the playoffs now

Hinrich/Duhon
Gordon/Smith
Nocioni/Deng
Thomas/Sweetney/Songalia
Wallace/Brown

Who better to teach Tyrus Thomas toughness than Ben Wallace?

Has the Chandler for Smith-Brown been official yet? I dont think smith and brown should be included yet for the bulls' depth chart.

[Indy]

Umm, maybe having a frontcourt that has one 6'9 center and a 6'7 power forward is going to be a problem?

Tyrus Thomas won't have enough time to learn toughness from Wallace, he'll be spending too much time looking up at the guy he's defending.

Ben Wallace may be short for a Center, but you don't notice it when you watch him play. He is one of the top 3 rebounders in the NBA, and he is the best shotblocker in the NBA. But yeah, you're right, the Bulls would be better off with Joel Pryzvilla, at least he's tall enough.

Not to mention that the Suns were 2 wins away from the finals with a 6'9 Center who isn't anything close to the intimidator that Wallace is.

Thomas also plays big, he rebounds the ball very well, blocks shots, and is a great leaper. The combonation of these two guys patrolling the paint scares me very, very much. The Bulls are a very, very scary team now, and will contend for a title next season.

[KIG1]

Wow that was really unexpected. I predicted that he would leave though. I bet he gets better offensive production in Chicago anyways.

[Axel]

I see the Bulls and the Heat in the Eastern Conference Finals next year. With this signing, the Bulls are probably the top team in the east. Having Big Ben at center is very similar to the days of Dennis Rodman. Look for the Bulls to be one of the top defensive teams in the league. Props to Paxon, he's set up a really talented team.

[iKe7in]

Ben Wallace may be short for a Center, but you don't notice it when you watch him play.

That's just because of who he was playing with, a 6'11 power forward and a 6'9 small forward.

He is one of the top 3 rebounders in the NBA, and he is the best shotblocker in the NBA. But yeah, you're right, the Bulls would be better off with Joel Pryzvilla, at least he's tall enough.

I know Wallace is an excellent defender, and is clearly one of the best interior defenders in the league, but he's not going to be the same player he was in Detroit. And I don't think it will help that he has an unfamiliar, undersized rookie playing beside him.

Not to mention that the Suns were 2 wins away from the finals with a 6'9 Center who isn't anything close to the intimidator that Wallace is.

If you mean Diaw, he's actually 6'8. And the intimidation factor? Wallace blocks 2 shots a game, Diaw blocks 1. Do you really think players see that he blocks one more shot a game and are intimidated?

Thomas also plays big, he rebounds the ball very well, blocks shots, and is a great leaper. The combonation of these two guys patrolling the paint scares me very, very much. The Bulls are a very, very scary team now, and will contend for a title next season.

He's basically a young Shawn Marion who can't shoot with range. I think they have a better frontcourt if they were to play Thomas off the bench next year and use P.J. Brown to start. Thomas was notorious for getting tired quickly in college games, and that's a 32 game college schedule. He needs to add at least 30 pounds of muscle before he'll be able to play inside without getting dominated by the bigger forwards he'll be going agaisnt, and when he does that, he may not have the same agility or leaping ability.

He's not going to be a big piece of the Bulls team this season, he's just not ready.

[Matt]

If you mean Diaw, he's actually 6'8. And the intimidation factor? Wallace blocks 2 shots a game, Diaw blocks 1. Do you really think players see that he blocks one more shot a game and are intimidated

yeah but how many shots around the ring does Wallace change?

Sad to see Ben go, but i kind of expected it. If Pistons sign Przybilla that'll soften the blow, and if they get Bonzi Wells too (don't know how likely this is) they'll be fine.

[funk99]

bull is a force that shouldnt be reckoned with

[Silas]

I doubt they'll be able to sign Pryzbilla and Wells with only a 5.1 million dollar cap exemption.

[iKe7in]

My guess is that they'll end up using Rashweed and McDyess as the starting frontcourt and try to find a decent bench forward/centre, maybe someone like Marc Jackson, Aaron Williams, Scot Pollard or Walter McCarty. Or maybe even....tha Kandi man

[havasufalls]

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=2509256

Looks like they will use Nazr as there starting center

[eisfeld]

Damn, you were too fast, may a Mod please delete my thread?

[iKe7in]

Przybilla just resigned with Portland for 5 years at....$32 million. They're nucking futs.

But now I'm wondering why San Antonio dealt Nesterovic? I thought that meant they were going to keep Mohammed. Does that mean that Duncan plays exclusively at center and Horry starts? Maybe Matt Bonner will get a chance.

[BlueHornet]

i dont think there is much difference between a 6'9 defender and a 6'11 one. Not a big difference. Strength and jumping is key.

[kinokong]

He's basically a young Shawn Marion who can't shoot with range. I think they have a better frontcourt if they were to play Thomas off the bench next year and use P.J. Brown to start. Thomas was notorious for getting tired quickly in college games, and that's a 32 game college schedule. He needs to add at least 30 pounds of muscle before he'll be able to play inside without getting dominated by the bigger forwards he'll be going agaisnt, and when he does that, he may not have the same agility or leaping ability.

marion was much rawer than thomas when he entered the league...

i dont think there is much difference between a 6'9 defender and a 6'11 one. Not a big difference. Strength and jumping is key.

there is if there is a big difference between wingspan

[mvpshaq32]

Al Harrington is eyeing Golden State and Indiana.

[Scorer--20]

WTF ! ? I think this gonna be a new Bulls dynasty ...

[-Young Buck-]

Gansey Latches On With NBA Champions
Bob Finnan of the NEWS-HERALD writes, "West Virginia shooting guard Mike Gansey was undoubtedly downtrodden after being ignored in the NBA draft on June 28. That feeling was replaced with euphoria when the 2001 Olmsted Falls High School graduate agreed to a two-year contract with the world champion Miami Heat, an NBA source confirmed Monday."

http://www.indeonline.com/index.php?ID=8558&Category=2