Wallace leaves Maxiell with words of wisdom
Chris McCosky / The Detroit News

LAS VEGAS-- At first, the news of Ben Wallace's departure saddened Pistons power forward Jason Maxiell. After all, Wallace was Maxiell's mentor, motivator and tormentor throughout his rookie season in 2005-06.
Maxiell was going to miss him. Shoot, he was even going to miss lugging Wallace's boombox to every game -- which was Maxiell's rookie responsibility last season.
His outlook brightened, though, after he talked to Wallace last week.
"I talked to him on the phone, and he said, 'The door's open for you now,' " Maxiell said. "He said, 'Go play hard in summer league and come to camp next year ready to go to work.' That's what I plan to do."
Maxiell said that, though he and the team hated to see him leave, there were no hard feelings.
"Ben had to look out for what was best for him and his family," he said. "He doesn't have that many years left in his career, so he had to take care of his family, no matter what they say about him stealing a check or whatever. You know, it's going to be tough for us, but like he said, it opens a door for me."
Maxiell, who played in 26 games last season, has a legitimate chance to be the fourth big man in coach Flip Saunders' frontcourt rotation. Maxiell has cut 15 pounds off his 6-foot-7 frame and, with his ability to score off the dribble and with his post-up game, he could help shore up one of the Pistons' primary deficiencies -- points in the lane.

http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060711/SPORTS0102/607110359/1127


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i really like how it sounds like they're expecting big things from Maxiell. it sounds like the Pistons are really making a commitment to developing their bench and giving them a chance to mature this upcoming season.

Ben should just go and count his money some more.

Maxiell is gonna do what he's gonna do, regardless of any advice from Ben.

Honestly, I don't want to see any praise thrown Ben's way if (when?) Maxiell is pulling down a ton of boards and playing like a demon this season.

he's right though- ben's poor family could never have survived on $48 million. lucky for him, the bulls threw an extra $12 million his way that will allow him to eek his way through his horrible wretched life.

i get that he was trying to get the most money. but why not say that, instead of saying "he has to do what's best for his family"...?

it's not like someone can sensibly use that much money over their lifetime anyway.

And here we go with another Ben Wallace thread, lol.

I still don't get how someone can begrudge Ben the extra $12m, doesn't he have like 12 siblings? It's not like he's not just taking care of a family of 3, I bet it's closer to 300.

i purposely left Ben's name out of the thread title to avoid any Ben talk digression.

back to Maxiell.....his passing out of the post is something that i hope he works on. if he does become an adequate post scorer, they'll be looking to double him and if he can find cutters well, that'd be a huge plus for us.

i purposely left Ben's name out of the thread title to avoid any Ben talk digression.

back to Maxiell.....his passing out of the post is something that i hope he works on. if he does become an adequate post scorer, they'll be looking to double him and if he can find cutters well, that'd be a huge plus for us.


I really hope Max gets a chance to play either way, because I think he's ready. But shit... Grab a f--king rebound. Dude's worse than Darko on the boards. And he was just sad. That 40% FT shooting needs to be worked on as well, if he's going to be a force in the paint. Either way, unlike our other bigs, he can score inside 20 feet, so I like him.

Doesn't the article say he hit 8-10 in one game?

Or did I read a different article somewhere else?

And Ben is gonna get dragged into every thread, reagrdless of what the title is or what the subject is.

I don't care that he took more money. Good for him! I believe I said I'd do the same thing every single time. It's the bullshit through the media that pisses me off.

And like I posted above:

I don't want to see Ben get ANY credit for Maxiell's play this season. It's got nothing to do with Ben.

Max is a beast and the second someone tries to give Ben some props for his production they're under-cutting Maxiell. That's fucked.

Personally I can't wait for Maxiell v Ben - maybe we'll have someone that is willing to challenge the big fella.

I'm fairly sure Sheed and Dice won't.

Max shot >60% FTs for all his college seasons. I have to believe he can do the same thing in the pros, unless he got the Curse of the Ben-bino or somesuch.

i have no doubt sheed will challenge ben......to see how quick he can get out to the 3-line to launch an outside shot.

just caught that- 'the curse of the ben-bino'. that's classic.

let's hope we don't inherit a curse like that. :)