4. Item: The Detroit Pistons have rebuilt their coaching staff around Flip Saunders in his second season and didn't do much to entice free-agent center and emotional leader Ben Wallace to stick around — so he bolted for Chicago.

What this really means: The Pistons' near collapse to the Cavaliers in the second round and complete collapse to the Heat in the conference finals reflected an exhausted team. Maybe even moreso, a team that actually believed it was better than it was. The Pistons were an outstanding defensive team, winning the title in 2004 and losing in the finals to the Spurs in 2005. When Larry Brown left, replaced by Saunders at the start of last season, the players felt freed from Brown's strict principles and put together the best regular season record.

But both Ben and Rasheed Wallace faded. Chauncey Billups, Rip Hamilton and Tayshaun Prince played far too many minutes and had nothing left by the middle of the playoffs. This season they'll be refreshed and the edict from president Joe Dumars is to extend the bench — consistently. This will be a make-or-break year for this group and perhaps the perception of Saunders as a head coach in this league.

http://msn.foxsports.com/nba/story/6023732

didn't do much to entice free-agent center and emotional leader Ben Wallace to stick around — so he bolted for Chicago.
well, besides offering to make Ben Wallace one of the highest paid players in franchise history (was it the highest?), i guess they just sat on their hands. i think "didn't do enough" would have been better verbage.

well, besides offering to make Ben Wallace one of the highest paid players in franchise history (was it the highest?), i guess they just sat on their hands. i think "didn't do enough" would have been better verbage.

I didn't think it was the highest. But for the Pistons, as you said, it may have been.

Maybe it was "didn't do enough" and it was a decision they made as an organization. I know they would have liked to have him back but at what price, but I think thats been discussed enough.

I think what will put this whole thing to rest for me, is this years commitment to defense by Flip. If it isn't much, then, imo the Organization made a decision NOT to go 110% in the negotiations.

And it takes 2 to sign a contract. I don't think Bens heart was here anymore. Maybe JoeD saw that Ben wasn't the old Ben and he wanted out. Its kind of difficult to negotiate with someone who doesn't want to be here.