Hooped Up

For your general entertainment. Ben Wallace and the Detroit Pistons will play the Knicks in London on Martin Luther King Day at the O2 Arena. His tattoo of his nickname “Big Ben” that has a picture of the iconic clock tower on his arm has never been more at home.

Animal Instinct. Tough Soul. Old Bone. Ben Wallace by Roger Space.

The Detroit Pistons have re-signed center Ben Wallace to a two-year contract worth $1.9 million per season.The team announced the signing Wednesday.

The 35-year-old Wallace was one of Detroit’s best players last season as it endured a miserable, injury-plagued year and didn’t make the playoffs for the first time since 2001.

He averaged 5.5 points, a team-high 8.7 rebounds and team-best 1.2 blocks last season.

Wallace helped the Pistons win the 2004 NBA title during a five-year stretch in which he won the Defensive Player of the Year award four times.

Press Release

Lose a Wallace, gain a Wallace. After losing free agent Rasheed Wallace to the Celtics, the Pistons re-gained another free agent Wallace today by signing Ben Wallace to a to a one-year, $1.3-million deal.

Since leaving Detroit for a bag of cash with, 60-million bucks in it waiting for him in Chicago. Big Ben has been on a steady decline, and hasn’t looked like the guy that was once a four-time Defensive Player of the Year, a four-time All-Star and the Pistons’ all-time leader in blocks.

And that’s not because he cut his trademark afro. If you’re a Pistons fan, go crank some Slum Village and reminisce on the old days fully now because Ben Wallace in Detroit just feels right.

Via Detroit Free Press

Shaquille O’Neal, Antawn Jamison and now Vince Carter has popped up in trade rumour talks to Cleveland.

The Nets and Cleveland Cavaliers have discussed Vince Carter again, sources said. As financial losses mount for New Jersey’s ownership, it appears more likely that the Nets will try to move Carter and the two years and $33.6 million left on his deal. The Nets would have to take Ben Wallace and Sasha Pavlovic in return.

If the Cavs and Nets completed this deal, life for LeBron James becomes easier instantly and for Vince Carter and his legacy things could be looking up. Lets see how this one plays out.

Via Yahoo

The Orlando Magic proved that the Cavaliers need a big mobile forward with active legs and Antawn Jamison fits that description perfectly. Now can the Cavs and Wiz make a deal?

While plenty of media outlets are speculating about a potential deal between Cleveland and Phoenix, we’ve heard some talk of a possible trade between Cleveland and Washington actually. The deal would essentially be a cost-cutting move for the Wizards, sending Antawn Jamison and filler (Mike James) to the Cavs for Ben Wallace and Sasha Pavlovic. Wallace seems likely to retire, and Pavlovic is on a non-guaranteed contract for next season. It’s not clear whether the Wizards would need to surrender the #5 pick.

I have no idea why the Wizards would want to do this trade, but if Cleveland can make this deal happen it would be on par with and maybe even slightly better than landing Shaq.

Via DraftExpress.com

The Phoenix Suns are still interested in solving their payroll problems by shipping Shaquille O’Neal to Cleveland.

Whether getting a 37-year-old center would be enough to enlarge LeBron James’ comfort zone with the Cavs and keep him in Cleveland long-term is another conversation.

The same trade was in play in February and now the Arizona Republicsays it remains essentially the same. The Suns, wanting to avoid paying the luxury tax, dump O’Neal’s $20 million salary on the Cavaliers. Phoenix cuts its salary cap number by taking on Ben Wallace — who may be ready for a buyout — and Sasha Pavlovic, who is in the final year of his contract and has only $1.5 million guaranteed.

USA Today

The Cleveland Cavaliers need Ben Wallace injured like, they need — Ben Wallace injured. 

“Center Ben Wallace will be out 8-10 weeks after suffering a fractured right fibula in the first half of Thursday’s 93-74 Rockets victory over the Cavaliers in Toyota Center. Wallace will be in a walking boot for the next several weeks, though he said he hoped he could return to the lineup before the playoffs begin in April. The break will not require surgery and an X-ray of the injury showed a small break on the left side of the bone. Wallace will not need screws put in to re-set the bone; if that happened, he would be out for the rest of the season.

“It’s broke,” a calm Wallace said after the game. “I saw the X-ray. I know what that little white line means on an X-ray. It’s broke.”

Surely, somebody from Cleveland is sending over fresh baked cookies to the homes of  Robert Horry and P.J. Brown as we speak to start negotiations.

Via NBA.com