NBA Rumors: Would Detroit Pistons Clear Roster Space for an Aging Ben Wallace?
As the 2011 NBA season began to wind down, it started to feel as though Detroit Pistons forward/center Ben Wallace was making his curtain call. Now, with Summer Leagues getting everyone excited for a new season, Wallace, who has an option for one more year, has told a television station near his home in Virginia that he is 50-50 on whether or not he will come back.
This puts the Pistons in an interesting position, considering the roster is currently full. Joe Dumars and the Pistons’ front office have done a decent job of putting together a young and athletic team, and if Big Ben chooses to return, would they be willing to clear a spot for the old vet?
Wallace is a staple of the “do work” mentality of the Motor City, and there are those within the organization that feel he should be with the team this season to act as a mentor to Andre Drummond, the Pistons first-round draft selection.
The question Dumars and Co. have to answer will be wether or not that mentoring is worth clearing a roster space for, especially considering Wallace only started in 11 games last season averaging career lows in scoring and rebounding.
It is always difficult when a team has to make a tough decision on a player who has been a major part of the team’s past success. Without Wallace, the banners hanging in the rafters would probably look a lot different. Does the team owe it to Ben to let him come back for one more rodeo? Is Wallace balking at the reality of becoming a fan, rather than being the star?
In an Eastern Conference that is heavy in star power, especially in its upper tiers, the Detroit front office has put together a young team that could compete for a playoff spot this season. Would trading away youth for Wallace’s experience help them earn a post season appearance? Or should Detroit tell Wallace that it is time they move on?
Keeping the four-time Defensive Player of the Year around to mentor Drummond is an understandable position for an executive to take. Drummond stands to be the centerpieces of a Pistons team trying to regain its position as an NBA Elite, and having Wallace under contract to help groom the young center certainly makes sense. The question is whether or not it is worth giving up a player who could actually play, just so Wallace can give Drummond some pointers.
Jeff Everette is a featured columnist for www.RantSports.com, covering the NFL and NBA. You can follow him on twitter @jeverettesports, or subscribe to Jeff Everette-www.RantSports.com on both Facebook and Google+ for all of his latest articles, opinions, and rants.
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