Ben Wallace Belongs Back With Detroit Pistons

Ben Wallace should come back to the Detroit Pistons for so many reasons

The Wise Old Man

Richard Hamilton is 31 and Tayshaun Prince is 29, but there's a dropoff in experience after that. While Rip and Tayshaun have been team captains for the last three years, Ben Wallace is a great team leader. His voice and example were part of the Pistons' winning formula.

He's Still Pretty Good

Ben Wallace is still a great defender, and the Pistons likely cannot find a better veteran big with the money they have left. I also believe Arnie Kander can do a ton better than Chicago or Cleveland's physical trainers.

Coach Keuster

Both Wallace and John Keuster were with Cleveland last year, and Keuster worked under Larry Brown during Detroit’s championship year. To have a familiar face in Ben Wallace will help coach out so much.

Ben Is Our Guy

For a lot of years, Ben Wallace was as close to a franchise guy as we had. He still holds team records in blocks and rebounds. Also, you may remember him being the starting center on the 2004 championship team.

Big Ben’s Farewell Tour

Few season predictions have been made, but unless some blockbuster trades occur, Detroit is not considered a contender this year. Certainly there is some intriguing aspects to the season with four rookies, a new coach, and some marquee free agents all joining the team, but if I were the person trying to get fans into the seats at the Palace, I know I have my work cut out for me. Automotion and the Spare Tires can only do so much.

Since this is quite likely Ben Wallace's last year, the Pistons should look at doing something like Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's farewell tour, but on a lower scale.

Throughout the season, have the AV team make video montages of Ben's best plays against that night's team. Honor his rebounding, blocking, and defensive achievements. Bring back the afro-wig nights. At the last home game of the season give him a key to the Palace and name a part of the arena after him.

It's destiny for Ben to finish at Detroit. If this were a choice between someone like Dwight Howard or even Joel Przybilia and Ben Wallace, then yes, take the more talented guy, but if the players available are only going to be on the floor for six minutes a game depending on the matchup, then take Ben Wallace. He's just as good and he brings a ton of intangibles. All Rasho Nesterovic does is give Jonas Jerebko someone with whom to discuss soccer.