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Ben Wallace has triumphantly returned to the city and team where he became an NBA star.
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Still, despite the success he's found in familiar settings, Wallace told reporters this week that he doesn't regret his decision to leave Detroit to join the Chicago Bulls after the 2005-06 season.
December 2, Chicago Tribune: "It wasn't a mistake," Wallace said. "At that time, I couldn't have played here. I would've been more of a distraction than a help. And that's the last thing I wanted to be.
Wallace had reached a breaking point with the Pistons. The way he loved to play basketball conflicted with the system head coach Flip Saunders was trying to install.
"Our style had changed. Me and (then-coach Flip Saunders) constantly butted heads about what was best for the team. I had reached the end.
Not to put a cynical spin on this story, but I'm sure the additional $12 million the Bulls offered Wallace didn't hinder Wallace's decision-making process. The additional cash also eases any regret Wallace might have felt.
Still, the way these events continue to unfold has built on Wallace's legacy in Detroit. Had he stuck with the Pistons, signing the four-year, $48 million contract general manager Joe Dumars put on the table, Wallace would have hindered the team emotionally, physically and financially.
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Also, Wallace's injuries and age would have led to a continuing decline in production on the court. His final year with the Pistons was easily his worst. He posted six-year lows in both rebounding and blocks. Fans would have grown frustrated with the lack of production coupled with his large contract.
Just think about it. If Wallace had stayed with the Pistons, he'd be in the final year of his contract this season, making somewhere between $12-14 million.
And speaking of that contract. It would have severely limited what the Pistons could have done in the free agent market the last four years. It's impossible to determine how everything would have transpired, but it's safe to say the Pistons would have had a difficult time signing rising young stars like Ben Gordon and Charlie Villanueva if Wallace's contract was on Detroit's books.
By being away during the down years of his career and wildly exceeding expectations in his return to the Motor City, Wallace's legacy shines as bright as ever with Pistons fans.
