Bulls' Paxson pulls coup, deals blow to rival Pistons

	The power struggle in the Central Division got more interesting when Ben Wallace agreed to sign with Chicago. Gregory Shamus/Getty Images
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The NBA free-agent negotiating period tipped off over the Fourth of July holiday, and there was no shortage of fireworks. Top-tier free agents Ben Wallace (Bulls), Peja Stojakovic (Hornets), Tim Thomas (Clippers) and Vladimir Radmanovic (Lakers) declared their independence from their current teams, while Jason Terry (Mavs), Nenê (Nuggets) and Sam Cassell (Clippers) paid allegiance to their homelands and agreed to re-sign.

Still available on the open market, as of Tuesday, were such intriguing names as Al Harrington, Bonzi Wells, Drew Gooden, Joel Przybilla and Chris Wilcox.

Clearly, Wallace's decision to bolt Detroit for a four-year, $52 million deal in Chicago was the Shot Heard 'Round the World. Bulls GM John Paxson pulled off a coup in snagging Big Ben out of Motown's backyard. Not only did Paxson improve the Bulls significantly, but he dealt a devastating blow to a key Central Division rival.

The Cavs, Pacers and Bucks also now suddenly have a clearer path to dethroning Detroit as division champs next season. Paxson should be getting thank-you notes from his Central Division GM peers any day now.

The Bulls, of course, are more than happy to oblige, since they feel this move will take them to the top. Chicago has finished No. 1 in the NBA in field goal percentage allowed for two straight years -- without a dominant center to protect the rim. By adding Wallace, a four-time Defensive Player of the Year, to its core of Kirk Hinrich, Ben Gordon, Luol Deng and Andres Nocioni, the Bulls suddenly look a lot like a defensive juggernaut along the lines of, well, Big Ben's old Pistons (albeit one without a low-post presence such as Rasheed Wallace).

Paxson might not be done dealing, either. According to reports, the Bulls are shopping the now-expendable Tyson Chandler in hopes of landing another veteran frontcourt player. One report had the Hornets sending P.J. Brown to Chicago in exchange for Chandler, who has a hefty remaining contract (five years, $54 million).

If Chicago can add a player like Brown, its frontcourt would be well fortified for a deep playoff run. The Bulls would still lack a low-post threat to draw double teams, but they just might be able to get away without that dimension. Chicago coach Scott Skiles was able to use a drive-and-kick attack last season to get his team to the playoffs and throw a scare into the eventual champion Heat, so it's not out of the question to think he could get them to the next level without a high-scoring big man.

For the Pistons, meanwhile, there is no way of sugarcoating the loss of Wallace. Detroit relied heavily on Big Ben's presence in the middle during its run over the past three seasons, and there is no way to replace him. The fact that the Pistons let him walk away for nothing -- GM Joe Dumars reportedly tried to work a sign-and-trade to no avail -- only makes it harder for fans to stomach.

The only consolation for Detroit is that it will now have greater financial flexibility going forward. Dumars was rightfully leery about investing $60 million over four years in a player who will turn 32 in September. He also might have been a bit concerned about team chemistry, given Wallace's displeasure with his role in Flip Saunders' offense. The Pistons now can move on and maybe ramp it up even more offensively.

The problem for the Pistons is that they tried the more offensive approach this season and it didn't work. Even with the new rules and the greater offensive flow in the NBA game these days, the Heat proved in the Finals that a team still needs to be able to make stops in the half-court to win the big prize. It's difficult to imagine the Pistons being a better team next season without Big Ben.

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