BACK IN MOTOR CITY

Once upon a time, a gentle giant off the court but a dominating slotman and an immovable force in the NBA paint, led the Detroit Pistons to the 2004 NBA championship. So impressive was this 6-9 behemoth that he made mincemeat of a future hall of famer center that eventually led to the so-called diesel’s relocation to tropical hot Florida. So coveted was Ben Wallace that almost all teams wanted his services. The Chicago Bulls finally nailed him down in the summer of 2006 thus becoming the first one to leave the dreaded “fab five” of the Pistons which also included Chauncey Billups, Rich Hamilton, Rasheed Wallace and Tayshaun Prince.

From the onset, Wallace did not jive well with the Bulls and was a disappointment in his short-lived stint with the Windy City outfit. He was traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers midway during the 2007-08 campaign. Since living Motor City, Wallace was not the same man himself as he struggled to adjust to the Bulls and the Cavaliers. Early in this off-season, he found himself being traded again. This time to the Phoenix Suns in exchange for the diesel man himself, Shaquille O’Neal. A day after being with the Suns, the Desert City outfit immediately put him on waivers and Wallace began thinking seriously of finally retiring from the league. Until a new twist in his NBA career resurfaces once again. Pistons GM Joe Dumars and new head coach John Kuester plus old teammates Prince and Hamilton wanted “Big Ben” back.

"I think Tayshaun called me first, but they were both giving me some coaching." Wallace said. "It's great to be back, my career took off when I was here, and I'm ready to see what will happen this time. I loved hearing how loud they cheered me, and I loved hearing how loud they booed me, that just meant they missed me a lot."

In his second tenure with the Pistons, Wallace will find new guys in new recruits Charlie Villanueva (from the Milwaukee Bucks) and Ben Gordon (from the Chicago Bulls) but will also miss three former teammates in Wallace (Boston Celtics), Antonio McDyess (San Antonio Spurs) and Billups (Denver Nuggets). "Chauncey was the kind of guy that could go to any team in the league and make a positive impact," Wallace said. "It was great to see what he could do in Denver." On his thoughts about the other “Ben” in the team, his former Bulls teammate Gordon, "I can't even tell you what Ben is capable of doing here, because there's no one in the league that works harder on their game than he does," Wallace said. "He'll be in the gym when you go home for the night, and when you come back, you'll have to drag him away from the court."

As a parting shot and a hint to what the Piston fans will expect from him this coming season, all Wallace can said is "they are getting the 35-year-old Ben Wallace now, and my hair isn't as long, and it certainly isn't as dark any more, they haven't told me anything about my role, and I'm not worried. When they call my number, I'll play the same way I always play."

Dumars and Kuester must be grinning from ear to ear.

*****

Herewith are the transactions made covering the period August 2 to 14, 2009:

Friday, August 14

Denver re-signed guard Anthony Carter.

Oklahoma City named Maurice Cheeks and Rex Kalamian ssistant coaches.

Thursday, August 13

Minnesota traded guard Quentin Richardson to Miami for center Mark Blount.

Houston signed forward Chase Budinger.

Philadelphia signed center Primoz Brezec.

Wednesday, August 12

New Orleans traded forward Rasual Butler to the Los Angeles Clippers for a conditional future second-round pick.

Detroit signed center Ben Wallace.

Houston signed forward David Andersen.

Cleveland signed forward Leon Powe.

Tuesday, August 11

Washington signed center Fabricio Oberto.

Monday, August 10

Boston re-signed forward Glen Davis.

Philadelphia re-signed guard Royal Ivey.

Forward Linas Kleiza signed with Olympiacos (Greece).

Guard Von Wafer signed with Olympiacos (Greece).

Minnesota named Kurt Rambis head coach and signed center Ryan Hollins.

Detroit named Brian Hill assistant coach.

Friday, August 7

Atlanta re-signed forward Marvin Williams.

Detroit signed forwards DaJuan Summers and Jonas Jerebko.

Denver traded center Steven Hunter, a protected 2010 first-round pick and cash to Memphis for a future conditional second-round pick.

Boston signed center Shelden Williams.

Thursday, August 6

New Orleans named Robert Pack assistant coach.

Memphis signed guard Marcus Williams.

Portland signed guard Brandon Roy to a contract extension.

Wednesday, August 5

Philadelphia named Randy Ayers assistant coach.

Houston signed guard Jermaine Taylor.

Detroit signed forward Austin Daye.

Monday, August 3

Boston signed center Shelden Williams.

Minnesota signed center Ryan Hollins to an offer sheet.

Sacramento signed forward Sean May.