Posted by fishmike:

watch the best center in the East tonight against the Knicks. Watch the best post defender in the NBA. Watch him get his 15 rebounds and tip another 5 balls out to his teammates for second opportunities. Watch him block 5 shots, watch him dunk, and watch him when he's standing next to Kurt, Othella, Rip Hamilton, Houston...and you will see while he's listed at 6'9 he is much closer to 6'6 or 6'7.

Height dont make the man....

I think Detroit needs a center too. They aren't gonna win a championship with Wallace playing center. He plays a role for that team and its to rebound and play defense. He does what Rodman does play a role. Detroit still could use a scoring center that is why they are not that potent offesively. Personally I think Big Z is the best center in the east. Sure the Cavs suck but they have their orders to tank. at 17 and 8 those are very good numbers for a center. If Detroit can aquire a center like Big Z they would definitely win the east with Wallace playing PF. As for the Knicks they could use Big Z and move KT to the PF if Dice never comes back.

would the Bulls have won titles if they had Wallace instead of Bill Wennington, Luke Longley, Bill Cartwright and Will Perdue?

You cant ignore 6 titles.

Det. DOES need more scoring, but what people dont realize is Ben Wallace is the best offensive player with no offensive skills. His 15 rebounds = more possestions. Thats more points. His 4 offensive boards are second opportunities, thats more points. And whats not in the box score is the 5 plus balls he tips back to teammates for second opportunities. THATS more points. You put Ben Wallace on the Knicks and Spree and Houston get 4 extra shots a game. Thats more points.

Posted by fishmike:

You put Ben Wallace on the Knicks and Spree and Houston get 4 extra shots a game. Thats more points.

You put a healthy Dice on the team and the same happens. Plus you get a post presence that forces the D to spread the floor and not double team.

Kurt Thomas is a better center than Wright. I would still make that deal because Wright is younger.
McDyess is a more complete player than Wallace, but McDyess hasnt played for 2 years, while Wallace has helped turn Det around.

Get over the size fettish, these mediocre 7 footers dont make teams better, talented players make teams better. Who do you want at center? Elton Brand or Tony Battie? Kurt Thomas or Travis Knight? You can say things like we need a "real" center to win a championship, I would like that very much...but lets first try to be a good basketball team first.

the Knicks should do everything they can to blow up the team and surround Houston, Spree and Dice with young guys. Develop young players and still win.

Another guy we should look at is Stro Swift. Trade Kurt to mem for Swift, in a Dale Davis for Jermaine Oneil type deal.

The Knicks need to have the balls to trade better players for younger guys with a higher upside. They also need to trade Ward before the deadline. I love Ward, always have, but he has decent value for either a team needing to get a vet pg and a good defensive player or a team looking to clear cap space (he has a buy-out next year).

Trading Ward would also let the Knick look at Frank W for a good stretch of games. Decide if FW shows you some flashes. Knicks need decide who has more value, FW or Milos. There are 5 pgs that could easily go in the lottery so it will be an interesting year on that front.