Ben Wallace calling it quits?

[elcheato]

ORLANDO, Fla. -- The Cleveland Cavaliers' crushing defeat at the hands of the Orlando Magic Saturday may not have been their only loss. Ben Wallace, their enforcer and starting center for most of the season, said after the game that he may retire.

"I'm going to sit down and talk with my family, weigh my options and come up with a decision," the 34-year-old Wallace said after Cleveland's 103-90 loss. "Nothing's definite, but there's a strong possibility that this was my last season."

Wallace has one year and $14 million left on his contract. He has not yet spoken with Cavaliers management about retirement or a buyout.

"I haven't talked to Ben at all about his future," said general manager Danny Ferry, who was surprised to hear about Wallace's comments.

Wallace, a veteran of 13 seasons, sighted his declining health as a major reason he may hang up his sneakers. He missed 25 games due to injury this season, sitting out with a right forearm laceration, a fractured right fibula, a bruised left knee and a strained left patella tendon.

"It's tough being on the sidelines when you're banged up," he said. "Then you've got to put in all that work to get back in the rotation. It's becoming a young man's game."

If Wallace chooses to retire, he will almost certainly seek a buyout since retiring outright would cost him next season's salary. But he said money will not be the determining factor in his decision.

"I think I deserve [a buyout]," Wallace said. "But if I don't get one and I've just got to give it up, that's what I'll do."

Despite Wallace's declining production, losing him would be a big blow to the Cavaliers. With Anderson Varejao, who replaced Wallace in the starting lineup during the playoffs, and Joe Smith both becoming free agents, the only returning big man in their rotation would be Zydrunas Ilgauskas, who will turn 34 next week.

A Wallace retirement would also give Varejao added leverage in contract negotiations this summer. As a restricted free agent last year, Varejao sat out nearly half the season due to a contract dispute. He's unrestricted this year and his agent, Dan Fegan, is likely to seek a long-term deal worth about $10 million annually.

But re-signing Varejao at that type of number could hinder the Cavaliers' ability to sign a star free agent such as Chris Bosh in the summer of 2010.

Wallace, who was nicknamed "Body" by his teammates because of his imposing physique, has been one of the most inspiring stories in the NBA. Undrafted out of Virginia Union, he became a star in his fifth season.

Traded from Orlando to Detroit in 2000 as part of a package for Grant Hill, he became the league's premier rebounder and shot blocker. A four-time all-star and four-time Defensive Player of the Year, he anchored the Pistons' championship team that upset the Los Angeles Lakers in 2004.

After signing a four-year, $60 million deal with Chicago as a free agent in 2006, Wallace was traded to Cleveland last season.

He's averaged 10.3 rebounds and 2.2 blocks for his career, including a career-high 15.4 rebounds in 2002-03. Wallace averaged just 6.5 rebounds and 1.3 blocks for the Cavs this season. Coming off the bench against the Magic, he averaged 2.7 rebounds in 12 minutes this series.

Wallace, who is less than a year's worth of credits away from graduating from Virginia Union, said he plans to earn his bachelor's degree and then attend law school once he retires.

I personally think he has earned a spot into the HOF off his defense. He is an amazing story and a role model for a lot I would be guessing. He isn't tall for a center, he has no offensive range and made his way into the NBA on hard work and defensive talent. He started his college career at a community college in Ohio and worked his way up to the NBA to go on to become arguably the best defender of his era.

 

[The Young One]

Only time ben wallace would be in springfield, Massachusetts would be if he was visiting.

 

[Pugz]

sad, but just like TMac he should call it quits only due to his body breaking down. I also believe he's HOF material.

 

[elcheato]

If you want to talk a championship, he has one, if you want to talk accolades, he has them.. The only thing he didn't have was scoring.

4x NBA Defensive Player of the Year (2002, 2003, 2005, 2006)
4-time NBA All Star
5-time All-NBA Team
6-time All NBA Defensive Team
1X NBA Champion

 

[Pugz]

he should be 2x nba champ <_<

 

[The Young One]

I hate to inject some reality into the situation. But when you think of bigs in the hof. You think of wilt,bill,kareem,willis, wes unseld. And ben wallace jusy isn't hof material.If ben wallace gets in then guys like ron artest, bruce bowen would think they are hof worthy too.

 

[MapleLeaf]

One of the greatest defenders of our time.

But is Dennis Rodman in the HOF? (I honestly don't know lol)

If Dennis isn't in then Ben shouldn't.

 

[Pugz]

Dennis isn't and won't make it.. he's crazy and no one would vote him in just for his off the court issues lol.

 

[MapleLeaf]

SMH, Dennis Rodman is my favorite player ever not to play for the Mavs (Although he did for like 5 games the year Mark Cuban bought the team and ran on the court <33333)

wow, hawt times

 

[RipCity32]

I don't think Big Ben is HoF material. He was really good, but leaving Detroit ruined his chances.

He made the dumbest mistake of his life leaving here. I'm going to miss him if he retires, the guy is a great person and one time a great player. I'd love to see him get bought out and return to Detroit for a year, where he should retire.

 

[MapleLeaf]

How bout this

Pistons HOF.....YES
Basketball HOF....NOT EVEN CLOSE

 

[RipCity32]

Yeah I guess, but "Not Even Close" is kind of harsh.. lol.

He should get his jersey retired here.

 

[Pugz]

No doubt he'll get his NAME retired but due to Stuckey having number 3 I doubt they retire his number, unless they retire it but leave it active and let Stuckey use it.

 

[RipCity32]

I think they will do both, and do what you said with Stuckey.
He deserves it. I hope we do something for Billups and Sheed too.

 

[Pugz]

Billups, yes
Sheed, maybe
Tay, yes
Rip, yes

Although if RIp leaves here pissed off that would hurt his chances cuase he would have made his Piston legacy look bad.

 

[RipCity32]

Sheed deserves something, he was the reason we won the title, no doubt.

Rip won't leave so no worries

 

[Pugz]

Rip doesn't want to be here for the 100000000th time lol

 

[RipCity32]

Rip knows damn well he would blow ass cheeks somewhere else. Aka the Ben Wallace affect lol.

Detroit is probably going to draft a more true PG too, which would make Hamilton look much better.

 

[MapleLeaf]

don't tell Rip that, he'll have to change his longtime username

 

[Pugz]

Hamilton is a bum, just like the rest of our team lolz.