CHICAGO, 15 July 2006 — Ben Wallace officially joined the Chicago Bulls on Thursday in a deal worth a reported $60 million, saying he hoped to inspire his new team.
“This is a great opportunity to show the young guys that if you take care of business on the floor, do your job, good things happen,” the former Detroit Piston superstar told reporters in his first news conference as a Bull at the United Center in Chicago.
He said he would bring energy and intensity to the game that should help pump up less experienced teammates.
Wallace left the Central Division rival Detroit squad earlier this month for a four-year-deal.
Wallace, 31, was key to Detroit’s 2004 NBA championship and led the Pistons to the finals in 2003 and 2005.
NBA Clippers Grab Thomas After Losing Serbian Star to Lakers
In Los Angeles, the Los Angeles Clippers confirmed Thursday they have signed forward Tim Thomas as a replacement for Serbian Vladimir Radmanovic, who signed earlier in the day with the Los Angeles Lakers.
Thomas, whose deal is reportedly a four-year contract worth 24 million dollars, averaged 11 points and 4.9 rebounds in 26 games for Phoenix during the season and 15.1 points and 6.3 rebounds in the playoffs for the Suns.
“Tim is a multi-talented player who can play several positions for us,” Clippers vice president of basketball operations Elgin Baylor said.
“He’s very versatile offensively and is able to stretch the defense with his perimeter shooting as well as having a good post-up game.”
Radmanovic, 25, helped the Clippers reach the second round of the NBA playoffs last season. He averaged 10.7 points and 5.7 rebounds.
“Signing a player who can stretch the court was a top priority for our team going into the offseason and with Vladimir we feel we’ve accomplished that goal and added an important new dimension to our team,” Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak said.
“In addition to his strong outside shooting, Vladimir has the ability to get to the basket off the dribble.” After the Clippers grabbed Thomas, the Suns replaced him by signing swingman Eric Piatkowski, who has averaged 7.7 points and 2.2 rebouns in 762 career NBA games with the Clippers, Houston Rockets and Chicago Bulls.
Pierce, Odom and Redick Out of Worlds
Meantime, National Basketball Association (NBA) stars Lamar Odom, Paul Pierce and J.J. Redick have been ruled out of next month’s World Championships in Japan.
USA Basketball announced Thursday that Boston swingman Pierce, Orlando guard Redick and Los Angeles Lakers forward Odom would not participate in a training camp that begins Wednesday in Las Vegas to select an American squad for the event.
“We’re disappointed about Lamar, Paul and J.J. not being able to participate in the training camp,” USA Basketball managing director Jerry Colangelo said.
“All three remain members of the USA senior national team and well look forward to their participation in 2007 and 2008.” Odom cited personal reasons for being absent. Pierce is expected to have left elbow surgery in August and Redick is recovering from a back injury Pierce was the top scorer for a disappointing US team that lost three games at the 2002 World Championships in Indianapolis.
Odom was a member of the 2004 US Olympic team that settled for a bronze medal at Athens.
However, LeBron James, Kobe Bryant and Dwyane Wade are among 20 players who will seek berths on the world squad that will visit China and South Korea next month for practice sessions and exhibition games.
Greg Oden, a seven-footer from Indianapolis who was this year’s top US high school player, will also attend the US team’s training camp with an eye to possible participation in 2007 Olympic qualifying or on the 2008 Beijing Olympic team. “He has huge potential and will be a valuable player for the US in the future,” America coach Mike Krzyzewski said.
Oden, 18, will play at Ohio State University this fall. He will not take part in practices after undergoing surgery on a torn right wrist ligament June 16. “We nonetheless feel it is important to have him attend so he can become more comfortable with the coaches, players and staff,” Colangelo said.
