USA - Bulls seal Wallace deal

CHICAGO (NBA) - The Chicago Bulls have confirmed Ben Wallace, a four-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year, has signed a four-year contract with the team.

Wallace said last week he turned down a four-year, 48million US dollars offer from the Detroit Pistons before reaching an agreement with the Bulls worth at least $52million.

"I wasn't going to leave Detroit to go to a team that wasn't going to be a contender," Wallace said. "Just the fact they came to Detroit and were willing to come to my house and sit down and talk to me says a lot."

Landing Wallace is a major move for the Bulls, who have been seeking an interior defensive presence. There is none better than the 6ft 9in Wallace, who helped the Pistons win the NBA title in 2004 and reach the Finals again in 2005.

"His track record speaks for itself and he brings us a tremendous presence on the basketball floor," Bulls executive vice president of basketball operations John

Paxson said. "We believe Ben fits in with our young players and that he will have a tremendous impact on and off the court, providing toughness and leadership."

Last season, Wallace was the only player to finish among the league's top 10 in rebounds, blocks and steals en route to becoming the second four-time winner of the Defensive Player of the Year award. Centre Dikembe Mutombo is the other.

"He continues to be one of the best defenders and rebounders in the game today, and his work ethic fits that of our coach, Scott Skiles," Paxson said. "He knows what it takes to win and we're confident that he will come in and make an immediate impact on the Bulls organisation. We feel very fortunate to add Ben Wallace today."

The Bulls have not won a play-off series since the Michael Jordan era, losing in the first round in each of the last two years. With scorers such as Kirk Hinrich, Ben Gordon and Andres Nocioni and athletic forwards Luol Deng and Tyrus Thomas, Bulls coach Scott Skiles needed someone to grab the rebounds and defend the post.

Chicago have also succeeded in weakening a Central Division rival. Detroit won a franchise-record 64 games last season before losing to the eventual champions Miami Heat in the Eastern Conference finals.

Wallace, who turns 32 in September, averaged 11.3 rebounds, 2.2 blocks and a career-high 1.8 steals last season to anchor a Pistons defence that ranked third in fewest points allowed (90.2).

An 11-year veteran, Wallace has career averages of 6.6 points, 10.7 rebounds and 2.3 blocks in 698 games.

PA Sport