Detroit Pistons: 5 best free agency moves in franchise history
2. Ben Wallace/Grant Hill
No. 3 on the list is not just an acquisition, but a departure of one of the most beloved Pistons in franchise history.
Detroit drafted Hill with the third pick in the 1994 NBA Draft. Hill split Rookie of the Year honors with Jason Kidd.
Re-signing Hill after the 2000 season was a top priority. Despite suffering an injury late in the season, he was coming off his best NBA season. Hill was entering his prime, or so everyone thought. He averaged 25.8 points during his final season in a Pistons’ uniform were third in the league behind only Shaquille O’Neal and Allen Iverson.
Hill’s injuries
HIll discussed the injury he suffered his last season in Detroit with Jason Whitlock on his podcast.
"“At the time I got hurt, I felt like the game was becoming very easy for me,” Hill said. “I was entering my prime. There was an understanding of the game. I felt the next four or five years would be an opportunity and a time to really make my mark and really go for it.”"
To be fair, the extensive injuries began with complications from Hill playing on the injured ankle while in Detroit. He never fully regained his old form after leaving Detroit. The Orlando Magic exasperated the issue by having HIll playing on the ankle soon after having surgery.
The Pistons and Hill parted ways just as his career was severely impacted by numerous injuries.
Hill only played four games his first season in a Magic uniform. His ankle injury eventually led to a knee injury, a bout with flesh-eating MRSA, and a lot of people wondering what would’ve been.
When the Magic tipped off the season, Hill was in the lineup at home against the Washington Wizards.
"“The next day the doctor who performed (my) surgery picks the paper up and saw that I played like 30 minutes and he was irate,” Hill said. “I wasn’t supposed to be on the court doing basketball-related activity until December. I played in another game in Miami the next night and they shut me down to do rehab for five or six weeks. By then it was too late."
The sign-and-trade
Detroit acquired Ben Wallace from the Orlando Magic as part of a sign and when they lost Grant Hill in free agency.
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If any Pistons fan says they were excited about Wallace’s arrival and Hill’s departure, they’re lying. To many, it seemed like Detroit was getting shafted again. They were losing a perennial All-Star, first round draft pick from Duke. In return, they were getting an undrafted free agent who attended Cuyahoga Community College and Virginia Union University. Nothing good could come of this, could it?
The reason this is one of the greatest free agency moves in franchise history is the trajectory of Hill’s career after suffering so many injuries. Hill’s injuries grew increasingly worse, while Wallace’s defensive prowess grew increasingly better. Plus it’s a move Detroit probably wouldn’t have made if left to their own deductive powers of reasoning.
Ben Wallace solidified the defensive presence the Detroit Pistons have always been known for. Thanks in large part to Ben Wallace, the Bad Boys of the NBA were back. He won four Defensive Player of the Year awards, made five All-NBA Defensive teams and played in four All-Star games.
During the 2004 championship run, opponents scored just 84 points per 100 possessions when he was on the court.
He is currently the Pistons’ all-time leader in blocked shots, ranks second in steals and is third in rebounds. Even with almost no offensive talent, he ranks as one of the best the franchise has seen.