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"Last year was not much fun for me," Wallace says. "I don't know about the other guys. But for me, it wasn't."
Since Wallace, 32, signed with the Bulls, he has heard that his game is on the downside. He has heard Saunders question his desire to be more active on offense. He has heard about how the Pistons played with four scorers against five defenders. Just a few more chips on Wallace's shoulder. "He has heard the four-on-five remarks," Bulls general manager John Paxson says. "Ben takes offense at that, especially when he hears someone he played for say that."
The Bulls would prefer an offended Wallace. He's a perfect anchor and mentor for an already talented, scrappy core of perimeter players — Kirk Hinrich, Ben Gordon, Luol Deng, Chris Duhon and Andres Nocioni. That group helped the team earn a playoff spot last season despite deficiencies in the middle. Now, the Bulls will pair Wallace with veteran forward P.J. Brown and rookie forward Tyrus Thomas, the fourth overall pick in the draft.
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