Chicago Bulls: 3 worst free agent signings ever by John Paxson

2. Ben Wallace, Center

The two overall biggest free agent signings that the Bulls made during the GarPax era in the front office didn’t do the team much of any favors. Prior to the start of the 2006-07 season, 6-foot-9 big man Ben Wallace was coming off four straight All-Star selections and one NBA Championship, which came with the Detroit Pistons.

During the 2006 offseason, the Bulls were looking to land their biggest free agent signing yet under Paxson’s direction. At that time, the Bulls were hoping for a number of big free agent signings and/or trades. The famed idea that the Bulls nearly got legendary shooting guard Kobe Bryant from the Los Angeles Lakers is often tossed around from this time period.

However, the Bulls signed Wallace to a contract that would pay him $16 million in the one year he played in the Windy City. This was a Bulls team that was building up in strength and numbers, but no team will succeed with their two highest paid players during the 2006-07 season as Wallace and P.J. Brown.

The Bulls did somehow finish up with 49 wins during the 2006-07 regular season. A better young core would help that happen. Wallace wasn’t horrible in this season, just not worth the money the Bulls gave him. He averaged 6.4 points per game and 10.7 rebounds, to go along with a 3.4 box plus/minus rating and .146 win shares per 48 minutes.