Wallace a Piston -- again

AUBURN HILLS -- The beach ball-sized afro that occasionally was braided into corn rows no longer is part of Ben Wallace's image. Today, he sports a closely cropped haircut that is sprinkled with salt-and-pepper strands. A lot has changed for Wallace since he last donned a Pistons jersey in 2006. But some things, like his approach to playing Basketball, remain the same. "Any way I can help this team, I'm willing to do," Wallace said moments after signing a one-year, $1.3 million deal for a second tour of duty with the Pistons . "My hair might not be as long or as dark as when I first got here, but I'm still the same." Indeed, there are few players in the NBA who understand the mental aspect of the NBA as well as the four-time All-Star. But physically, Wallace's best days are behind him. As a Piston, Wallace blocked out physical pain the way he did many shot attempts -- with relative ease. In six seasons (2000-2006) in which he often was matched against heavier players, the 6-foot-9, 240-pound Wallace rarely missed time on the court, let alone an entire game. Wallace averaged just 3.7 missed games per season in Detroit. But after leaving for a four-year, $60 million deal with Chicago, many of those bumps and bruises that he used to brush off with no problem lingered. In the three seasons after he left Detroit, Wallace missed an average of 13.7 games per season and appeared in just 56 this past season with Cleveland. Only twice in 13 NBA seasons (1997 as a rookie, and in 1999) did Wallace appear in fewer games. Wallace, who will be 35 years old next month, said his health should not be an issue when training camp starts in a few weeks. The bigger issue will be defining what his role will be for this group of Pistons . "Ben played an integral part in the success of the franchise from 2001-2006, and we feel there is a role for him on our team this season," Joe Dumars, Detroit's president of Basketball operations, said in a statement. "His size and experience will provide depth in the frontcourt while his work ethic and commitment to winning will help our club throughout the year." Regardless of whether he is in the regular rotation, Wallace will play an important role in helping Detroit re-establish its defensive identity. It becomes even more imperative considering the Pistons added a number of talented offensive players whose defensive skills are questionable. "In order to be a great team in this league, you have to play defense," Wallace said. "Teams that play defense are the ones that win, night in and night out. Teams that try and come down and beat you on the offensive end are inconsistent in this league." Because of his past accomplishments, Wallace understands some will expect him to pick up where he left off during his first stint with the team. "I had it great (in Detroit). Let's not kid ourselves," said Wallace, a four-time winner of the league's Defensive Player of the Year award. "It was a great place for me. The fans were great. The organization was great. The teammates were great. It was one of those things, that I felt it was time for change. Coming back here, looking at the league and looking at different rosters, it just seemed like it was the best opportunity for me. "It's the best situation for a 35-year-old Ben Wallace."