Ben Wallace said the Pistons would not have won the 2004 title if they had drafted Melo instead of Carmelo Anthony, who was the top pick in the 2003 draft, and that Tayshaun Prince would never have blossomed and would not have been part of that championship.

Ben Wallace said: "If we had drafted Melo, he would have been eager to start right away, and Tayshaun Prince would never have blossomed and would not have become the champion that he became. We won the championship with the best cap I've ever seen in my life (Tayshaun Prince chasing down Reggie Miller in the Eastern Conference Final)."