According to Screamin’ A Smith, Rasheed Wallace is planning to give it another go with the Boston Celtics. Some people, including myself, figured this might go down back when ’Sheed decided to leave $12 million on the table and call it a career. His 2010 postseason performance left me feeling like there was too much left in the tank to be calling it quits. This is still a rumor, not an official move, but I wouldn’t be surprised if Smith is right on. From NBCSports.com…
“Honestly, we’d laugh this off if it weren’t for the fact months before LeBron James announced where he was taking is talents, Stephen A. Smith was calling Miami. We all laughed it off then, turns out he was right.
So with that, we bring you what Smith said on the Dan Patrick show Wednesday:
Smith said that the Celtics counter the Heat’s athleticism with “brute size” and Rasheed Wallace will come out of retirement to come back to the Celtics.
Smith said Wallace told him that’s the plan, because he wants another shot at the Lakers in the NBA Finals.
The idea of a retired Sheed returning halfway through the season was a hot rumor last season during the finals. Wallace walked away from $12 million on his contract because he didn’t like playing through injuries, he didn’t have another full season and that grind in him. But he showed in Game 7 — forced to start due to the injury to Kendrick Perkins — that he still has some game, scoring 11 points of 5-11 shooting and grabbing 8 rebounds. In a game where everyone seemed tight, Wallace and Ron Artest of the Lakers were the two seemingly unaffected by the moment.
One little problem with this grand return (and not just that the Lakers and Celtics may not make the finals) — the Celtics already have 15 guys under contract. To bring in Wallace means to buy out someone else, like Von Wafer. And that’s just not likely to happen. But we’re not ruling anything out.”
Link.
I’m not sure how much he’ll be able to contribute… I guess it depends on what kind of shape he’s kept himself in. The Cs have a deep frontcourt, so it’s not like they’re desperate for minutes from the guy. That being said, I’d be happy to see him back in the league. He’s one of those guys that I wish could play forever, a personality that the league will never be the same without. Lace up your Air Forces and get back in the game, ‘Sheed!
