Rasheed Wallace ends retirement, to play for Knicks

New York, NY, United States (4E Sports) – Veteran forward Rasheed Wallace will end his two-year retirement to play for the New York Knicks.

The 15-year veteran helped the Boston Celtics in their run to the NBA finals during the 2009-10 season before deciding to leave a nearly $12 million in guaranteed money on the table and hang his jersey.

According to a team source, the 6-11 power forward took a physical with the team late last week and has been working out at the Knicks’ facility.

The source added that Wallace has not yet signed a deal but if he does, the forward will get a veteran’s minimum of $1.7 million. The Knicks expect Wallace to be at training camp, barring unforeseen circumstances.

If he joins the Knicks, Wallace will be reunited with coach Mike Woodson, who was an assistant coach under Larry Brown when the Pistons won the 2004 NBA title.

A fourth overall pick by the then Washington Bullets in 1995 but was traded to the Portland Trail Blazers after one season where he spent seven years and parts of the 2003-04 season.

He then played for the Detroit Pistons for five years before joining the Boston Celtics in 2009. He averaged 14.6 points and 6.7 rebounds in 1,088 games.

Aside from his low-post play, Wallace has evolved into one of the league’s best shooting forward, averaging 33 percent shooting from beyond the arc.

Wallace made it to the NBA All-Star Game four times in 2000 and 2001 when he was still with the Blazers and 2006 and 2008 when he suited up for the Pistons.

The 38-year-old Wallace will join fellow veterans Jason Kidd, 39, Marcus Camby, 38 and Kurt Thomas, 39, on the Knicks roster to provide support for stars Carmelo Anthony and Amare Stoudemire.

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