Pierce Thinks Wallace Could Return Around February
by Greg Payne on Aug 17, 2010 7:14 PM EDT
in Boston Celtics News & Links
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Rasheed Wallace is retired. Let me make that clear from the start. He has been waived by the Celtics and he hasn't wavered from his decision to hang 'em up. However, the idea of Wallace coming out of retirement and returning to the Celtics in the latter stages of next season was being suggested by some long before the official announcement of his retirement broke the news cycle. If you ask Paul Pierce, that option is still on the table.
Wallace declined to comment further, but all indications are that the former All-Star will call the Boston area home for most, if not all of this season.
As long as Wallace remains in the area, rumors about a possible return won't totally go away despite the Celtics waiving him last week and him indicating that he is indeed retired.
You can count Pierce among those who thinks a Wallace return to the Celtics will happen sometime prior to the playoffs, despite Wallace insisting that he's done playing.
"I told him, 'Go ahead, do all you need to do,' " Pierce said. " 'Take the kids everywhere. We'll see you in February.' "
Pierce wasn't done there, though. Despite the additions of guys like Von Wafer and Shaquille O'Neal, Pierce thinks there's still room for one more piece.
"I think we're right there at top," he said. "I think we're one of the top four or five teams in all of basketball. I still like we need another piece. I think we could use another wingman off the bench after losing Tony Allen. I think he was real valuable what he brought in the playoffs so for the most part of I love our team. I think we're better now that we were in June. But also I still think we need another piece if we're going to win it all and not just get there."
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is this a good thing?
Ok say he does return, is this something that we really want?
I think that players in the past that have done this proved to be a great success, But I cant help but feel that somehow the players on the team have done all the work and someone like Sheed can jump on the wagon and pick up a ring, Hey now that i’ve talked this out I like the idea because any help to get banner 18 is fine by me.
Natters
of course we want him to come back
Can you imagine the depth we would have at the 4 and 5 spots if he’s ready to go in the playoffs? You can never have too many talented big men.
it will be great to have him back
Defends pau gasoft very well.
On another note, the shouting of pau gasoft everytime he drives to the hoop is one way of flopping (aside from the physical one being done by fisher). It’s what you called verbal flopping, because that often calls the attention of the refs to call a foul.
Gasoft can’t do that with Sheed because even before he drives to the hoop, more often than not, he’s already blocked by Sheed.
Agree 100%
Rasheeds defense on Gasoft (as well as on Bynum) was just great this past year in the finals.
It could come in very handy again if we meet LA in the finals….all the reason for him to come back next year and the C’s to welcome him back.
Unfortunately
Sheed will most likely be even more out of shape than before… in my opinion.
If Sheed DOES come back, he’ll be even chubbier than 2009-2010 version of him.
Maybe...
But he’d have the rest of the regular season to get himself in at least halfway reasonable shape. And then he’d probably only be playing maybe 10 minutes a game. So for 10 minutes he should still be able to go pretty hard at it, and then be a cheerleader the rest of the time.
That being said, I’m still not sure it’s such a good thing, just that it may not be that big of an issue if he’s not in great shape right away… or ever.
not to me…but somebody gotta leave if Sheed comes back KG-no Shaq-no JO-no or Perk-no so whose gonna leave????
by Ante Gamisou on Aug 17, 2010 8:29 PM EDT up reply actions
and whose gonna play from all that guys?
by Ante Gamisou on Aug 18, 2010 6:03 AM EDT up reply actions
That would only happen if...
JO proves some ability to play power forward. I doubt you’re going to see Shaq or Oneal there. So if JO proves he can play at the 4 this year, and they move him to back up KG, then you got Perk, Shaq, Wallace at Center.
If Danny isn’t looking to resign BBD anyway, figuring he’ll get a big offer than he’s willing to put up, then it’s not a completely crazy thought, if he can get some value for him now.
But again, this is all contingent on JO being able to play reliably at the 4 behind KG, which is no guarantee. As of right now BBD is really you’re only proven entity to back up KG, so unless that changes, it’d never happen.
agreed but...
i beliave that JO would be able to backup the 4 spot when perk is back but in 5or6 months will see whats happen
by Ante Gamisou on Aug 18, 2010 11:49 AM EDT up reply actions
Possibly.
Ya, he’s played 4 before for good stretches with Indiana. But playing the 4, at least defensively requires a lot more lateral movement and foot speed. Especially if he ever has to guard any stretches 4s, or face up post players in the athletic mold like a Rashard Lewis type.
Even some second unit 4s would be tough covers, such as an Amir Johnson type player. It’s all speculation right now, and something they’ll have to test out a bit once Perk comes back.
I love Pierce
This would be great so long as he is in shape.
Pierce knows what he's talking about
He might make a good GM one day.
He will...
KG will be a good coach one day here in Boston… Or he’ll be Ray’s assistant. I’m telling you, it’s guaranteed to happen.
However, Sheed’s return can only mean one thing: May the only Allen remaining take rest from three point land. Which is always good.
Although if Sheed does really return, he’ll be more of a parent than a player, no?
Irresponsible I stand...
Angles?
If he comes back, what are we liable for? His full contract or partial? In either case maybe we can use it in a deadline deal for a much better player that will be available then instead of now.
Danny you sly devil, it might just work. Nice option anyway.
"First fix their hearts"-Eizo Shimabuku
Please.....enough
Can you imagine what Sheed would look like in Feb? He was out of shape all year, and had no interest in putting in the time and effort to get fit for the playoffs.
Enough already—Sheed is not going to help us for the stretch run next spring—if anything he would sow seeds of dissension with both his play and attitude.
by McHaleinthepost on Aug 17, 2010 9:24 PM EDT reply actions
Uniforms
You know today’s uniforms sure look a lot more comfortable in that pic than the Bird years.
by bbeingphilled on Aug 17, 2010 9:44 PM EDT via mobile reply actions
Sheed in the playoffs is money.
When it really counts, that dude is all heart. If he wants to do the PJ Brown thing, fine by me. Just be in reasonable shape and let’s go.
I specializes in grammar fail.
Agree 100%
His playoff performance last year was just great and he played with alot of hear and guts especially considering he played with a bad back.
Hell all he gave us was a half season anyway. Be ready for the playoffs sheed we could find a spot for you
by CelticsHoorah!!! on Aug 17, 2010 10:07 PM EDT reply actions
PJ Brown, but more talented...
If at this stage all he wants is a championship playoff run, I say he’s welcome here. That’s all he really wanted last season anyway. Maybe his mental and physical batteries will be charged by Feb. and I think he has the potential to step in and be a game changer in the playoffs. If he’s motivated he’s a lot better than PJ Brown, who could argue with that?
It's interesting. By praising Tony Allen and calling for another wing, Pierce is putting both Daniels and Wafer on notice.
Someone has to step up defensively from the bench,
Sheed is NOT coming back...you can "bank" it!
Wyc & DA will see to that.
If all 4 bigs are healthy
by February, I guess I’ll buy this.
Otherwise, assuming the league allows it, and we have the roster space, not sure who else we’d be getting that’s better around that point. I mean, even if we trade, assuming that’s BBD, we may infact NEED Sheed at that point.
Rule of thumb...
If a team finds itself in “need of Sheed”….they are already hopelessly doomed!!
well right now, the lakers are older than the celtics as a team
so if old wins, let’s do it!
hahahha.
why don’t you try the top 8 rotation players and give that a whirl.
by lakersbluedevil on Aug 18, 2010 10:34 AM EDT up reply actions
How about
You go ahead and do that legwork and post the numbers if you feel it is relevant.
by King Coebra on Aug 18, 2010 10:45 AM EDT up reply actions
laugh all you want, but the lakers are old, no way to deny it.
veterans win championships in the NBA, period.
Kobe Bryant is 31, Pierce is 32, not much a difference there.
We have a young superstar PG in Rondo (24) and some young solid starters and/or rotation players in Perkins (25) and Davis (24). Not to mention Nate (26) and Avery Bradley (19). We are not nearly as old as people want to make it out to be.
Don’t Forget the lakers also have Fisher at 36 years old. Odom and Gasol are not spring chickens either at 30, they are only 2 years behind Pierce, and Gasol has a ton of international bball milage on him.
Experience and veteran knowledge and veteran job security is what makes championship teams, so stop with the “we are too old” garbage.
Don't forget Ron Artest
He’ll be 31 in November.
Their both old, yes.
Fisher, 36
Bryant, 31
Gasol, 30
Bynum, 22
Artest, 30
Average age = 30
Rondo, 24
Pierce, 32
Allen, 35
Garnett, 34
Perkins, 25
Average age = 30
If w’ere just talking about the starting five. Now obviously change Perkins for JO, and the celtics First 5 are a bit older. Team averages the Celtics are actually younger, coming in at 27.4 compared to 28.4 for the Lakers.
Source: ESPN.com
http://espn.go.com/nba/teams/roster?team=bos&sort=age
http://espn.go.com/nba/teams/roster?team=lal&sort=age
9 Players
9 of the Lakers top 12 are 30+ including all of their offseason adds.
Ratliff, Fisher, Bryant, Barnes, Odom, Gasol, Artest, Blake and Walton are all in their 30s already. Bynum, with his annual injury history is the oldest 22 year old in the history of the planet. Brown and Vujacic round out the roster.
by King Coebra on Aug 18, 2010 12:45 PM EDT up reply actions
I think it has to do with the age of the players who are expected to do the heavy lifting...
Bryant is 31, Gasol is 30, Artest is 30, and Bynum is 22.
Allen is 35, Garnett is 34, Pierce is 32, and Perkins is 25.
THAT’S why the Celtics are called “old.”
The AVERAGE age doesn’t really mean that much. On the other hand, labels like “old” don’t mean a whole lot, either.
by Stanford_Fan on Aug 18, 2010 11:36 PM EDT up reply actions
Rondo's definitely a "heavy lifter"
Not sure how you leave him out of that if we’re talking about who’s doing the “heavy lifting” either way, both teams are old. And ya, it doesn’t mean a damn thing.
I left him out by making a complete brain fart....
And I couldn’t delete the post and add him back. But you’re absolutely right…
by Stanford_Fan on Aug 19, 2010 6:10 PM EDT up reply actions
Completely predictable
But will he be in any kind of basketball shape?
and this is a good thing?
nah, you make the lakers with payton and malone look perky and young at that point. You’d want to use whatever tiny salary that he’d command to get someone who can actually get minutes with doc.
by lakersbluedevil on Aug 18, 2010 10:34 AM EDT reply actions
I guess it means nothing to mention this then...
But Sheed was supposed to have a 3 year contract, with a player option in his 3rd year I believe.
It’s easy to say minutes won’t be available for him come February in August…lol?
I personally would love to have the big fella back
but I wouldn’t plan on it. I expect he really, truly is retired.
As for what kind of shape he is / would be in, it is interesting to note the words from the Globe article:
Wallace looked to be in great shape, his customary wooly hair cut short and he was coer©ed by the camp kids to launch 3-pointers so they could receive Pierce “The Truth” t-shirts.
After a few misses, Wallace drained a 25-footer, only to be nearly knocked down by a hundred screaming kids. Wallace loved the attention, smiling as much he had during the entire Celtics season.
Wallace pulling a PJ Brown and coming back to join the team in February is fine with me...
A front line of KG – Perk – Jermaine – Shaq – Baby and Rasheed would give the C’s a hell of a tough front court to deal with heading into the playoffs.
Though it would be the oldest it would also be the most deepest and talented front court in the NBA also.
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