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.

From A. Sherrod Blakely:

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."