Knicks could bring Rasheed Wallace back into our lives

Apparently, Wallace has already been working out with the Knicks during voluntary sessions this past week, according to the Post’s Marc Berman. Amar’e Stoudemire, whose minutes figure to lessen a tad with ‘Sheed’s addition, seemed optimistic. “I don’t know if he signed yet but he has looked good from the time he has been with us,” Stoudemire told The Post yesterday during his visit to Rikers Island to speak with adolescent prisoners. The Post also reported that Tyson Chandler also approved of the addition.

Overall, the 6’11 veteran has played 15 seasons with five different clubs, averaging 14.6 points and 6.7 rebounds per game. Wallace made it to four All-Star games, and has the dubious distinction of being the NBA’s all-time leader in technical fouls, with 304.

Rasheed Wallace, who retired after the 2009-10 season, initiated contract talks with the New York Knicks and set up a workout with the club, his agent told Nate Taylor of the New York Times on Monday. The team and Wallace haven’t yet agreed to a deal, which would need to be really quite cheap given the Knicks’ salary cap restraints.

Wallace last played for the Boston Celtics. He’d joined the C’s in 2009 on a mid-level deal, but cut it short to end his career after Boston’s NBA Finals loss in 2010. Heavy rumors last season suggested a deal with the Knicks or L.A. Lakers was possibly, but Sheed never returned. New York has a veteran frontcourt led by Amar’e Stoudemire, Tyson Chandler, Kurt Thomas and Marcus Camby. Wallace is 38, younger than Thomas and Camby.

If it is indeed true that the Knicks are considering adding Wallace, then New York would be adding to an already long and experienced roster. As pointed out by Posting and Toasting, SB Nation’s New York Knicks blog, the 38-year-old Rasheed Wallace would only be the fourth-oldest player on the New York roster were he to sign today.

During his long NBA career, Wallace was a controversial and often-criticized player for his aggression and propensity for technical fouls. Wallace is currently the NBA’s all-time leader in technical fouls with 304, and set the single-season mark for technical fouls with 41 in 2000-01. In spite of that, though, Wallace is a four-time NBA All-Star and was an important part of the Detroit Pistons’ 2004 NBA Championship team.