The New York Knicks, already the oldest team in the league, just got a little older this week with the addition of power forward/center Rasheed Wallace. The Knicks and Wallace agreed to non-guaranteed contract for the veterans’ minimum of $1.7 million for one season. Wallace ended his retirement to play for the Knicks, last playing in the NBA during the 2009-2010 season for the Boston Celtics.
“I’m not expecting to come in here to average 25 points. I’m not expecting to come in here to average 35, 40 minutes,” said Wallace. “I’m not one to complain. I know I’m not the number 1 guy here. I’m willing to accept my role.” Wallace is expected to help the Knicks off the bench as a backup to starting power forward Amar’e Stoudemire.
Wallace will add another dimension to an already deep Knicks team, as he is an above average post defender and can knock down an outside jump shot. His veteran leadership will also be coveted, as the goal for the Knicks front office this off-season was to surround Stoudemire, Carmelo Anthony and Tyson Chandler with veterans as the Knicks are in win-now mode.
Part of the reason Wallace came out of retirement and joined the Knicks was the feeling that the Knicks could win this season. Wallace’s agent, Bill Strickland, also added that the relationship that Wallace has with Knicks head coach Mike Woodson made it an easy choice for him, as Wallace was either going to join the Knicks or stay retired.
Woodson and Wallace go back to the 2003-2004 season, when Woodson was an assistant on Larry Brown’s Detroit Pistons staff that won the NBA championship. After some coaxing and convincing from Woodson, Wallace decided he would give it a go in late August and started making appearances at the Knicks training center in 
Greenburgh,New York.
What exactly will be Wallace’s role with the Knicks people will ask, and that is still up in the air. “It’s not like we’re looking at a player who’s going to play a lot of minutes,” Woodson said. “He’s an insurance policy and (a) what-if.”
As stated earlier, Wallace should see some minutes as the backup to Stoudemire and can also fill in at center when needed. Wallace will have some catching up to do, being away from the NBA for two seasons and playing only in North Carolina Pro-Am leagues. Here is a video of Wallace at the pro-am, but please be advised, the video contains strong language and is not suitable for all ages.
“We’re not looking to have Rasheed play 40 minutes a night…. He’s a veteran player who knows what it takes to get himself in game-ready shape and we have high confidence that he’ll be ready to go when it’s time,” said Stoudemire when asked about the signing.
It’s basically a low risk, medium reward situation. As long as he keeps his temper to a minimum, he should be ok, don’t need a 5-10 minute a game player getting 1-2 techs while on the court. His signing does however make the Knicks the oldest team EVER in NBA history!!! 32.9 years old average? Will age, experience out do youth – athleticism? Time will tell…
Love this signning. Everyone is so scared about our age but The Celtics, Mavs, Spurs, and Lakers all had veterans to help prime players win championships. Sheed is a solid post defender and can knock down the 3 ball. He brings in toughness which we have lacked since the 90′s Knicks. He will instantly become a fan favorite in NYC.
He will not be asked to do much with how the roster is currently set up, but if bombs badly or cannot get in shape, the Knicks can cut him and just move on. It is a low risk- medium-to-high reward move for the Knicks