Every morning, we compile the links of the day and dump them here... highlighting the big storyline. Because there's nothing quite as satisfying as a good morning dump.
Rasheed Wallace is contemplating a comeback to the NBA, league sources told Yahoo! Sports.
Wallace, who retired after 15 seasons in 2010, has been working out and probing some close league friends about possible destinations to sign for the rest of the season, sources said.
At 6-foot-11, Wallace, 37, had been one of the most versatile and talented power forwards of his era. One league source who has talked with Wallace recently describes him as “serious” about a return to the NBA this season. Nevertheless, no teams contacted by Yahoo! Sports reported that they had any contact with Wallace, or his representative.
When reached on Friday, Wallace’s agent, Bill Strickland, would only tell Yahoo! Sports’ Marc Spears: “As a veteran player, [Wallace] knows what it takes to be reinstated.”
We've joked (and cried) about Rasheed Wallace comeback speculation since 2010. But it was all conjecture, i.e. Bleacher Report garbage. Unfortunately, this is a credible report from one of the league's top basketball writers.
Can Rasheed Wallace really be in basketball shape? He was out-of-shape for most of the 2010 season. Had he cut back on those postgame Bud Lights, who knows what might have happened in the final minutes of Game 7.
If Rasheed Wallace is truly in shape, would Danny Ainge and Doc Rivers be interested? Their rebounding is so bad, they'd have to consider him.
And it's not a given that Sheed wants to come to Boston. He might have his sights on Miami (say goodbye Eddy Curry) or a Western conference contender.
On Page 2, Ainge is not afraid make major changes.
"I think that’s a fair assessment right now," Ainge said when asked whether the team looks too old. "Nine games into the season, yeah, that would be a fair assessment, but I’m hoping that guys are better than they’re playing and they have something left, but time will tell."
...
Asked if he would consider major changes to the roster if the Celtics don't show significant improvement between now and the trading deadline, Ainge acknowledged that he would have to consider the possibility.
"I’m committed to the guys as long as they’re going to perform, but they’ve got to perform," he said. "They’ve got to show they have an opportunity to win. Otherwise, I’ve got to at least make an effort to go another direction."
If the Celtics are still at the bottom of the Eastern conference playoff race, then I'm convinced Ainge will pull the trigger. Ray Allen will likely be a hot commodity.
He has to. A first round exit from the playoffs means nothing to him or the fans. We are not Miami. We don't hang anything but championship banners.
The rest of the links:
Herald - Celtics, Doc won't panic on record | Salem St. roots forged Tom Thibodeau | CSNNE - Despite struggles, Celtics earning All-Star votes | Globe - Gambling did not pay off | Bulls thumbnails | WEEI - Three things the Celtics must do better | ESPN Boston - 5-on-5 second unit | Quis confident despite obstacles | Elite team? Rivers believes in Cs |
