Rasheed Wallace retires

[theremedy360]

The Boston Celtics' expected rebuilding began Thursday when veteran forward Rasheed Wallace officially decided to retire after 15 NBA seasons, a league source said.

Wallace's retirement had been expected after the Celtics' seven-game loss to the Lakers in the Finals, but Boston had held out some hope that the 35-year-old would change his mind with a few days' contemplation.

Wallace signed a three-year, $18.9 million contract with Boston last summer, turning down offers from Orlando and San Antonio after the Celtics made a team-wide push to recruit him, sending Coach Doc Rivers, GM Danny Ainge and forwards Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce to Wallace's home to ask him to play in Boston. He left more than $12 million on the table by opting to retire.

Wallace was not in great shape at the beginning of the season, but saved his best play for late in the regular season and in the playoffs, stepping in at center when starter Kendrick Perkins was injured and could not go in Game 7.

A controversial figure who amassed numerous technical fouls in his career amid numerous run-ins with referees, Wallace averaged 14.6 points and 6.7 rebounds in his career, which included stops in Washington, Portland, Atlanta (for just one game before he was traded to Detroit), the Pistons and Celtics. He was the key acquisition in Detroit's run to the 2004 NBA championship, teaming with center Ben Wallace to form a nearly impregnable halfcourt defense in the paint.

['EclipZe]

A shame, he could be useful for another season, but hey, cap space!

[OG Hack Wilson]

i prefer the cap space in the regular season



but dude was playing his ass off in the playoffs for his small role

[theremedy360]

I do find it weird that he signed a three year deal and chose to retire, wonder how different things would be if Boston had won.

[Teddy Roosevelt]

I do find it weird that he signed a three year deal and chose to retire, wonder how different things would be if Boston had won.

He would still retire and go out on top. He told Doc Rivers before game 7 that he felt he was playing his last game. He is just physically and mentally exhausted.

[7even]

kodos to him for not being a money leeching bastard who extorts a buy-out or sits that shit out with fake injuries and antics

[TraceOneInfinite]

I think Rasheed was an asshole when it came to the refs, but other than that he seemed like a real cool dude.  Kind of represents that old 90's hip-hop generation I still remember when he played at North Carolina.  Anyway, what can you say but that the guy is a winner.  You might see him and think he has a bad attitude but the fact that he played on championship teams, and came up big in big games, does say that the guy was a team player who played to win.  So props to Rasheed and I'm sad to him go.

[you gon always be my latin queen bitch]

his reaction when he would go off was some of the funniest shit ever...him runnin around was dope...lol

[J$crILLa]

good ball player. hate to see him leave the game.

[LooN3y]

one of my fav bigs because hes hard in the paint and he can shoot 3's


sad to see the big man go, laters man i dont know how sad ima be when kobe retires.

[ThaBadGuy]

one of my fav bigs because hes hard in the paint and he can shoot 3's


sad to see the big man go, laters man i dont know how sad ima be when kobe retires.

no homo?