'Sheed on Way in, Steph on Way Out, Big Baby Situation, and More

(Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)

If he does somehow come back, I actually think the Celtics could use him.  You have to remember this about last season—he was coming off a year and a half without basketball when he made his return last year. 

He was rusty, out of shape, and hesitant trying to fit in with the defending world champs.  Give Steph a year of training camp and I think he might turn some heads next season. 

There have been some rumors about the Celtics in talks to acquire Rasheed Wallace, a talented but controversial big man. Do you think they should and what would he bring to the table? – John  (MA)

John, I’ve actually written an article about the possibility of the combustible combination of Rasheed and KG.  However, that one’s more of a funny article describing the personalities of the two stars rather than discussing the effect Wallace will have on the Celtics if he signs.

As a player, Wallace is exactly what the C’s need.  Last season, they sorely lacked a center to come off the bench and give them solid defensive minutes.  Leon Powe and Glen Davis were both undersized power forwards, yet they still had to guard centers on many occasions last year and, of course, struggled. 

Mikki Moore and Brian Scalabrine were, well, Mikki Moore and Brian Scalabrine.  Neither of them will probably ever be a rotation player on a championship team, and both lack what it takes to be consistent low-post defenders.

Rasheed, on the other hand, is a proven commodity on both ends of the floor.  He will be able to guard any power forward or center in the NBA.  He is a very good post defender and a tough rebounder.  Offensively, he will step out and hit a jumper, but can also be very effective scoring on the blocks. 

I’ve heard more than a few people worried about how the addition of Wallace would impact team chemistry, but Wallace is a proven winner and an unselfish player.  I think he would fit right in with the Celtics, who care about nothing but winning ball games.

The Celtics have their own power forward they have yet to resign.  Glen Davis just averaged 16 point and 6 rebounds for the playoffs, and he’s only 23 years old.  Why are the Celtics so focused on signing Rasheed Wallace? – Gary (Billerica, MA)

The Celtics are so singularly focused, it seems, on signing Rasheed Wallace because they realize how much his abilities mesh with their team.  Glen Davis had a great year, and is a young, up-and-coming player, but his shortcomings really hurt the Celtics last year.  He isn’t a great low-post defender, and can be scored over by any decent big man.

Because Big Baby isn’t a good matchup for a lot of people, it really hurt the Celtics when he was forced to guard Rashard Lewis or other perimeter power forwards.  Wallace will make the Celtics a far better defensive team, and defensively is how the Celtics win games.

Big Baby will be a productive scorer in this league for a long time to come, but his deficiencies on the glass and matching up with certain players haunted the Celtics at times last year. 

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