NBA Rumors: Why the New York Knicks Must Pursue Rasheed Wallace

Rasheed Wallace is entertaining thoughts of an NBA return, according to Yahoo's Adrian Wojnarowski, and the New York Knicks are one of the teams that should be contacting the veteran about a contract. The Knicks are currently under-achieving despite the seventh-highest payroll in the NBA.

Mike D'Antoni is in trouble, and the Knicks can't hope that the team will gel and Baron Davis will transform this team into serious contenders. Wallace doesn't completely change the world either, but it's a start.

Here is what he brings to the table:

Championship Experience

Can a team that is set up to win now, ever have enough of it?

The Knicks have only one player on the roster that has championship experience.

Wallace has won an NBA championship and the Knicks need players who've actually won on an NBA level.

He would be respected in the Knicks locker room and as a coach on the floor.

Three-Point Shooting

Wallace can shoot the three, at least he could the last time we saw him.

He has always created matchup problems with his ability to pull big men away from the basket.

He could possibly play a role similar to the one Channing Frye played for Mike D'Antoni in Phoenix.

Wallace won't be able to play big minutes, but hitting a clutch three in a big game is something Wallace is familiar with.

Defense, Defense, Defense

The Knicks need as many on-court defensive influences as they can get. Wallace is worth a veteran's minimum contract for his play on that end of the floor alone.

The Knicks have far too many lapses in the back end of their defense and Wallace is a tough post defender.

Wallace is a low-risk, high-reward signing for the Knicks.