Rasheed Wallace helped transform the Detroit Pistons from contenders to NBA champions last month. Now, he’s coming back for more.
The unrestricted free agent has agreed to a five-year contract worth $57 million, two sources told the Associated Press on Wednesday.
One of the league sources, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, expected Wallace to sign the deal on Thursday. Wallace is to meet with reporters Friday morning at The Palace of Auburn Hills.
Wallace, who made $17 million last season, was acquired in a three-team deal on Feb. 19 to put the Pistons over the top.
And he did.
They were a good team without Wallace, ranking among the top teams in the Eastern Conference with a 34-22 record. They were 20-6 in the regular season and 16-7 in the playoffs after adding him.
Wallace’s statistics were not always impressive–he averaged 13 points, 7.8 rebounds and two blocks in the playoffs. But the 6-foot-11-inch forward made a stingy defense one of the best in league history and an average offense better.
Ronald Dupree signed a two-year contract with the Pistons on Wednesday. The forward averaged 6.2 points in 47 games with the Bulls last season.
Sixer’s mysterious malady
Todd MacCulloch’s mysterious foot disorder has cost him the last 1 1/2 seasons with Philadelphia. A comeback doesn’t seem likely. “I’m hoping for a miracle, really,” he said.
MacCulloch has Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease, a genetic disorder that disrupts his balance and causes problems with his feet. The 76ers center had surgery in January on his left foot to free a crushed nerve.
“They said give it six months and I’ve done that and it hasn’t really helped,” he said. “I’m not anywhere near feeling like I can go through training camp.”
Layups
Former NBA player and coach Darrell Walker was hired as an assistant to New Orleans Hornets coach Byron Scott. Walker played on the Bulls’ 1993 championship team and had short stints as head coach of the Raptors and Wizards. . . . With top draft pick Dwight Howard playing the same position, Orlando Magic power forward Drew Gooden is preparing for a trade. “I’m on the trading block, no question about that,” Gooden said. “I’m on the Magic roster now, but I also understand this business.”
