ORLANDO, Fla. -- Rasheed Wallace is taking his time in officially announcing his retirement. That's just fine with the Boston Celtics.Celtics coach Doc Rivers said Monday that Wallace is assisting the team by not filing retirement papers any time soon.
"He's trying to help us out by waiting, which is good,'' Rivers said of Wallace, due to make $6.32 million next season and $6.79 million in 2011-12. "He's still our property so we can use that in a trade or something. He's doing a great thing for us.''
While there has been some speculation Wallace might not retire now that Rivers has assured that he will return to the Celtics and star forward Paul Pierce is on the verge of signing a new contract, Rivers said the chances are "very little or none'' the forward will play next season.
Boston general manager Danny Ainge, joining Rivers and the Celtics at the AirTran Airways Pro Summer League, said that "as far as I know'' Wallace will retire. He also spoke of Wallace holding off to help the Celtics, saying, "We're hoping that will happen. A piece (for the team to use in a possible deal).''
There's no chance of the Celtics getting under the salary cap so it's not as if Wallace's retirement will help them there. And with Rivers saying Wallace won't be paid for the remaining two seasons of his contract if he doesn't play, there doesn't seem to be any talk of a buyout.
Foremost for the Celtics now is re-signing free-agent guard Ray Allen. Ainge said an offer has been made to Allen, 35, but he would not reveal terms nor speculate about what Allen might do. But asked if he believed it was an attractive offer for Allen, Ainge said, "Yes, it is.''
Rivers is hopeful Allen will re-sign but said he hasn't gotten any hints.
"I've talked to him,'' Rivers said. "We talk a lot. But that's all you can do.''
Chris Tomasson can be reached at tomasson@fanhouse.com or on Twitter@christomassn
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