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Detroit Pistons: 25 Best Players To Play For The Pistons

By Phil Watson

Oct 8, 2015; Auburn Hills, MI, USA; A general view of The Palace of Auburn Hills prior to the game between the Detroit Pistons and the Brooklyn Nets. Mandatory Credit: Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 8, 2015; Auburn Hills, MI, USA; A general view of The Palace of Auburn Hills prior to the game between the Detroit Pistons and the Brooklyn Nets. Mandatory Credit: Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports /
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AUBURN HILLS, MI – APRIL 26: Joe Smith #32 of the Cleveland Cavaliers and Rasheed Wallace #30 of the Detroit Pistons battle for rebounding position in Game Four of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals during the 2009 NBA Playoffs at the Palace of Auburn Hills on April 26, 2009 in Auburn Hills, Michigan. The Cavaliers won 99-78. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
AUBURN HILLS, MI – APRIL 26: Joe Smith #32 of the Cleveland Cavaliers and Rasheed Wallace #30 of the Detroit Pistons battle for rebounding position in Game Four of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals during the 2009 NBA Playoffs at the Palace of Auburn Hills on April 26, 2009 in Auburn Hills, Michigan. The Cavaliers won 99-78. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /

Rasheed Wallace. 17. player. 64. <strong>How acquired:</strong> Trade, Atlanta Hawks and Boston Celtics, Feb. 19, 2004.. C-PF.

Rasheed Wallace had only spent 10 days with the Atlanta Hawks when he was on the move again in February 2004.

The Detroit Pistons, in a three-team trade, got Wallace from the Hawks as well as Mike James from the Boston Celtics, while sending Bob Sura, Zeljko Rebraca and a 2004 first-round pick to Atlanta and shipping Chucky Atkins, Lindsey Hunter and a first-rounder in 2004 to the Celtics.

DET_17_WALLACE
DET_17_WALLACE /

It helped make the Pistons a champion for the third time.

Wallace settled into the power forward spot and provided stability and solid production.

In Detroit’s five-game triumph over the Los Angeles Lakers in the NBA Finals, Wallace averaged 13.0 points, 7.8 rebounds and 1.6 blocks in 30.2 minutes per game. shooting .453/3-for-12/14-for-18.

The Pistons were back in the NBA Finals in 2005, losing in seven games to the San Antonio Spurs. Wallace put up 10.9 points, 5.6 rebounds, 2.4 blocks and 2.0 steals in 32.7 minutes a night on .438/5-for-17/1-for-4 shooting.

Wallace was an All-Star for Detroit in 2006 and 2008.

In July 2009, he signed a three-year,  $18.9 million free-agent contract with the Celtics.

In parts of six seasons in Detroit, Wallace averaged 13.4 points, 7.2 rebounds, 1.6 blocks and 1.0 steals in 32.7 minutes per game, shooting .430/.348/.745.

An All-American at North Carolina as a sophomore, Wallace averaged 16.6 points and 8.2 points per game last season while helping the Tar Heels to the Final Four before opting to turn pro.

The Washington Bullets selected him with the fourth overall pick in the 1995 NBA Draft and he was a second team All-Rookie selected.

But in July 1996, Wallace was traded to the Portland Trail Blazers, where he emerged as a two-time All-Star, finishing third in the NBA in field-goal percentage in 1996-97 and fifth in 1999-2000.

In February 2004, he was traded to the Hawks.

Wallace announced his retirement in June 2010 and was waived by Boston in August of that year.

But in October 2012, he returned to the NBA, signing with the New York Knicks. He announced his retirement in April 2013, prior to the start of the playoffs.

Wallace, who spent the 2013-14 season as an assistant coach with the Pistons, is 38th in NBA history with 1,460 blocked shots.

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