Rasheed Wallace's agent, Bill Strickland, said Friday that if the power forward comes out of retirement, it will be to play for the Knicks and no other team.
"That's my understanding, based on his relationship with Coach (Mike) Woodson," Strickland said by phone.
A team source said Wallace has not yet signed a deal, but All-Star forward Carmelo Anthony said Wallace took his Knicks physical on Thursday.
Anthony said Thursday he has been inspired by his veteran teammates, such as Jason Kidd -- who has taken the leadership role in pre-training camp workouts -- Marcus Camby and Kurt Thomas, whom he said are all working harder than ever in the gym.
Anthony included Wallace, who has been training recently at the Knicks' practice facility.
"We go up there and you'd be surprised the work that the older guys put in, from Camby to Jason Kidd to Rasheed," Anthony said. "The work that the guys are putting in, you would think that they were still in their early 30s or something like that."
Wallace, 38, spent the majority of his 15-year career with Portland and Detroit, winning a championship ring with the Pistons in 2004. Woodson was an assistant coach for that team.
Wallace last played for Boston during the 2009-10 season, when the Celtics lost to the Lakers in the NBA Finals.
While waiting on Wallace's decision, the Knicks have reached out to representatives for free-agent swingman Josh Howard, according to a league source. If the Knicks sign Wallace, they'll technically have one guaranteed roster spot left open -- and that could go to Howard, Kenyon Martin or Chris Copeland, who is currently signed to a non-guaranteed contract.
But a source close to the team told ESPNNewYork.com the final roster spot might not go to any of the three.
"I don't think Chris Copeland makes the team. He is good, though," the source said. "Howard will go elsewhere. Kenyon might be an option once he realizes he won't get more than the minimum."
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