Bill Simmons recently mentioned that Ron Artest and Rasheed Wallace were bad deals for the Lakers and the Celtics.

I will touch more on the Ron Artest subject later - I do agree with Simmons.

However, I politely disagree with Mr. Simmons on the tender subject of Rasheed Wallace. His professed manlove of Brian Scalabrine seems to cloud his better judgement. Mr. Simmons takes the time to throw in a Scalabrine quip every so often - taking time to ensure the reader knows his name. (P.S. - Dear Brian Scalabrine, please take the time to thank Mr. Simmons for helping make your name more recognizable among the basketball world. The first time I ever heard of you was reading a SkyMagazine ad on your house decorations.) Granted, Scalabrine may seem to have that good-guy love going for him, as crowds do cheer and feel pity for him as if he were Michael Sera from Superbad or Jason Segel in Forgetting Sarah Marshall. He might also have that good team chemistry thing going for him too - as in he doesn't have enough talent to even threaten anyone else for playing time, except for maybe Mikki Moore, who only is in the NBA solely due to his abnormal height (7'0).

Many talent evaluators seem to miss out on the fact that being ridiculously tall does not make you ridiculously good at basketball. Think acting - really attractive stars can make really atrocious actors (Tara Reid, most soap operas). Take some recent drafts: Sam Bowie (Okay, not so recent), 2004: Rafael Araujo (taken before Andre Iguodala), Pavel Podkolzin (almost taken by Don Nelson instead of Devin Harris), 2003: Darko Milicic (taken before Carmelo Anthony, Chris Bosh, Dwyane Wade).

Rasheed Wallace does not fit into this 7'0 category - those gifted vertically, but basketball-challenged. Although I have never been a big fan of Rasheed Wallace, who has much basketball talent, but seems to drift away during games and launches too many 3-pointers ala Josh Smith. Let's take a look at Rasheed Wallace's stats for the 2008-2009 season.

In 32.2 minutes, he averaged 12.0 points a game shooting 41.94%, collecting 7.4 rebounds, 1.3 blocks, .94 steals, 1.4 assists, and .9 turnovers.

Brian Scalabrine averaged 3.5 points a game shooting 42.10%, collecting 1.3 rebounds, .26 blocks, .18 steals, .5 assists, and .3 turnovers in 12.9 minutes.

Mikki Moore averaged 4.8 points a game shooting 60.0%, collecting 4.4 rebounds, .2 blocks, .2 steals, 1 assist, and .9 turnovers in 19.0 minutes.

So let's break this down realistically: combined, Mikki Moore and Brian Scalabrine (the two players Wallace most likely will replace) average a combined 31.9 minutes. Add in a semi-healthy Kevin Garnett (who merits minutes even if he isn't completely healthy) and a hopefully returning Glen Davis, Wallace should average around 20-25 minutes.

Wallace's per25 minute stats are: 9.3 points shooting 41.94%, 5.75 rebounds, 1.01 blocks, .73 steals, 1.09 assists, and .70 turnovers.

Brian Scalabrine's per25 minute stats are: 6.78 points shooting 42.10%, 2.52 rebounds, .50 blocks, .35 steals, .97 assists, and .58 turnovers.

Mikki Moore's per25 minute stats are: 6.32 points shooting 60.0%, 5.79 rebounds, .26 blocks, .26 steals, 1.32 assistss, and 1.18 turnovers.

Wallace's stats are definitely better than Scalabrine and Moore, and although Wallace may be knocked for being an below-average rebounder for his position, his job is to create more space (he shoots 3s at a better clip than Moore and at a comparable clip to Scalabrine). He effectively defends better than Scalabrine, and is a better low post presence.

Although Wallace may be on the decline (he's 35), some of his statistical decline this year can be attributed to Detroit's poor managing - by replacing Billups with Iverson, and surrounding Wallace with 3 ballstoppers. Iverson is the slasher who needs the ball to thrive, while Stuckey is a shooting guard masquerading as a point guard. These 3 guards (Rip Hamilton included) simply do not have the court vision and distribution skills that Billups possesses.

Rasheed Wallace is often toted as the savior of Boston's championship chances, but I disagree. He simply is an upgrade over a position that Boston does need depth at, as Kendrick Perkins' uncanny tendency to morph into a foul machine ala Greg Oden simply leaves Boston thin in the frontcourt. Wallace will provide extra depth and considerably improves Boston's bench, which until now was lacking a imposing physical presence at backup center. In light of the recent moves by other championship-caliber teams, Boston will need nothing short of a miracle: Kevin Garnett's complete health, and probably another veteran or 2- one who can play the role of James Posey such as Keith Bogans, Juan Dixon, or Luther Head, or the rapid improvement of Bill Walker; and of course - a backup point guard such as Tyronn Lue, or Jason Hart - who should all be available for a contract near the veteran's minimum.