It’s up to Rasheed.
The Knicks are willing to take a gamble on 6-foot-11 power forward Rasheed Wallace, who retired two seasons ago after finishing a disappointing one-year stint as a Celtic.
But Wallace, who worked out with Knicks players Saturday at their training facility, still has not decided whether he is willing to dedicate himself to getting himself back in NBA shape at age 38. Clearly, he’s nowhere close now.
Knicks coach Mike Woodson, who was on Larry Brown’s staff in 2004 when the Pistons won the title with Wallace as a linchpin, wants this to happen. The Knicks feel they have nothing to lose for the veteran’s minimum of $1.7 million.
According to Wallace’s agent, Bill Strickland, six teams have tried to get Wallace out of retirement over the past two years — including the Knicks last season — and all have failed.
“He will make this decision on his own,’’ Strickland told The Post. “Rasheed’s his own man. This time I’ll be more a facilitator than an advisor. As he’s told me, he’s a grown man and he’s got this.”
Strickland said he has not yet spoke contract terms with Knicks assistant general manager Allan Houston, who also is represented by Strickland.
“I haven’t had any formal discussions with the Knicks about a contract,’’ Strickland said.
Wallace was a technical-foul machine during his prime years, but he was one of the game’s best post defenders during his Pistons career. Wallace has often been credited with being the final piece to the Pistons’ championship puzzle. He has been living in the Detroit area and Durham, N.C., since retiring.
Wallace, a former Tar Heel, has a reputation of being surly with the media and that could lead to embarrassing confrontations in the world’s media capital. James Dolan’s Knicks probably aren’t worried about that — their sole goal is winning a championship this season before the window closes.
“People talk about how volatile he is, but players who’ve played with him always talk about what a good teammate he’s been,” Strickland said.
There were hints the Celtics made a play for Wallace earlier this offseason to help fill their big-man shortage, though he fell out of shape during his one season in Beantown.
The Knicks already have a trio of excellent defensive big men in Tyson Chandler, who turns 30 next week, Marcus Camby, 38, and Kurt Thomas, 40. But the Knicks are worried about the durability of their elderly bigs and Amar’e Stoudemire. They want to be as deep as possible to prevent the injury nightmare that occurred in the playoffs against the Heat, and Woodson cherishes veterans.
“When he left Portland, I was surprised at how much a student of the game he really was, knowing the rosters, the playing styles, when we looked at teams,’’ Strickland said. “He will decide what he wants to do.’’
* Shooting guru Dave Hopla soon will be named an instructor for the Knicks. Hopla, known for hitting 1,234 free throws in a row, listed himself as a Knicks assistant coach on his Twitter profile, then removed the title after a blog referenced it.