Blurb from The News-Herald out of Ohio claims Rasheed Wallace asked for a buyout before this season to go to the Cavs.

“Sources say Pistons forward/center Rasheed Wallace asked for a buyout this year, but management declined. Some observers think the possible buyout would have been to join the Cavs. He’s an unrestricted free agent this summer and could be someone the Cavs covet — at the right price. He seems totally disinterested in this current series, but the 6-foot-11, 230-pounder still has something left in his tank.”

Dave Dial over at MLive did a little digging and can’t find any real proof of the rumor.

I don’t really know what to take from this. True or not, why are we hearing about it after the season? Someone is going to have a Need4Sheed but odds are it’s not going to be Detroit again.

UPDATE: Chris McCosky of the Detroit News sets things straight about this rumor.

Contrary to published reports out of Cleveland, Rasheed Wallace never approached Joe Dumars about a buyout.

Could you imagine? Here’s Wallace, struggling most of the season, missing 11 games with a calf injury, coming into Dumars’ office and saying, “Joe, I need you to buy me out so I can finish the season with the Cavs. You know, help LeBron get that ’ship.”

Sure, anything you want.

Wallace, as Dumars confirmed through e-mail Tuesday, wouldn’t be that bold, or stupid.

That said, one of Wallace’s running bits in the locker room was to wish out loud for a buyout. It started when the Pistons signed Chris Webber a couple years ago after he’d been bought out by Philadelphia.

Wallace would always say, “Damn, I wish somebody would buy me out.”

It was a joke. He was envious of Webber getting all his money from the 76ers and another check from the Pistons on top of it.

Now, the other part of the Cleveland report — that the Cavaliers will consider signing Wallace this summer — is true.

Cavaliers general manager Danny Ferry loves big men who can shoot from the perimeter. He would love to have Wallace spotted up when LeBron James draws double- and triple-teams.