Reassigned in a flash

Wallace is sent to Utah affiliate

INDIANAPOLIS - Celtics forward Brandon Wallace is maintaining a very positive attitude about having to leave New England for the Wasatch Mountains.

The rookie was assigned to the Celtics' NBA Development League affiliate, the Utah Flash, and arrived in Salt Lake City yesterday afternoon after an early-morning flight from Boston. Wallace took part in the Flash's media day yesterday and is slated to practice for the first time today. It's uncertain how long the 6-foot-9-inch, 203-pounder will stay with Utah.

"It's a chance for me to get more work," said Wallace by phone. "Work on my skills, game situations. I think it will help me a lot."

Wallace was undrafted out of South Carolina and signed as a free agent with the Celtics July 10. The rookie has been guaranteed $100,000, and if he is on the roster Jan. 10, he will be guaranteed $427,163 this season.

The Flash are also affiliated with the Utah Jazz and have adopted a lot of the Jazz's principles. According to Flash general manager David Fredman, Danny Ainge said Wallace reminds him of Jazz forward Andrei Kirilenko, and Fredman would like the Flash to use Wallace in similar fashion. Jazz rookie forward Kyrylo Fesenko was also recently assigned to the Flash.

"We're ecstatic to have [Wallace]," Fredman said. "We think he will fit in well with what we need."

Said Celtics coach Doc Rivers, "It's always good when you get a chance to play."

The Flash are based in Orem, about a 30-minute drive from Salt Lake City. Wallace will still receive the NBA per diem of $109 on the road and first-class plane seats when available, while his D-League teammates not affiliated with an NBA team get $30 per diem on the road and coach plane tickets. The Flash play their lone preseason game Monday against Idaho in Burley, Idaho, and open regular-season play Nov. 24 at Anaheim.

"This is my first time out here," Wallace said. "It looks like a postcard."

Rivers said recently that Wallace, rookie forward Glen Davis, and rookie guard Gabe Pruitt were all considerations for the Flash. Davis and Pruitt have moved out of consideration, however, because of a lack of big men and guard depth.

"I don't think anyone wants to go down there, but they do understand," Rivers said.

House of pain

Celtics guard Eddie House sprained his left ankle with six minutes left in last night's 101-86 victory over the Pacers when he stepped on Jermaine O'Neal's foot. House left and didn't return, but he hopes to play against New Jersey tonight. "Real talk, if I can go I'm going," House said . . . O'Neal said he's not bothered that his name has been mentioned in trade rumors since the offseason, including ones involving the Nets, Lakers, and Celtics. Pacers president of basketball operations Larry Bird said they aren't talking trade anymore, but O'Neal, who is making $19.7 million this season, has no problems with being moved. "If that situation presents itself, then that's what it is," O'Neal said. "I told those guys this summer that if you feel like you need a situation that you can better this team, I'm all for it because they've given me the opportunity to really achieve some of the things that I wanted to achieve and also establish my name. It would be no hard feelings whatsoever."

One who knows

Pacers coach Jim O'Brien, the ex-Celtic mentor, said last week that Paul Pierce has been mistakenly viewed as a selfish ballplayer. "Paul is a guy that has no problem being an unselfish player," O'Brien said. "People sometimes misunderstand Paul because the last couple years he had to carry a big load. Paul would have loved people around to shoulder the load. It doesn't surprise me that he takes [newcomers Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen] in with open arms." . . . The starting time for the Jan. 12 game at Washington has been changed from 7 p.m. to 7:30. Georgetown, whose roster includes Rivers's son, Jeremiah, is slated to play Connecticut at the same venue, the Verizon Center, that afternoon at 2 . . . During a game at Minnesota last season, Pierce said he asked then-Timberwolves star Garnett, "Am I going to have to move to Minnesota or are you going to have to come to Boston?" Garnett answered, "However you want to do it." . . . Allen's old Sonics and Garnett's old Wolves are winless so far, while the Celtics are undefeated. "Isn't it ironic?" said Allen.