Wallace gets 3-year deal from Celtics

“I just think when you have Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen, and Paul Pierce, that made the biggest impression on him,’’ Rivers said. “Me and Danny and Wyc went and I did a lot of talking, but I don’t think anything I said swayed Rasheed Wallace. I thought the other thing is that we didn’t talk about but one thing, and that’s winning next year. We didn’t talk about getting along, you know, working it out. We made it clear, we’re trying to win another title and that’s the only reason we’re trying to put things together, and I think he liked that talk.’’

Wallace, his wife, Fatima, three sons, and daughter were expected to arrive in Boston yesterday.

“He’s extremely excited,’’ said Bill Strickland, Wallace’s agent. “We’ll see it [today].’’

Said Rivers, “Rasheed has won the title and he came close one other time, so clearly he wants to do that again. Most of the veteran free agents, they look at your team, and if you have a chance to win then I think you have a chance to get them. And I think that’s the reason, even over the Big Three. He looked at our team and he looked at the other teams and he liked our chances - and I hope he’s right.’’

Wallace, who helped Detroit win the 2004 championship and reach the Finals the next season, has averaged 15 points playing for four teams since entering the league in 1995. Wallace is a four-time All-Star, his last appearance in 2007-08 as a replacement for Garnett. Though Wallace’s career has been marked by controversy, the Celtics do not consider that a problem.

“All I know is KG, Ray, Paul, [Rajon] Rondo, everybody is excited to have him,’’ Ainge said. “We put a strong effort in to try to get him and feel very fortunate to have gotten him. He’ll be fun to watch. He’s a good fit for us, offensively, defensively; his personality fits with our guys.’’