Sure looks like it out there. Dude has been en fuego the past 2 games. I wonder how much loyalty Rudy and CD have to him as far as being on the team next year. It's nice when he gets in a groove, because the guy can really go off. On the other side of that, he is really streaky and can easily go the other way going 0-6 or something. Do we want to resign Walt next season? If not, then who will the Rockets look at signing next season? (or do we stay with our current SF's) And what is the deal with him holding up the "ok" sign every time he nails a trey?
I think Walt is holding up three fingers whenever he hits a trey... As for re-signing him, I think the words "hell" and "no" come to mind. His occassional hot shooting night doesn't make up for his lack of defense, his shooting slumps that last for weeks at a time, and his piss poor ball handling...
A-Train is on the money. If he plays well in every game for the rest of this season, it's still too little for what he gave the Rockets over the full length of his contract. NFW should he be resigned. If he can only be motivated by a contract extension (apparently true), sign him to a bunch of ten days then release him.
Although your intentions are good, Woofer, a team has to either sign a player for the remainder of a season or release him after two ten day contracts... Hell, would we have signed Moochie to that huge contract if we could sign him to a bunch of ten days?
As much as everyone wants to see him go, I'll bet my reputation (such as it is) that the Rockets will try to re-sign him.
JV, I could see the Rockets snatching him up for the vet's min., but more than that? What do you think? As I've said before, I think Walt would be great for the Rocks in a Bullard-type role. Bench player with limited expectations, great locker-room guy to have around. I'd be willing to pay him a little for that (albeit, a little). And you know he could go off for 20pt games once in awhile, and be the difference in a few wins.
Walt will not sign for the veteran's minimum. He'll be 32 in April, so it's not like he's over the hill or anything, and he still has a decent jump shot. I think he can finagle (did I just use that word?) a team into giving him a $2-$2.5 million/year deal, just not with us. He basically serves the same purpose as Glen Rice, except that Rice can occassionally post up a defender... Of course, he'll probably burn us for 35 when he plays against us next season...
I was being facetious about the consecutive ten days. But I wish they could do that. Walt may not be over the hill but he's already passed his prime. He had his best season as a rookie and has been sliding downhill ever since.
I really hope the Rockets do not sign Walt next season. However since he has been back, he has played very well, but only because he is playing for a contract. I am impressed with his--no hesitation--driving ability since he has come off the injured list, but as you can see, he still gets stripped easily by defenders when he tries to drive the ball. That is a horrible flaw in his game, and the biggest reason why the Rockets should not sign him. As a defender, I would always prefer him to drive because he cannot dribble that well anyway. Get rid of him.
We can always count on Walt to turn it up a notch when the team is completely out of the playoff picture.
I don't think Walt will make the minimum next year, be he won't pull in $5 million either. I think somewhere between 2 and 3 million is fair. And, I think the Rockets would be willing to pay that. He is apparently well integrated with the core of the team, so I doubt they'll leave him out in the cold. They may get outbid (though I doubt it), but they'll try. As for, him playing well because it's a contract year, I think that's bull. He's not the sort of guy whose game vacillates due to effort (a la Cato), it vacillates depending on how his shot falls (a la John Starks). Right now, his shot is falling. I hope he keeps it up.
<B>I don't think Walt will make the minimum next year, be he won't pull in $5 million either. I think somewhere between 2 and 3 million is fair. And, I think the Rockets would be willing to pay that. He is apparently well integrated with the core of the team, so I doubt they'll leave him out in the cold. They may get outbid (though I doubt it), but they'll try.</B> I agree with this. I think you'll see Walt on the Rockets next year. As for playing for the contract, I don't think so. Walt consistently works pretty hard on the court. He may not always play <I>well</I>, but I do think he plays pretty <I>hard</> -- effort is the thing that would increase if you were playing for a contract.
I dont see the reason for all the Walt bashing. He was the reason we won against the suns the other night and he was the only one doing anything right against the lakers. When he plays well, it usually translates into a win for the rockets.
A-men I would rather we sign plyers who hit shots under preassure. Not when it's totally meaningless.
