Did he finally catch his groove? Is he more comfortable with the system now? Is it the playing time? Are they just now starting to pass him the ball where he wants it? Is Rudy encouraging him to keep shooting? Does it matter? Whatever the reason, Walt is going nuts. So here's the question, do we still trade him? Tough call either way. Can he continue to be amazing into next season? Is his adjustment period over, and now he's arrived? If so, he may be worth that contract we're always whining about. After all, he IS under contract. No way he can play the market on us. On the other hand, why not trade him NOW, why his value is up? What are the odds he's ever going to be on a tear like this again? And at the end of the season? Perfect timing. We unload his contract, and we just might get something more than junk in return. Me? I say trade him. I won't complain at all if he stays. But of the two choices, if we're ever going to trade him, it better be before next season. His value will never be higher. ------------------ "There are three kinds of lies: Lies, Damned Lies, and STATISTICS..." - Mark Twain -
i've got two words for you... TRADING DEADLINE ------------------ If all babies are pretty, how come their so many ugly people in the world? ----SIR CHARLES
<marquee><h2>TRADE HIS BUTT!!!!!!!!!!!!</h2></marquee> Without hesitation,without pause or waiting. If you have an offer of two eskimo pies and a used rake. Take it!! I do not buy into his resurgent offense and his (just below)average defensive showings. TRADE HIM PLEASE RUDY.His agent can read trade papers just like everyone else, and it had trade Walt all over it for the first 65 games. The last ten or so games he has been trying to earn the right to stay on the roster. He might have decided to do that .... oh ... say ... about fifty or sixty games or so. Sorry Charlie Tuna, we want fish with heart when it counts ... not self-serving contract players. We took a loss in getting rid of one of those self-centered quitters last year when we sent Pippen to Portland. SeeYa Sucker!!!!! ------------------ [This message has been edited by popeye (edited April 12, 2000).]
Hey popeye, What teams do you think are interested in williams and do you see him being moved in the draft? ------------------ President of the Moochie Norris FAN CLUB
I'll agree with popeye, except I'll be nicer about it. I like Walt. It's just too bad that he couldn't perform when we needed him to. I would even want the Rockets to keep him on the roster for next season, because he seems to play well with the young nucleus we have.... on one condition. He cut his contract in half. And, since we know that isn't possible, then I hope we can move him to a team that wants him and that he wants to play for. I'll probably follow his carrer much more closely from here on out, but I don't want his contract bringing us down. ------------------ I have a dream.........his name's Hakeem.
I don't think the guy has just started trying the last ten games or so. I complained about him all season long when he wasn't coming through but I also like him and think he has just found his groove. Who is to say he won't go back into a funk next year? I can understand that question completely. I guess all that matters is what Rudy thinks, and I think he wants Walt unless he has to trade him for something bigger. ------------------
I agree, Walt is impressing a lot of people with his play lately. At least one of those people must be a GM. Find that person and trade Walt to him before the stagecoach turns back into a pumpkin.
TRADE HIM WHILE HE IS HOT Popeye is Correct His recent resurgence does not excuse the rest of the season. [Honestly My heart says give him one more season . .. but my head says we can do better for cheaper.] Rocket River ------------------
<marquee><h2> HE'S STRONG TO THE FINISH CAUSE HE EATS HIS SPINACH </h2> </marquee> I also agree with the guy with the anorexic girlfreind. We could get a high return for wiz after his late season showing. Maybe package him with Cato and Drew for Candyman and Odom. ------------------ "The bigger they are, the worse they smell."
Everybody on the team sucked in November. Walt, Cuttino, Shandon, Cato, and yes, Stevie. It's called chemistry you geniuses. They are all very good together now , and you want to trade the Mighty Gizzard just for the sake of trading him when the time is right? I say let em play together , and keep Moochie and Hakeem too, at least through next year. Rudy said he is already 70 games ahead of schedule on rebuilding- which he is. So why break up that starting lineup now. Plus-We still got at least 1 good first round pick and 4.5 Mill. and Drew, Pig, Massengil, etc. for trade bait. It sounds good enough to me. Williams stays. -------------------- ROCKS "Key-Grip" of the S.F.B.W.C. and many more. ------------------
Odom Drew and Cato... Kandi and Odom? The Clippers are even slower than I think if they take that deal. Walt is a good player, and has played well in the past. It's not like this is the first year he's been able to hit an open jumper. Remember, Rudy (who so many of you seem to worship) has been high on this guy for years. Walt wasn't playing well at the beginning of the year. He is now, and doesn't even need to earn a contract; the guy has a guaranteed deal for quite a while. Houston *needs* a good jump shooter to open up the lanes and keep opposing defenses honest. Walt's steady, isn't THAT pricey (4mill really isn't that bad), and can hit a shot. ------------------
Hey guys, I posted my arguments on this subject a few days ago on my Rockets web page...pretty cool that it's coming up now. So, check out my page and tell me what you guys think! The article on the Wizard is right on the fron page. I'd post it, but...I want the hits One other thing...remember Nick Anderson? This is exactly what happened with him. He got hot towards the end of the season, and the Magic did the smart thing and got him the hell out of there. The result? Ron Mercer. And if he decides to bolt, they've got plenty of cash to sign a big free agent. On the other hand, Nick is now averaging 10 points per game. Bottom line is that Walt is doing the same damn thing and it's most likely that he won't do it come next season. Hopefully, some team looking for that last piece in the championship puzzle will pick him up...just like the Kings did with good old Nick Anderson. ------------------ Nederland 2000 NBA+stupidity=Brand ROY NBA+common sense=Franchise MVP Houston Rockets Space Center- Not just another ClutchCity.NET clone [This message has been edited by Ace (edited April 12, 2000).]
Just to show you that I have a reason for my venom. Early on I was posting things like: ".... he is the real jewel in this trade with Portland." ".... he just needs a little adjustment time to break out and "top five" the league in a couple of categories (treys, points, minutes played) ..." " .... for his position(the SF - 3),I can live with a guy who scores 15 to 18 everynight but plays only marginal defense ..." And many more that would embarass me in retrospect. I just got tired of finding excuses for his lackadaisical play, his lack of anything other than a single dimensional game, when he did get around to it, his trotting back up the court to "prevent" a fast break opponent, his throwing up hopeless bricks time after time and his playing defense that consisted of mainly waving at the opponent then reaching in as he passed him by and getting a foul. Then incredulously arguing with the refs like the ref didn't see the same stupid, feeble attempt that everyone else saw. Sorry, I hope he has a great career and I hope he gets to help some other team for ten or fifteen games when the season has been already decided. Just not us ever again. See Ya. So Long. We deserve more from a starter. And please don't compare this "veteran" with the rookies (and almost rookies)that played their collective hearts out all year, even in losing games where they were clearly out manned. [This message has been edited by popeye (edited April 12, 2000).]
I'm still for trading Walt as well. Tack Walt's salary onto the $4.5 million trade exception and that's close to $10 million a year. Don't you know some teams have been looking at Walt's play lately and thinking, "We could use him next year." Not to mention that they would potentially dump $4.5 million in salary (maybe not in a sign and trade however). ------------------
Damn, Popeye! That paragraph about the feeble reach-ins was one of the meanest, most dead-on dressdowns I've ever read. Smokin'!
Popeye, I hope you're not making this decision for the Rockets . Walt is on. Name 5 comparable players that are playing as well for the same amount of cash around the league (no players locked into their rookie contracts, thank you). I'd also like to add that his marginal defense has netted more blocks and steals and comparable rebounds to SA's stellar defense in his mini-run. This 'pumpkin' lit it up in Toronto and was then traded to atrophy in Portland. Give him a break... the lines are just starting to show again in his calves. Walt Williams is a good Matt Bullard, and you know how Rudy feels about Bullard. He's going nowhere. <font size="1" color="336699">This post was paid for by the WWilliamsFanClub. Any similarities to persons living or dead is coincidental. The comments of WWilliamsFanClub in no way shape or form reflects the views of clutchcity.net, the Rockets, the internet or WWilliamsFanClub.</font> ------------------ for Jenna's next trick, she'll convince us all that Karl didn't threaten to leave the Jazz, or for that matter that he ever played with the Jazz
With all the recent talk of the possible departure of Cato, it makes me think how nice it would be if somehow we were able to unload Walt and Cato in a lump trade, for something quality in return. Both of those guys are potential waiting to happen, relatively expendable to our gameplan, and make WAY too much money. Throw in Drew and it's a dream come true. Now all we need is someone who makes a ridiculous amount of money to match up with those contracts... Any ideas? ------------------ "There are three kinds of lies: Lies, Damned Lies, and STATISTICS..." - Mark Twain -
Ace, That's a pretty good analogy with Nick the Brick. The similarities never occurred to me. I also enjoyed your article. I read it a few days ago, and it was quite good. ------------------
