The main reservation about AW seems to be questions about his attitude. If you are Rockets management, which of these would he have to say when he comes to visit to make you happy about taking him? (1) willing to be third option on team. (2) willing to play for MLE. (3) willing to put as much effort into defence as offence. (4) willing to sit out towards end of games due to poor free throw shooting. (5) willing to stop jacking up 3s. (6) willing to share minutes equally with JH. (7) anything else? And what would he say that would make you think no way, this wont work?
What about all of the above? I don't think #4 & #6 would apply. AW is a good enough clutch performer to stay in games and I don't think we would bring in AW to share equal minutes w/ JH.
For mind the three most important ones would be #1, #3 and #5. If he agreed to those, then how much we pay him (obviously would depend on what we expect out of him), wouldn't be of great importance. If he could do those things (plus continue to rebound the ball as well as he has throughout his career) then that would cover one of our biggest problem areas last season. #4, well I don't know if him sitting out would be of any benefit. What he lacks in his free throw shooting could be made up for with his ball handling, court vision and court smarts. #6, would relate back to what we pay him and what we expect of him. If he is going to be a better fit and as a team we play better with him on the floor, then why split time with JH 50/50? We need to do what is best for the team, and if that means AW plays 30-40 minutes a night, and JH 10-20 a night then so be it.
is he really that bad of a defender? i don't get a chance to watch him as much with him being in the east, but am i wrong in remembering him being one of those somewhat effective defensive players that slaps down at the ball when the player he's guarding shows it? best defense is the best offense? dude scored damn near 20ppg last year? i'm sure that'll take something out of the great opposing pfs offensively here in the west.
I don't know...I think his value at this point is right about what the MLE offers. Teams know that he's really not a #1 or #2 option (like it was thought earlier in his career) after the past few seasons, but he is still an impact player. Add to that the fact that there is a guy like Swift who is probably going to get overpaid because of his potential, and maybe Walker's value slips a little more.
I was just reading the RealGM Boston board. They hate Walker. They say he is a bone head who never met a shot he didn't like but could make. Sounds like a SF3 in a PF body. Please stay away Rockets.
I'd rather have Stromile Swift because he will accept his position as a role player, providing rebounds and garbage points.
If it is true that he is asking for close to max money per season, than I seriously doubt he considers himself a role player. Besides, if you can't get him for $5 million per season or thereabouts, he better be a lot more than a role player. As to the original question... (1) willing to be third option on team. (2) willing to play for MLE. I don't see these as options. This is just the reality and if he signs here, we can assume he knows these. Everyone does. (3) willing to put as much effort into defence as offence. (5) willing to stop jacking up 3s. These are items high on JVG's list. You can bet that if Walker sits down with the organization, these will be spelled out because defense and smart basketball are absolute requirements for playing under JVG. Walker seems like a pretty smart guy. I have got to believe he knows JVG's reputation at this point. (4) willing to sit out towards end of games due to poor free throw shooting. (6) willing to share minutes equally with JH. I'm not sure either of these is a requirement. In the years when he shot the most free throws of his career, he was better than 70 percent two out of three years. That indicates an ability and a lack of focus in other seasons. You can bet, given JVG's demands about being smart, that this will become a top priority. And, as for sharing time, I don't see that as being an issue. If Walker plays well, JH will be the backup and play backup minutes.
if he doesn't agree to #1 then there is no more need to talk with him. that goes for everyone else who is braught in. also if you agree to play for JVG then you know you will be putting in most of your effort on defense. assuming that #1 and #3 is a given; i would say #4 and #6 don't really apply. #5 isn't of great importance because with yao posting up we would want him to spread the floor. so the most important thing for him to say is #2, he is willing to sign for the MLE. that would separate him from other guys like swift, marhsall, SAR, who would possibly need a S&T for more than MLE money.
I think this team needs a little attitude. I mean gosh look what Barry did for us. Before near the beginning of the season when we didn't have Barry and Sura was yet unavailable to play we were really lifeless. I think that certain spark of attitude would be healthy for us consider the demeanor of Ming and McGrady. They need someone to pump them up.If you look what he did for Boston mid season its all the reason to go after him this offseason. What he did was understood his role that it works from inside out and defense first. Okay we might be mismatched against a Duncan and a Nowitski but he also brings mismatched to them with his quickness for his position.
Nothing. He's shown his true colors over the course of a career. Nothing he says now could possibly be sufficient to overcome it. He might be sincere. He might stick to it for a few months. But Antoine Walker is a selfish, no-defense player. That's not going to change now. Or rather, it's so unlikely that it would be silly to make a decision premised on the possibility.
Also to echo what Jeff posted above: Walker does NOT consider himself to be a "role" player. With him onboard, who's going to rebound and do the dirty work down low? Not "Toine. That's why the loss of Cato was so critical: Cato, your backup 5, stepped in and was able to play the 4 when Mo Taylor went down. He gave the Rox rebounding, physical toughness down low but no real offense save for the occasional alley-oop dunk. While he wasn't great, his absence has been keenly felt here. Many folks thought that JH could fill the role at the 4 primarily due to his career numbers but, as I pointed out, he was a bit undersized to play the 4 in the West as was the now departed MoT. This is a position that requires a serious upgrade but I don't think that Walker, SAR or Swift really fit the bill here. They may just need to pass and try again next year.
He could be willing to do all of those things and it really wouldn't mean a hill a beans. Walker’s been willing to change his game the past couple of seasons. Still hasn't made much of a difference. He still makes countless dumb plays. You can't turn a dumb player into a smart player. Just like you can't turn a soft player into a banger. Especially a veteran like Walker that has played a certain way for 9 years. It would be a miracle if he did change and the Rockets shouldn't invest their MLE with the hopes that a miracle will occur. Teams that acquire players with the expectations that the player will make major changes to their game almost always regret it. Either because the player doesn't make the changes, or because the player does change, only it's a change for the worse. Walker is the perfect example of a player who's biggest strength (playmaking) is also his biggest weakness. If you try and take his weakness away (no more improvising, play within a system, always defer to Yao/T-Mac), you'll be taking away his biggest strengths and his game will suffer. Just like Steve Francis. I’m confident cooler heads will prevail and that CD and Van Gundy will decide to pass on the temptation Walker. The Rockets MUST remember what made them so successful last season. They got rid of all of the talented, but dumb selfish players on the team and brought in smart unselfish role players that all played defense and never took a night off. Get a player a player who can fit into the system that was so successful for us last year rather than a player who's going to completely change the system.
There are many many free agents out their that if we had on the roster, we would have beaten the Mavs. Not just Walker.
I see everyone is assuming Walker would be the 3rd option, which I just don't see it happening from watching him play over the years. Could it be that the Rockets have something else in mind, that they want Yao to focus more on defense, and Walker to become the 2nd offensive option? Just my speculation.
