[Boston Globe] Celtics are looking for a Walker sign-and-trade partner

http://www.boston.com/sports/basket...5/07/17/contrite_artest_back_on_court/?page=4


By Shira Springer |
July 17, 2005

The Walker watch
According to Antoine Walker's agent, Mark Bartelstein, there are 10 teams ''seriously looking at doing something" to acquire the veteran power forward. Translation: The Celtics and Bartelstein are looking for a sign-and-trade partner. Bartelstein characterized interested teams as contenders ''who feel Antoine is a guy who can put them over the top." Bartelstein disagreed with reports the Celtics were having trouble generating interest in Walker. ''We're just having a whole lot of conversations," said Bartelstein. ''There's a whole lot of scenarios we're looking at. I'm just trying to field a lot of phone calls. There's a lot of interest. [All the interested teams] understand who Antoine is in the league. Nobody wants to take advantage of Antoine. I can promise you there's a lot of interest in Antoine Walker." According to an Eastern Conference source, the most likely scenario would be to work a three-way deal with a team that has cap space. Look for Charlotte, New Orleans, or Atlanta to possibly become involved, with Walker being shipped to a contending team in the East. The team with cap space would receive a player of equal value and Boston would end up with a draft choice, so as not to take on more salary and head into luxury-tax territory.



Scouting report
Paul Pierce was an interested spectator at the Las Vegas summer league and he had nothing but praise for Celtics first-round pick Gerald Green. Pierce noted that Green reminded him of himself with some moves, and he said it should be fun to compete against him in practice. But he doesn't want anyone to take the flattering comparison too far, considering Green just finished high school. The captain also was overwhelmed by how many wing players stock the Celtics' roster. Soon-to-be-signed forward Brian Scalabrine was expected in Boston over the weekend to work out and get comfortable with the team and surroundings.

A quick Reed
Justin Reed knows his defense caught the Celtics' attention, encouraging them to pick up the team option for a second year. This season, Reed hopes his defense can earn him more playing time. ''I just love defense," said Reed. ''My high school coach and my college coach were defensive-minded coaches. They just kind of brainwashed me. I enjoy making it tough on people. We have magnificent scorers, guys who can score at any time. I'm trying to make their job easier, so they can just concentrate on offense."

Vegas numbers
Green finished summer league play averaging 8.0 points and 1.3 rebounds in 18.8 minutes per game, not to mention a handful of highlight dunks. But it wasn't easy. ''I'm really thinking a lot and not going on instinct," he said. ''My teammates are telling me to just play. I hope I can go on instinct. My teammates say I'm doing good, so I've got to trust them."

© Copyright 2005 Globe Newspaper Company

 

If Rockets make trade for Walker, who should we or can we give up?????
and should we also sign Othella Harrington as a back up forward?

 

I think we will end up with getting walker

 

Seems like rockets will end up with Walker by 3 team trade include Bobcat!!!

Rockets - Walker
Bobcat- David Wesley + Baker
Celtics- Future first picks + some player from ??


http://www.shelbystar.com/portal/ASP/article_new.asp?ID=17408

Bobcats’ coach having busy summer
Richard Walker
Freedom News Service

Richard Walker

Freedom News Service

Charlotte Bobcats coach and general manager Bernie Bickerstaff isn’t coaching the team’s summer league entry in the Reebok Rocky Mountain Revue. But, rest assured, he’s been busy.

In the last week, Bickerstaff has discussed potential contracts with his team’s restricted and unrestricted free agents. He’s even been involved in discussions with the Boston Celtics about a possible trade that could net the Bobcats players and/or future draft picks.

The Celtics are looking into the possibility of trading free agent forward Antoine Walker and The Boston Globe reported in its Sunday editions that teams with available salary cap space like Charlotte, New Orleans and Atlanta could help facilitate the deal.

“I think it’s a possibility where we can be a conduit,” Bickerstaff said Sunday. “Depending on how it works out, we could get players or picks or a combination of the two.”

For now, Bickerstaff is focusing on his team’s unrestricted free agents.

“We’re going to talk with Brevin and his agent next week,” Bickerstaff said of point guard Brevin Knight and his agent, Bill Strickland. “But we’ve also talked to all of them.”

Knight, Kareem Rush and Malik Allen are the team’s unrestricted free agents, meaning they could sign with any team they wish, while restricted free agents Keith Bogans, Jason Kapono, Gerald Wallace and Matt Carroll cannot sign with another team unless the Bobcats fail to match whatever offer they might get elsewhere.

May off to hot start

Recent first-round draft pick Sean May is off to a fast start for the team’s Reebok Rocky Mountain Revue team.

May has recorded two straight double-doubles — averaging 18.5 points and 14.0 rebounds — in the Bobcats first two games.

Matt Carroll and Antonio Meeking also have shined, scoring 31 and 26 points, respectively, in the team’s first two games.

Charlotte beat Seattle 82-64 Friday, then lost to Utah 73-69 Saturday.

Remaining schedule

Charlotte has four games left on its summer league schedule after Sunday’s day off.

Each game is scheduled for 4 p.m. The Bobcats play the Dallas Mavericks today, the San Antonio Spurs on Tuesday, the Seattle Supersonics on Thursday and the Atlanta Hawks on Friday.

17408 - 7/18/2005 - SP