Don't know how much stock to put into this article, since it may be entirely the writer's opinion, but nevertheless, interesting blurb at the end: By Mark Murphy/ NBA Notes Sunday, June 26, 2005 Should the Celtics select a power forward with the 18th pick in Tuesday night's NBA draft, no one will read more into the move than Antoine Walker [news]. But the Celtics forward, an impending free agent, has already heard of other locales where his name is on the rise. Walker recently told friends at an NBA function that he heard New York - where Isiah Thomas is still a fan - and Sacramento are preparing offers. The Knicks, reportedly about to send Kurt Thomas to Phoenix for Quentin Richardson, make particular sense to the Walker camp. Sacramento and its passing game make sense from a style standpoint. Though Mark Bartlestein declined to discuss specific teams, the agent said he expects a ``domino effect'' to define the market before long. Should Seattle decide not to re-sign Ray Allen and Vladimir Radmanovic, for instance, the Sonics will have significant room to operate under the salary cap. Even if the team makes a $3.1 million qualifying offer to Radmanovic for next season, Seattle could still enter the market at almost $30 million under the salary cap. The Celtics, on the other hand, appear set to offer Walker a mid-level contract, and nothing more, with the mid-level exception expected to land near $5.1 million under the as-yet unratified collective bargaining agreement. Right now, that clearly doesn't match up with Walker's view of his value. http://celtics.bostonherald.com/celtics/view.bg?articleid=91608&format=text
Walker's talent cannot be ignored. He almost instantly gives us a near-stud 3rd option. He is above and beyond a Stromile Swift or anyone else we may be looking at in that respect. He can rebound, score, and pass. My issue is that Antoine, the times I've ever watched him play, has been worse than Francis/Mobley in terms of outright jacking the ball at the most inopportune times. I often saw the look on JVG's face when one of those 2 guys decided to walk the ball up and then out of nowhere just jack one up. Mobley got better about it. I didn't watch enough of Antoine this past season to know if he's gotten over it. I know in his initial run with the Celts, I've watched games where I just busted out laughing at the guy's shot selection - it was insane the times he would just heave a 3 for no apparent reason other than he was tired of the ball or something. I'd accept Antoine if he could tone down the jackups and get rid of the "hey, it's my turn to shoot" attitude. Like I said, the guy is a very good NBA player who can shoot, pass, and rebound. He'd solve a lot of problems for us. I just hope he doesn't add a few more in the process...
Don't I recall that JVG talked of this past year's team as having the best chemistry he had ever experienced, but he was going to upset that with off season moves/acquisitions?
good post and fair assessment. i think it's only a money issue. he's a baller, there is no way he wouldn't help us. it's not like he would come in and think he's the man. he'd have to be mentally handicapped to believe that the rox weren't tracy's team.
I agree. One thing i really enjoyed about last years team was the chemistry in the team. they all looked like they enjoyed playing with each other. to me, Walker looks like a guy that will ruin that chemistry, he is a ball hog, takes too many ill-advised shots, and i just don't see him getting along with Yao, and Tmac. more important the individual players is the chemistry, think 98 and Pippen(the w****!) Rox with all the talent vs. 94 rox with less talent but the chmistry.
from Deuce: No he doesn't. As someone who was really upset when we hired JVG, I was really impressed with the way he seemed flexible last year and am now a believer. Acquiring Walker is just something I'd never dream JVG would do, but the league is changing and he's adapting. Regarding team chemistry last season was unique. Bowen and Padgett were a part of that and we know their gone, but the guys that really exemplified that to me were Sura, Barry, JHo and Deke (kind of a yin/yang thing there in terms of personalities) all of whom I expect back. Even if Walker tries to pull ***t I think he'll have a team in his face even if T-Mac's content to just glare at him. But I don't see that happening. Walker for the MLE is just too good a bargain for us to pass up.
The concensus seems to be that Walker is the most talented of the PF's available to us, at this time. When and IF we sign him I will be happy to accept him because I trust JVG to resolve the issues you all are talking about. I'm just sure that CD and JVG would not hire him believing that he would cause trouble. His upside is pretty huge although he may push JHo to the bench. Come to think of it, with interest in Mark Madsen and Walker maybe Juwan is on the block somehow.
Well, I think he said they would have to be "bold" and risk getting better which meant risking that chemistry because what they had obviously wasn't good enough.
Walker would be a bold move and chemistry would be at risk. If JVG thinks it's a good move I'm all for it. I believe AW would be a good complement to TMac/Yao. I'd prefer Raef. I'd like Marshall. I'd like Blount. I might find Evans interesting. I am not keen on Stro or Grant (age on both -- one is too young [immature] the other too old [spent]). I'd like Scalabrine or Songalia for rotation minutes, in a back up role. Or Mad Dog or Aaron Williams.
Well I basically agree, but on the other hand if he did not work out we could always trade him. He is a better chip than anything we currently have to offer.
Walker did seem like a different player when the Celtics spanked us late in the season. He was killing us off the dribble, and did not jack up some of the shots he would have in the past. He drained his 3's, which were of a catch and shoot variety. I think he could fit in pretty well in terms of chemistry. My main concern is defense, however. He's obviously not a shot-blocker, and he has never even been mentioned as a decent defender. He's quick for a big man, though, so maybe we could take advantage of that. Also, JHo is just too similar to Walker in terms of their skills and weaknesses. It would be nice to have a pure defender to back up Walker. It might be worth a try if we can get him for mid-level money. The contract is the key because if the experiment fails, we could unload him much easier if his contract is reasonable.
The players that matter are young, everyone else is expendable, I am sure AW is looking at it this way.
<a href="http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-nbacol3jul03,1,2889316.column?page=2&coll=la-headlines-sports&ctrack=1&cset=true"><font size="+1">The NBA: The Power of Positive Thinking</a></font> <i>Seattle's Ray Allen, offered $75 million against a maximum of $110 million by hard-line owner Howard Schultz, is listening to offers from the Clippers and Cavaliers. However, the Clippers can't pursue Allen and Bobby Simmons at the same time. <b>Simmons is being wooed by Houston and Cleveland….</b> Cleveland in his rearview mirror: Ilgauskas' agent, Herb Rudoy, says his client is "very interested in going to a different team, quite candidly." That may mean Curry will wind up there. James must feel he can motivate Curry into averaging more than 4.9 rebounds…. Raja Bell, one of the few Utah Jazz players who kept trying last season when he averaged 12 points and shot 40% on three-pointers, agreed to terms with Phoenix, calling it "an opportunity I couldn't pass up."</i> I wonder what we are doing to woo Simmons?
Probably telling Simmons he could be the starting SG on championship level team for the next 5 years. That would catch my interest if I were him. It's a great opportunity for Simmons. He might be able to get more money with the Clippers (although probably not offered a ton more) but with the Clippers he might not even be a STARTER. I mean the Clippers are trying to find a shooter. They are going after Ray Allen. And with Maggette playing SF where does that leave Simmons? On the bench? On the bench with the Clippers? Or starting with the Rockets and on the verge of being a championship team. Wooing.
