I guess... But what the heck does Lamar Odom do? What the heck does Rasheed Wallace do? I'd rather get Zach Randolph.
Lamar Odom is a SF, first of all. So if anything, he's 6'10. Aside from that, he can play PF/SF/SG/PG on any team. More? He passes just as well as Antoine Walker. More? He shoots a better %. More? He's 3 years younger. More? He's got just as much heart. More? He still will improve while that's unlikely for Walker. As for Rasheed Wallace, I won't even both. What the hell does Rasheed Wallace do? I mean, c'mon. Let's be realistic. Rasheed Wallace hits 3's at a better percentage, is 6'11, can play C, is a better rebounder, and a much beter scorer than Antoine Walker. He's also a better shotblocker and has great experience. What has Zach Randolph done? 20 games of good play? I'd rather have Zach Randoph too, btu for all we know, it was a fluke.
Sane, agreed on zach randolph. i'd love to have him, too. but he's not available. ok, back to walker. there is NO WAY i give up eddie griffin for him. like i said multiple times, i'd take toine now because he only has two years left on his contract. at that time, griff should be ready to contribute. then you can move toine or just let his contract expire, ala glen rice. if we can move motay and posey for him (as i suggested earlier), i see no reason NOT to do this. motay's contract is longer than antoine's, and j-hawk can do what posey does for us at a cheaper price. where is the problem with that?
Ainge is quoted in tomorrow's Boston Globe saying he will not trade Walker...and he is working on anextention for O'B.
He's gotta move somebody and Walker makes as much sense as anyone. Walker and Delk for Taylor, Mobley and Norris would not be the world's worst deal for either squad. Walker is not ideal, but he is an upgrade. If we can't make the ideal work (BRAND), then an upgrade at relatively low cost would be just as good. I'm not so sure that the guy is not a product of his system as far as all his shots. It's him and Pearce. There is no one else. With Yao and Francis around, he wouldn't have to force as much. Yao and Walker would give us the best passing front line in the league. It would offset Francis' limitations. So why would it be that bad of a move? The money would be tough, but that is the main downside IMO
In last Sunday's Boston globe, the Celtics were down 0-3 to the Nets and the Globe suggested that Walker should be moved. Some of the reasons that they cited were Walker's numbers were down in every major statistical category (except free throw %) each of the last three years and since he was an All-Star this year, his trade value will never be higher. He is definitely a very talented player and a lot of you do not give him enough credit. He is a good scorer and excellent passer and ball handler especially for someone playing power forward. He is also a team leader and does not get into off the court problems. His negatives are that he slow footed and his defense is suspect. He also had more 3-point attempts than anyone in the Eastern Conference this year and does not have a good 3-point fg %. If the Rockets want to continue to run the same offense where everyone stands above the 3-point line then it seems that Walker would fit in very well. The Celtics need help at center and point guard but I don't think that Cato and Moochie will get the job done.
Great Post, Verse. I think many people don't realize what an all around player walker is. It is true that he takes far too many shots (particularly threes), and he's had a piss poor performance in the playoffs this year. You have to remember, though, that Walker is the second of only two real scoring threats on the celtics. If he ended up with the Rockets, even if mobley departs, he would be one of three major scoring threats on the team. If he continued to jack up threes, then, yes, that would hurt the team, but if he learned his niche, then his addition to the Rox would be very welcome IMO. He would bring much needed leadership, somthing this team lacks, and would takes some of the pressure off Francis as a point gurad because he is such a good distributor. Actually, if we got walker, then the Francis could remain at the point, and Walker could initiate the offense like he often does with the celtics. If walker is availble we should pursue him. Also... Walker IS capable of putting up big rebounding numbers. Look at his first few years in the league. I believe he averaged 9 or 10 boards a game. they only went down after he started jacking all those threes.
exactly. motay, posey & a pick for antoine walker walker's contract is up in two seasons. at that point, assuming griffin is ready, you either let walker go or trade him & his expiring $14 million contract for the final piece to the puzzle 2005 houston rockets PG: francis/backup pg SG: (final piece?)/mobley SF: nachbar/hawkins PF: griffin (at 22 years old & ready)/t-morris C: ming (at 24 years old & ready)/cato (contract about to expire in '06) if all works out, we'd be set. ming would be 24 and hopefully dominant. griffin will be 22 and, hopefully, stable & ready. francis would still be in his prime. nachbar should be comfortable as well. cato's contract would be nearing an end would definitely be an asset. we could trade a very talented antoine walker (who would be in his prime still) for a dynamite 2 guard. if we found ourselves one piece away still (maybe at sf?), we could move cato for that piece. cato's contract expires the season after that, so he'd definitely be a commodity. most importantly, we keep the young core of francis, yao and griffin together to grow & gel. with more experience, they will only get better. toine is essentially a way to a) get out of motay's contract; and b) buy 2 years of growth and learning for griffin. GET. IT. DONE.
better than mashburn...absolutely. pippen? hmm. i'd say yes they are about even. i honestly forgot about pippen. still, i don't think he's definitely a better ball handler. he may be smoother, but as for getting the job done, he's no better than antoine. it really doesn't matter though. it's all semantics. the point is that antoine is an exceptional ballhandler - apparently you agree, right?
I still say Rudy doesn't like him, or didn't, so hopefully, if RT stays, his mind will have changed on this matter....but, who knows what we'll do anyway? And Cat would probably be the bait, not Posey, whose contract would be BYC (I think).
No...I think Francis's contract will be BYC. Posey...hopefully will not ask for much or will be gone. Antoine Walker.. Well if they really want to get rid of him...I would give Maurice Taylor, James Posey, and a 1st round pick. Very good for Houston. Don't know if Boston would do it. But a 1st round pick is a lot. Francis/Norris Mobley/Nachbar Nachbar/Griffin or Walker/Morris/Rice Walker/Griffin/Morris/Rice Yao/Cato That would be pretty nice....
I think this post is the reason why I no longer post at this BBS. People are driven to desperation by a non-playoff season in a tough conference. But why go to such lengths as Antoine Walker? Why I ask? Why? Something must really be wrong when he's the supposed savior. Looking for a player with worse decision making than Francis's? -Don't look further than the starting lineup for the Boston Celtics. He is a irritating clown who hangs around the perimeter under the guise of iniating the offense but instead jacks up the worst shots and gets hot every full moon. In the defensive department, he gets embarrassed by players who are willing to take it at him aggressively. Kenyon Martin is a decent player, but Antoine Walker made him look like a starting EC All-Star forward in that second round sweep. He plays defense well as Maurice Taylor (or maybe I shouldn't insult Taylor that much.) Demanding more shots at a clip of .388 (his field goal percentage this year) will just take away from the more reliable scoring of Ming and Francis. We don't need another turnover king either - 3.33 per game this year as a power forward! Walker starting on the All-Star team - let's call that a big mistake by the fans. I think I will puke the day I see Antoine Walker jiggle his body after making a rare three pointer in a Rockets jersey. And don't even get me started on Lamar Odom... Back to lurking mode for me...
