RealGM

Wizards decided to pay top dollar maintaining status quo and had to avoid the luxury (tax) of adding Bill Walker. Who needs more talent?

Celtics Really High On Bill Walker

http://basketball.realgm.com/src_wireta ... ll_walker/

"We were thinking maybe of sending him overseas for a year," said GM Danny Ainge. "But the more we saw him working out, the more we saw him here, it was 'let's keep him here.'"

I'm with ya CCJ, I woke up still steamed about this debacle WTF!!

This organization fits the definition of insanity per Einstein.

You guys are tripping over Bill Walker?

Until Walker plays in the he NBA I won't think much about the trade. I'm kind of shocked Grunfeld didn't take chance on anyone given that he has found steals in the 2nd round like Michael Redd, Andray Blatche, and potentially Dominic McGuire. Still, the Wizards have enough projects on their hands, (Young, Blatche, Pecherov, McGuire, McGee, Veeremenko if he ever decides to come over) .

You have to remember the Celtics PR machine is playing up Walker because they lost a proven veteran savvy player in Posey. If the price was right, the Celtics would much rather have Posey than Miles and Walker.

Kanyewest wrote:You have to remember the Celtics PR machine is playing up Walker because they lost a proven veteran savvy player in Posey. If the price was right, the Celtics would much rather have Posey than Miles and Walker.

Although Celtics fans are well aware of Posey's contributions, our team came disturbingly close to losing in the first round against freaking Atlanta because we lacked athleticism off the bench, as well as offense off the bench outside of setup 3 pointers. Nobody attacked the rim consistently outside of Pierce, and our offense stagnated when the jumpshots weren't falling.

I'm not saying I'm not upset Posey's left, but our team has become much more athletic and offensively diverse this offseason, and Bill Walker's a big reason why. I remember most of us on the Boston forum wanted him at #30, but considered it a crapshoot since Detroit was rumored to snag him with their 1st (and many thought he had the potential to be taken earlier).

I'd have loved it if Posey returned, but the Celtics would have been insane if they'd offered the full MLE over 4-5 years like he was looking for. I doubt it's just the PR spinning you're making it out to be since Ainge's track record with young talent (regardless of positioning in the mocks) is very good...

Wizardspride wrote:You guys are tripping over Bill Walker?

It's the silly (off)season so even non-news gets more attention/histrionics than it deserves.

Maybe Bill Walker will become a superstar. Or even just a useful rotation player. I don't know. What I do know is that Abe Pollin wasn't going to pay him if he made the team.

yawn.....

Chances are this guy wouldn't be playing a lot, especially with our medical staff.

"We were thinking maybe of sending him overseas for a year," said GM Danny Ainge. "But the more we saw him working out, the more we saw him here, it was 'let's keep him here.'"

There was a time when you could justifiably say that a roster move was loco for no other reason than that it was Danny Ainge who had done it.

Now, after last year, you could justifiably say the exact opposite.

DelMonte West wrote:

Kanyewest wrote:You have to remember the Celtics PR machine is playing up Walker because they lost a proven veteran savvy player in Posey. If the price was right, the Celtics would much rather have Posey than Miles and Walker.

Although Celtics fans are well aware of Posey's contributions, our team came disturbingly close to losing in the first round against freaking Atlanta because we lacked athleticism off the bench, as well as offense off the bench outside of setup 3 pointers. Nobody attacked the rim consistently outside of Pierce, and our offense stagnated when the jumpshots weren't falling.

I'm not saying I'm not upset Posey's left, but our team has become much more athletic and offensively diverse this offseason, and Bill Walker's a big reason why. I remember most of us on the Boston forum wanted him at #30, but considered it a crapshoot since Detroit was rumored to snag him with their 1st (and many thought he had the potential to be taken earlier).

I'd have loved it if Posey returned, but the Celtics would have been insane if they'd offered the full MLE over 4-5 years like he was looking for. I doubt it's just the PR spinning you're making it out to be since Ainge's track record with young talent (regardless of positioning in the mocks) is very good...

But ask yourself this. Do the Celtics win game 4 of the NBA Finals with Walker and Miles instead of James Posey (I think not). While picking up Walker and Miles helps them against certain matchups (like the Hawks), it hurts them in others (like the Lakers, Pistons, and Cavs)

I guess EG is taking the risk in saying that guys like Nick Young and Dominic McGuire are ready to play over a guy like Bill Walker. And with our medical staff, I have to agree with that logic. Certainly Miles and Walker are upgrades to the Celtics bench (who was their other reserve 2/3; House and Allen).

I think it's way too early to to say if Bill Walker is going to be a stud (or not) given that he hasn't even played a summer league game. People who are despairing over this move are already cynical about the direction of the franchise. At this point, this is a very VERY minor move.

The thing that makes me crazy is 2nd round picks are CHEAP! They save you money with end of the bench players that can help you down the road. How can you not afford... to sign them?

Kanyewest wrote:

DelMonte West wrote:

Kanyewest wrote:You have to remember the Celtics PR machine is playing up Walker because they lost a proven veteran savvy player in Posey. If the price was right, the Celtics would much rather have Posey than Miles and Walker.

Although Celtics fans are well aware of Posey's contributions, our team came disturbingly close to losing in the first round against freaking Atlanta because we lacked athleticism off the bench, as well as offense off the bench outside of setup 3 pointers. Nobody attacked the rim consistently outside of Pierce, and our offense stagnated when the jumpshots weren't falling.

I'm not saying I'm not upset Posey's left, but our team has become much more athletic and offensively diverse this offseason, and Bill Walker's a big reason why. I remember most of us on the Boston forum wanted him at #30, but considered it a crapshoot since Detroit was rumored to snag him with their 1st (and many thought he had the potential to be taken earlier).

I'd have loved it if Posey returned, but the Celtics would have been insane if they'd offered the full MLE over 4-5 years like he was looking for. I doubt it's just the PR spinning you're making it out to be since Ainge's track record with young talent (regardless of positioning in the mocks) is very good...

But ask yourself this. Do the Celtics win game 4 of the NBA Finals with Walker and Miles instead of James Posey (I think not). While picking up Walker and Miles helps them against certain matchups (like the Hawks), it hurts them in others (like the Lakers, Pistons, and Cavs)

I don't really see how it hurts them as much against the Lakers or Cavs, since Ray Allen/Paul Pierce were primarily responsible for guarding Kobe/LeBron.

Besides, playing the hypotheticals game isn't a viable way of swaying an arguement one way or another. If Scott Pollard doesn't get injured, we don't get PJ Brown, and if he doesn't hit a clutch shot against Cleveland during Game 7 with a minute left, do we even get the chance to make it to the Finals, etc. It helps for one side of the arguement, but is basically a straw man debate.

I'm not trying to troll or anything, nor am I implying Walker will be an all-star, all-rookie 1st teamer, but the way people try to make James Posey a revelation that Boston will be rueing for years to come (despite his very average production, by his standards) seems a wee bit overboard. Yes, he's a fine player, but we still lacked athleticism and offense off the bench. We already know Walker's athletic, and we already know he has the tools to score and defend. Nobody's telling him to replace James Posey; that will be done by committee.

JMO.

James Posey was overpaid for his services by New Orleans. Still, I have to think that the Celtics will miss him. While Allen and Pierce took the primary duties of guarding Kobe, Posey was vital nonetheless with his clutch shooting since he shot about 50% from 3 in the NBA finals, and he allowed the Celtics to play small fro a crucial win in game 4 of the NBA finals.

As for Bill Walkeer, he may be good but it's too early to tell. I think it's pointless for Wizard fans to regret trading him when the guy hasn't even played a single game in summer league, let alone the regular season.

Ruzious wrote:The thing that makes me crazy is 2nd round picks are CHEAP! They save you money with end of the bench players that can help you down the road. How can you not afford... to sign them?

I agree, Ruz.

What's not so cheap is paying for 1st round project and waiting and waiting to see IF he can contribute. If money's indeed the issue, why not sell the 1st rounder and sign a very low-risk second round, finished project who can contribute right away?

Hendricks had similar college stats to Carlos Boozer. In the recent past, undersized PFs with good college resumes like Boozer, Powe, Millsap, and Gomes have all come in and contributed right away as 2nd rounders.

Bill Walker had prep accolades and big time collegiate success. Knee issues aside he's IMO more likely to succeed that McGee. Walker certainly would have been cheaper.