Bill Walton

[theman]

Was Bill Walton a good pick up for the C's in 1985?

[GreenGrizz]

Oh indeed, he was a good pickup especially against Houston in the Finals. They had Olajuwon and Sampson. They were the very same team that beat Magic and the Lakers.

[sully00]

I say no, obviously not for '86 that was great, but for '87 that was not. It wasn't a bad pick up but I don't think that Walton added more to this team than Maxwell, we probably would have won without either of them, and certainly didn't add a damn thing in '87, when we really needed somebody.

[Scalamental]

I got to tell you, I bring nothing to the table here cuz i was born in 85. but, theman, i've been admiring your avatar since i noticed it a week ago, nice.

[Fencer reregistered]

If I recall correctly, Maxwell was pretty much done, at least down to the JAG level, despite being quite young.

So yes -- even though he only contributed significantly for one season, Walton was a good pickup.

[Fencer reregistered]

The really weird game was the one where Greg Kite played well, and Walton was put in late in a half to save him a foul.

Kite was in a daze about that in his post-game interview.

The sad part is that Kite's great game only amounted to something like 9 rebounds and not a lot of points.

[BigHands]

If I recall correctly, Maxwell was pretty much done, at least down to the JAG level, despite being quite young.

So yes -- even though he only contributed significantly for one season, Walton was a good pickup.

Max was pretty much done as he had no interest in the gym work necessary to recover from knee surgery.

He also had angered Red (and probably Bird too) so his days in Green were over.

So on his reputation he was worth a good bit but people watching closely knew he was next to useless in the 1985 playoffs.

Walton was a big gamble and I was surprised at the season he had in 85-86 and I was not surprised when he got hurt the next year.

Any move that gets a title is worth it and I doubt Max would have brought much else.....he was flakey and folks knew it.

[daveisceltics]

Bill was great in a Celtic uniform when he was healthy.
He even won the 6th man as most of you already know.

[JJHondo17]

It was worth it just to watch Bird and Walton weave their magic for one season. They would have never been considered the greatest team of all time without him. Passing was elevated to an art form on that team.

[thefoulness]

Anyone who says no is a moron or simply wasn't alive when Walton played for the best team that ever played.

[theman]

I got to tell you, I bring nothing to the table here cuz i was born in 85. but, theman, i've been admiring your avatar since i noticed it a week ago, nice.

Thanks. Wigglestruth made it for me.

[bill murray has game]

Yes it was a good pick up but it was lame when he was talking about coming back with the Knicks later on although I forget the details.

[YUKES]

why would it not have been a good trade?? did maxwell really do anything worthwhile afterwards to have made it bad? it's not like a young guy was traded that was great for another team for years.

plus, it added bill walton to the celtic legacy, and the man is quite possibly the best personality involved in basketall right now. it makes me like him just a little bit more when i listen to him at a halftime or during a game knowing that he not only played for the celts, but thoroughly enjoyed every minute of it and is immensely proud that he was able to.

[sully00]

Losing in '87 burns me just as much as winning in '86 brings back fond memories.

Like I said the '86 Celtics would have beaten the Rockets without either of Walton or Maxwell, it was a great team.

But the C's won 63 and 59 games the year before and after that '86 season without Walton. A healthy Walton basically was worth 4 more wins in the regular season and one playoff win against an inferior Rockets team than an injured Max. Sure Max was near the end of the line but Walton was passed it. Max at least had 3 more seasons, and while it isn't a lot when you haven't really been relevent for 20 years going to down to the Lakers in 6 because you counted on Walton and Wedman, two historic china dolls, to be your bench stays with you.

You all can think "Oh '86 how great," but to me that was the end of an era. I just fail to see the glory in that starting 5 only winning two titles and never going back to the finals again after '87. Simply because the Pistons retooled their bench and we wasted away.

It isn't that I dislike Walton, to the contrary and I am glad he has so much pride about being a Celtic, I just think we win in '86 and '87 with Max who played as well as Walton in '86 and a lot better in '87.