If we let Bill Walker goto Europe, we might not get him back

[GonzoLays]

I remember Ainge talking about drafting players in the 2nd round this year who agreed to goto Europe for a couple years of seasoning.

With the Euro kicking the dollar's ass, Walker could get a pretty sweet deal and probably an even better second deal in Europe that would dwarf what the Celtics would give him as a 2nd rounder.

We better keep Walker here on the cheap or he is gonna cost down the road.

If we let him goto Europe, we might not get him back.

[GuyClinch]

I hope he plays for us this season - even if it's D. League.

[DJToLarry]

I was going to post this topic as well. Walker not only has the athleticism but the drive to be something special. I would hate to risk him to Europe.

[Celtics_85]

I just saw him for the second time yesterday as they replayed K-State vs Wisconsin tournament game. There is nothing in his game that says he couldn't be a part of this team next year. Even though he isn't tall he is a wide body with athleticism that showed a very nice post game against a good Wisconsin front line. He is a good defender on the perimeter and also plays good help defense. His body makes up his lack of height, and he also has long arms, something I think Ainge is liking for the players he's brought in the last few years.

[JMillott]

I'm sure that at some point in time he'll want to go to the NBA and make his true mark, i'm all for sending him over to Europe for two or three years and letting him return as a ready made beast who can really impact this team.

[ParticleMan]

I don't understand what Europe would do for Bill Walker. He won't play that much as a rookie, since Europe operates heavily on a seniority system. He won't learn the NBA game. He won't get individualized instruction. He won't learn the C's system.

I still am completely lost on the motivation to send him to Europe. To save a roster spot? It's not like we have too many players. To save some cash? Seriously, the guy isn't going to make more than $500k. That's absolute chump change, our owners are not that cheap.

He should stay here, practice, play in the D league for a bit, and who knows maybe get into a few games here and there. Learn our system. Work with our coaches. The guy has serious potential, let's develop it ourselves. We have some excellent player development coaches, let's use em.

What exactly is the point of sending him to Europe?

[Rocky5000]

Yeah, no reason to send him to Europe anyways. We have 1 open roster spot, which should be enough to fill out our team if we find we need another piece.

There's a slight chance that he may also become a Star in Europe, and we'll have to pay him big bucks to come over, kinda like what happened with JCN. Since he's a 2nd round pick, his salary has no upper limit right?

[dsorc]

I don't understand what Europe would do for Bill Walker. He won't play that much as a rookie, since Europe operates heavily on a seniority system. He won't learn the NBA game. He won't get individualized instruction. He won't learn the C's system.

I still am completely lost on the motivation to send him to Europe. To save a roster spot? It's not like we have too many players. To save some cash? Seriously, the guy isn't going to make more than $500k. That's absolute chump change, our owners are not that cheap.

He should stay here, practice, play in the D league for a bit, and who knows maybe get into a few games here and there. Learn our system. Work with our coaches. The guy has serious potential, let's develop it ourselves. We have some excellent player development coaches, let's use em.

What exactly is the point of sending him to Europe?

One of the things that I have heard mention as an advantage is the schedule. Some european leagues play less frequently which leads to more practices that are more than just walkthroughs. If this is the case, even if he is in the bench in both leagues, the extra practice time and teaching may be benificial.

[lantinm]

I'm so glad this topic was posted, because the whole Bill Walker to Europe thing is ridiculous, imo. I've seen Walker play 10-12 times and he can no doubt help us this year (if healthy). Personally, I think Danny is going to use some of the MLE on him and lock him up for a while. Furthermore, if he's going to play in Europe, then why is he spending his summer in Boston? Granted, he has to rehab some, but I just get the feeling he's here to stay. He can benefit greatlly by practicing with this team and learning from our vets. Heck, letting him dominate in the D-League wouldn't be such a bad thing either.

[Collinto]

As I posted previously, this suggestion that we send an american college player to Europe to develop for a couple of years has never happened...NEVER.

[MVP16]

As I posted previously, this suggestion that we send an american college player to Europe to develop for a couple of years has never happened...NEVER.

Detroit just sent Trent Plaisted to Italy and are also expected to send their other 2nd round pick Deron Washington to Europe.

The only reason to send Walker to Europe is for a roster spot. DA left 2 open roster spots last year and if we sign Giddens + Walker we would only have 1 left. DA could potentially still be looking for vet backup players at 3 different positions: pg, sf and c. Sending Walker to Europe gives Danny a little bit more flexibility. Imagine if we sign both Giddens and Walker. Then midway through the season, PJ Brown decides that he wants to come back for another shot at a title and Rondo gets injured. If we start the season with 14 players, DA would have to choose between getting another pg to fill in for Rondo or getting PJ.

But I agree that it would be much better for Walker's development if he stayed here. Not only for the obvious fact that he would learn under the tutelage of better coaches and play against better competition, but he would also be better off with our strength and conditioning coaches whom TA has given a lot of credit for helping him come back from two knee surgeries. In the end I expect Walker to be signed because: it was rumored that Detroit asked him if he was willing to go to Europe for a year and he said no, he has reportedly been working hard in Waltham and DA was initially hesitant to send players to the DLeague, never mind Europe. If you look at last year, Pruitt was signed late August and Big Baby was signed early September, so it's not something new with Danny waiting to sign the rookies.

[JMillott]

The reason to send him to Europe is that you have him on a rookie contract for a few years when he returns if you sign him using the MLE money which they can do under the cap. Even if you just let him get healthy next year and then ink him to a three year deal its longterm salary control for a team which has a ton invested in the big three.

[Rocky5000]

^You can sign him to as big of a contract as you want, there is no salary scale for 2nd round picks. If he makes $3M Euros a year, he may not want to return for any less than a couple million, which we would have to pay him. Atm, he's a little bit of an unknown, and we could sign him for cheap, for 3 or even for 4 years, if that's what Danny wants. If his knee hadn't been a question mark, most people think he'd be a top 10 pick this year.

[Celtics_85]

When word first came down about sending him to Europe, Posey was not signed at the time. If we had signed Posey and brought back TA as first planned, then Walker would have been sent to Europe. This is just being overplayed now, and if anything at this point, if he isn't signed by us then his rights will be traded in some kind of deal, though unlikely. Bottom line, he is going to be part of this team next year.

[BillessuR6]

Sending him to Europe only makes sense if we want to save a roster spot for a veteran. If Walker can`t help us this year I am all for it. He just needs to find a good club. He would improve 10 times as much playing in good domestic league and Euroleague than in NBDL. He would learn professionalism, team play, different systems and with only 2 games per week could receive a lot of individual training...

But it is of course true that he could get really nice offers next year after a good season in Europe. So, giving him a minimum for 3 years might not be a bad idea. He would certainly command more if we were to sign him after a year or two in Europe.

[Rocky5000]

Didn't we pay the Wizards something like $2M to get him? It makes me wonder why they are quibbling with Giddens and about a few hundred grand.

[BillessuR6]

I think we payed 600k...

[GuyClinch]

If we can support Scalabrine and Pollard and win a championship last year - we can carry a guy like Walker on the roster. Europe is a bad idea.

[Khoee]

I remember Ainge talking about drafting players in the 2nd round this year who agreed to goto Europe for a couple years of seasoning.

With the Euro kicking the dollar's ass, Walker could get a pretty sweet deal and probably an even better second deal in Europe that would dwarf what the Celtics would give him as a 2nd rounder.

We better keep Walker here on the cheap or he is gonna cost down the road.

If we let him goto Europe, we might not get him back.

I'm compiling a list of the most entertaining posters across the internet and you're one of them...the selection committe includes myself, engineers from NASA and Google, consultants from McKinsey and the GOP, and athletes from the special Olympics...

don't let it go to your head though...it doesn't come with a prize...

[sully00]

To start with the whole the reason that Bill Walker is a Celtic is that he gave the hairy middle finger with kethcup on top to the idea of going to Europe. That is why DET didn't pick him and WASH was willing to sell his rights. Whether it is a good idea or not doesn't really matter becuase he ain't going.

Now he likely made that point in reference in delaying his NBA career not in reference to making a gazillion euros overseas so that part has to play out but I don't think that this kid has any interest in taking a european vacation.