Keeping Bill Walker

[GuyClinch]

^^^ No kidding.. This guy hasn't really reached his potential yet - and might never but I will take my chances holding onto the guy rather then dumping him for a clown like Sasha. We are getting Daniels either way. Danny is smart to draw a line in the sand with regards to the S & T. Why should we give away the farm?

[MyInsatiableOne]

Walker has done NOTHING in the NBA...I realize he seems like a nice kid, but c'mon, let's see him actually DO something to help us at the NBA level before we go ga-ga over him...

How exactly is not wanting to dump him in a S&T so we can save a bi annual exception we never use for a back up swingman who can't shoot who will sign here anyhow, translate to going "ga-ga?"

I'm not saying we should dump him...he has the potential to be a very good bench player...I'd much rather keep Walker (and dump Giddens)...it just seems some people overvalue...he'll never be better than a solid bench guy, and it irritates me when people keep harping on his dunking prowess from college...

[BRUNiNHO91]

I'm not saying we should dump him...he has the potential to be a very good bench player...I'd much rather keep Walker (and dump Giddens)...it just seems some people overvalue...he'll never be better than a solid bench guy, and it irritates me when people keep harping on his dunking prowess from college...

And that type of 'prediction' irritates me..how do you know he won't be a solid starter in this league?

[sully00]

Walker has done NOTHING in the NBA...I realize he seems like a nice kid, but c'mon, let's see him actually DO something to help us at the NBA level before we go ga-ga over him...

How exactly is not wanting to dump him in a S&T so we can save a bi annual exception we never use for a back up swingman who can't shoot who will sign here anyhow, translate to going "ga-ga?"

I'm not saying we should dump him...he has the potential to be a very good bench player...I'd much rather keep Walker (and dump Giddens)...it just seems some people overvalue...he'll never be better than a solid bench guy, and it irritates me when people keep harping on his dunking prowess from college...

The video was of his dunking prowess in the NBA. In college he averaged 16/6 in only 27 mpg as a soph. interestingly the same numbers Pierce put up as a sophomore at Kansas in the same Big 12 conference, minus the killer 3pt shooting. I would not be so quick to dismiss what kind of player Bill Walker could be and let him be it. I don't think he is another Paul Pierce but I do think he has the skills to be a very good starter and perhaps a star, especially when you look at how he seems to have spent his offseason compared to his former running mate who got the ticket to ride.

[LenBiasBaller]

Those are some serious highlights for someone that only played about 300 minutes in the NBA. The kid is only 21 years old and since HS he was considered a lock for the lottery.

His upside is endless and he has no fear going up against anyone. We should NEVER trade low and sell high. He is one of DA's projects and he should progress just fine.

I can't wait for the pre-season to start to see who was working hard in the off-season and if any of the young'ins have a shot to crack the rotation.

[15th overall]

The video was of his dunking prowess in the NBA. In college he averaged 16/6 in only 27 mpg as a soph. interestingly the same numbers Pierce put up as a sophomore at Kansas in the same Big 12 conference, minus the killer 3pt shooting. I would not be so quick to dismiss what kind of player Bill Walker could be and let him be it. I don't think he is another Paul Pierce but I do think he has the skills to be a very good starter and perhaps a star, especially when you look at how he seems to have spent his offseason compared to his former running mate who got the ticket to ride.

On top of all that I believe his "freshman year" at KSU was actually what wouldve been his senior year in high school.

If i remember things right he lost his HS eligibility after his junior year then tried to challenge the NBA's age limit rule. After that fell out he found some loophole that allowed him to play for KSU during their spring semester if he became a PT student while he was a HS senior.

That whole ordeal is what originally got me fascinated by Bill Walker.

[7seventynine9]

Bill Walker is the new Celtics binky. I doubt he ever amounts to much and the reason many hype him is because of his athletic ability. Im guessing he'll be out of the league in a year or two much like the other great binky Gabe Pruitt.

[humblebum]

I don't really understand why you wouldn't want Walker to have a chance to show his stuff here in Boston. He's got two things going for him for certain at the NBA level: he's not anywhere near being afraid or fearful of the level of competition and he has the physical tools to be a successful player in the league. The questions around Walker have to do with will he develop his overall floor game which is related to his work ethic and BBIQ and he needs to stay healthy. If he can do those things then his competitive nature and physical ability will allow him to reach at the very least starter level ability. It's too early to dump Walker off unless you really love what you're getting back and the only way you can get it is by dealing him.

[GuyClinch]

I'd keep him unless it actually prevents us from signing Daniels. I think that his value around the league is far lower then it could be with the right grooming. He is very young, athletic, even has a little J and seems to have an excellent mental make up. At the same time he has shown nothing in the league and thus is basically worthless as far as trade value goes.

The real issue comes down to Giddens vs. Walker if we need to pick one to pull off some needed trade. I lean towards Walker since he was a blue chip prospect back in HS, is younger and has more size. Giddens advantages seem to be far superior skill levels with regards to the one on one game with nearly equal levels of athleticism. Its a tough call and harkens back to the Kedrick Brown/Joe Johnson days. Of course NOW it seems like a no brainer - but back then it wasn't so easy.

Pete

[humblebum]

Ya, I agree that it ultimately comes to down to Bill Walker vs. JR Giddens and I think that the mitigating factor is which player is better able to complement Rondo as player, particularly in regards to balancing Rajon's lack of a consistent jump shot. Whichever player can prove that they can spread the floor and stay out of Rajon's way or better yet complement what he's doing on the floor will have the first crack at consistent rotation minutes on this team. It already seems that it will be tough to play Rondo and Daniels together... add in another non-shooter like Giddens or Walker (unless they've improved in this area or if Rondo has improved considerably... and you have three non-range shooters at your traditional shooting positions PG-SF. My hope is that Walker has that solid mid-range and sometimes three point shot down this season and with his ability to go up for alley-oops and get out on the break, and post up he could really be a nice complement to a House/Daniels backcourt or to play alongside a Rondo/Ray combination.

[billfromBoston]

Sully, repetitive injury history is injury prone. TA has played 5 years, only exceeded 70 games twice, he's injury prone. Walker had 2 operations on his left knee and 1 on his right before he played an NBA game. KG has played 14 seasons, of those 12 were over 70 games. Ridiculous to compare the two.

Of course Ainge bought his rights for squat. 3'rd total knee injury, all GM's accepted what I do and it seems few others here do. Walker is highly likely to have a career cut short due to his knees, and is unlikely to meet the expectations of many here who somehow think he's destined to be a great NBA player because he can do that thing apparently many think extraordinary for the NBA, which is dunk the ball. Whoopdedo.

i'm sorry, but its these asinine comments that rile me up...do some research on ACL surgery/recovery and knee scopes....no where will you find it documented by a medical professional that simply HAVING a knee injury makes you prone to further knee injuries - its the PROCEDURE that determines the recovery and likelihood of re-injury, not the injury itself.

Love the amateur surgeons chiming in with heresy - there are countless pro athletes that have had major knee injuries and recovered to never experience them again - Walker is in his 2nd year - let's see what happens...I consider a right and left ACL tear to be unfortunate, not a pattern...

[Dave_From_NB]

i'm sorry, but its these asinine comments that rile me up...do some research on ACL surgery/recovery and knee scopes....no where will you find it documented by a medical professional that simply HAVING a knee injury makes you prone to further knee injuries - its the PROCEDURE that determines the recovery and likelihood of re-injury, not the injury itself.

Love the amateur surgeons chiming in with heresy - there are countless pro athletes that have had major knee injuries and recovered to never experience them again - Walker is in his 2nd year - let's see what happens...I consider a right and left ACL tear to be unfortunate, not a pattern...

Well, either he slid to 48'th pick because GM's disagree with your medical opinion, or Walker just wasn't worthy of a higher pick. Either way, the hype is pretty bizarre for this guy. Granted the team was better, but the dude got fewer rookie minutes than Gerald Green for goodness sakes, and Green was substancially younger. Not comparing their game, attitude or anything else, but Walker is closer to being cut IMO than to being a star starter as has been hinted by some. It'll be an interesting season for watching this and other things unfold.

[sully00]

Green was a year younger than Walker in their rookie years, and is the same age as Giddens. Teams were clearly scared off by Walker's knee injury and his inability to work out and he compounded that by making it pretty clear he had no interest in going to Europe.

What is your point? It goes up your ass that people think that a young player has some talent and ability? There is no hype, people think the guy can play and he shouldn't be cut or pissed away in a trade that doesn't really have to happen and you find that bizarre? I think the kid could be really good and I don't think he will crack 750 mins this year because of the make up of this team and its goals. Did you hate on Leon the same way?