Peak v. Prime and Longevity, the Bill Walton story

Post #1 » by **penbeast0** » Mon Jan 9, 2023 1:14 am

To make a more extreme version of the Magic/Stockton thread, would you rather draft Bill Walton in 74 (to play in the 70s/80s, not for today's league) knowing about the risks of his foot injuries that will make it rare that he plays the majority of a season and into the playoffs but when healthy, 1 top 3 player in the world. OR, would you rather draft Maurice Lucas, a very good but not great player with no health issues (assume he has not signed with the ABA)?

wojoaderge · Post #2 » by **wojoaderge** » Mon Jan 9, 2023 1:26 am

In retrospect? Still Walton

Post #3 » by **tsherkin** » Mon Jan 9, 2023 3:06 am

I'd still take a crack at Walton. Short window versus no window? Yes, please.

Post #4 » by **penbeast0** » Mon Jan 9, 2023 4:33 am

For those who would pick Walton, what if it was Bobby Jones instead of Maurice Lucas?

Oh, and while Lucas isn't your #1 guy on a title team, he was the #2 on Walton's only title as a starter. And even then Walton only played 65 games in the regular season and that was his only healthy playoff as a starter. Lot of "only" there.

ronnymac2 · Post #5 » by **ronnymac2** » Mon Jan 9, 2023 4:39 am

I honestly think Lucas is the right answer and for the longest time has been the most underrated historic player on this board, but I'd go with Walton because it'd be more fun.

wojoaderge · Post #6 » by **wojoaderge** » Mon Jan 9, 2023 4:43 am

penbeast0 wrote:For those who would pick Walton, what if it was Bobby Jones instead of Maurice Lucas?

You know what I think of that

AEnigma · Post #7 » by **AEnigma** » Mon Jan 9, 2023 6:57 am

As with the Stockton/Magic thread, key assumption is I have the lesser player on a reasonably advantageous contract. For Lucas relative to Walton, that bar is quite low. For Bobby, it goes a lot higher, to the point I would probably take Bobby as a third or even second star and trust over his career I would have a better shot at a title than the one year where I need to really maximise Walton.

ShaqAttac · Post #8 » by **ShaqAttac** » Mon Jan 9, 2023 8:52 am

wasnt peak walton = kareem

70sFan · Post #9 » by **70sFan** » Mon Jan 9, 2023 10:09 am

The problem with Walton is that outside this one season window in 1977, his contract hurt his teams a lot. I'd comfortably take Bobby Jones over him and to be honest, Maurice was quite good, so maybe it's better to spot him as your 2nd/3rd guy and try to get a better first option than to gamble with Walton

Ryoga Hibiki · Post #10 » by **Ryoga Hibiki** » Mon Jan 9, 2023 12:32 pm

I think his peak is too short to be properly evaluated, especially if you have it very high all time
I like to look at the context rather than just base everything on one year.