Is Billy Walker In The Celtic's Future Plans?

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I think with all these young guys the differentiation is in who gets better after they sign with the team.  It's that ability to keep improving once they hit this level that decides whether most guys make it.  Learning the plays and improving their skills are the two elements that they must show.  So far, I'm not sure we've seen that from any of the three young guys the C's have had this year--which is too bad.  We got spoiled by Danny having drafted so many guys who outperformed their drafting level.

Great point.  I think, in part, that depends upon how their game translates to the pro level.  Shelden Williams was a very high 1st round pick, but basically is a journeyman.  He's made a living by basically being a well-schooled athlete who works hard but lacks a lot of talent and hasn't improved much in the NBA.  I really don't know how much talent Billy Walker has or how much he can learn and improve.

I think there is a considerably difference between Williams and Walker. Williams was drafted a high in the first round but he is athletically challenged, undersized and lacks offensive skill.
Walker on the other hand is a good size for small forward and and a superior athlete with an aggressive mindset. My point was do you think we might take our time in helping him reach his maximum potential ala Perk?

I think, unlike the early Perk years, he hasn't show enough yet to say "yes".  If he's around, it will be because he's cheap roster filler and nobody else wanted him in a deal.  He might be around long enough, due to his cheapness rather than talent so far, to prove himself.  That seems to be the consensus answer to the question.

EDIT:  In truth, it was quite a bit easier to stick around on the C's roster when Perk was drafted than it is now.  Perk was also clearly a Center, which was considered very hard to fill.  Also, it is probably easier to be a servicable center than to be a wing player.

[Surferdad]

I think with all these young guys the differentiation is in who gets better after they sign with the team.  It's that ability to keep improving once they hit this level that decides whether most guys make it.  Learning the plays and improving their skills are the two elements that they must show.  So far, I'm not sure we've seen that from any of the three young guys the C's have had this year--which is too bad.  We got spoiled by Danny having drafted so many guys who outperformed their drafting level.

Great point.  I think, in part, that depends upon how their game translates to the pro level.  Shelden Williams was a very high 1st round pick, but basically is a journeyman.  He's made a living by basically being a well-schooled athlete who works hard but lacks a lot of talent and hasn't improved much in the NBA.  I really don't know how much talent Billy Walker has or how much he can learn and improve.

I think there is a considerably difference between Williams and Walker. Williams was drafted a high in the first round but he is athletically challenged, undersized and lacks offensive skill.
Walker on the other hand is a good size for small forward and and a superior athlete with an aggressive mindset. My point was do you think we might take our time in helping him reach his maximum potential ala Perk?

I think, unlike the early Perk years, he hasn't show enough yet to say "yes".  If he's around, it will be because he's cheap roster filler and nobody else wanted him in a deal.  He might be around long enough, due to his cheapness rather than talent so far, to prove himself.  That seems to be the consensus answer to the question.

I don't think the C's can afford to take their time with Walker.  The window on the Big Three continues to close.  He's cheap roster filler until a deal comes along where the C's can get another true rotation player to help in the playoffs.

Let's not forget why Ainge drafted Giddens and Walker:  He wanted to upgrade the athleticism of the team so he took two really good athletes with the hopes that at least one of them would pan out as a legit NBA player.  So far that hasn't happened.  Ainge didn't pick up Giddens option.  Walker is still here because he's a 2nd rounder.

[PLamb]

My theory on late first round and second rounders:

Have two of them on this team at a time

Give them two years

If they have made the top 9 man rotation by then, keep them if not, jettison them and start over with two new kids

[scoop]

My theory on late first round and second rounders:

Have two of them on this team at a time

Give them two years

If they have made the top 9 man rotation by then, keep them if not, jettison them and start over with two new kids

Wouldn't work all the time:
http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/b/bassbr01.html

Re: Walker, I think the answer is no - and the time to get back into them is running out.

[snively]

I like what little I've seen of Bill Walker.  His defense is raw and he has very little handle, but he's pretty smooth and composed on offense.  If he was on a bad team, I'm pretty confident he would have developed into what could pass for a rotation quality back-up wing (maybe not our rotation) by now.