Draft City/Bill Walker-overseas? (Merged)

[BudweiserCeltic]

Tony is playing out of position, coming of a horrible knee injury... he should be much better this year, hopefully playing more at his natural position. His turnover rate more than doubled when he played PG instead of SG. But there's a ton of value in having Tony around capable of running the point, even as bad as he is.

Tony Allen at the PG is a decision that no GM in his right mind would make.  The guy has absolutely no value if he runs the point.  He is a SG and we have viable replacements on the roster. 

Maybe we can trade him for that center in S/T. 

It's not about not wanting Walker, it's about him not having a role in this current team this year. They want him for next year and on. And I believe it's more about roster flexibility than anything else. The tax thing is just a bonus.

If they can find a spot for him, great.  If not, they can easily place him as the final spot on the roster and have him play in the NBDL.  I simply don't see the final spot as that big of a deal either way. 

The idea is not of Tony running the point for us. The idea is that he's capable of doing it. It's a utility man of sorts... the value is in him being able to play multiple positions as needed in particular cases, especially if our back-up PG is small. Anyways, I see Rondo playing more minutes and Pruitt getting a bit of burn as our PG, but that Tony can play PG is a good thing to have.

The final spot is a big deal... it's what enabled us to get PJ. Roster flexibilty in the later portion of the season is important.

[bucknersrevenge]

Tony is playing out of position, coming of a horrible knee injury... he should be much better this year, hopefully playing more at his natural position. His turnover rate more than doubled when he played PG instead of SG. But there's a ton of value in having Tony around capable of running the point, even as bad as he is.

Tony Allen at the PG is a decision that no GM in his right mind would make.  The guy has absolutely no value if he runs the point.  He is a SG and we have viable replacements on the roster. 

Maybe we can trade him for that center in S/T. 

It's not about not wanting Walker, it's about him not having a role in this current team this year. They want him for next year and on. And I believe it's more about roster flexibility than anything else. The tax thing is just a bonus.

If they can find a spot for him, great.  If not, they can easily place him as the final spot on the roster and have him play in the NBDL.  I simply don't see the final spot as that big of a deal either way. 

The idea is not of Tony running the point for us. The idea is that he's capable of doing it. It's a utility man of sorts... the value is in him being able to play multiple positions as needed in particular cases, especially if our back-up PG is small. Anyways, I see Rondo playing more minutes and Pruitt getting a bit of burn as our PG, but that Tony can play PG is a good thing to have.

The final spot is a big deal... it's what enabled us to get PJ. Roster flexibilty in the later portion of the season is important.

under that logic, if they find a backup center they like before the season begins it renders this conversation moot. not only do i think walker wouldnt go and that his agent would do everything in his power not to let him go it just doesnt make sense. i dont think walker is nearly as raw as being suggested here. and everything ive heard from danny suggests he believes walker can be every bit the player he was and more with the right treatment, development and guidance around him.

dont think for a second that having 2 great role models like paul and ray doesnt come into play with this. ray is reknowned for how well his focus, professionalism and preparation rubs off on younger players. rashard lewis swears by him. as does damien wilkins among others. and we need look no further than rondo here. bill is a huge fan of paul pierce. walker and giddens have some question marks mostly maturity issues but this is EXACTLY the lockerroom for them to be in. you WASTE that asset by suggesting walker go overseas to learn from people he doesnt know or respect.

[Roy Hobbs]

Sending Walker abroad would make sense for the Celts, as many have said.  Assuming we don't dip into the MLE for him, we'll have Walker's rights for two seasons.  That doesn't start running until he actually signs with us.  Thus, it obviously makes some sense to have him get completely healthy and to have him further develop his game before we start that two year clock ticking.

That being said, I doubt very much that Walker would go for this.  He stayed in the draft because he wants to play in the NBA, and the sooner he fulfills his two years with the Celts, the quicker he can hit free agency and get paid. 

[lon3lytoaster]

Can't say I like this idea. What if he turns into a superstud in Europe or whatever and gets more money to stay over there and chooses to? Then by that time we'd lose his rights and he could sign with anyone.

[Roy Hobbs]

Can't say I like this idea. What if he turns into a superstud in Europe or whatever and gets more money to stay over there and chooses to? Then by that time we'd lose his rights and he could sign with anyone.

That's not how it works.  If Walker played in Europe, we'd retain his rights, no matter how long he stayed over there.  When you draft a player and he plays for a non-NBA team, you retain his rights for one year after the expiration of his non-NBA contract.

[Chris]

I would be shocked if the C's send Walker overseas.  They wanted to send raw players overseas...but Walker isn't that raw.  If he is healthy, he could probably play in the NBA right now.

The issue is his health.  The C's likely will want him on an intense rehab routine, trying to keep him healthy.  They will likely want him under their trainers care at all times.  They are allowed to send a coach or trainer with him if he goes to the NBDL for experience, so I think they will take advantage of that.

I think the whole thing about europe is just someone putting 2 and 2 together after Ainge's comments before the draft about him looking for players who would agree to play in europe...but I don't think that was ever about someone like Walker.  That was about European players, or very raw players (which Walker is not).

[BudweiserCeltic]

Tony is playing out of position, coming of a horrible knee injury... he should be much better this year, hopefully playing more at his natural position. His turnover rate more than doubled when he played PG instead of SG. But there's a ton of value in having Tony around capable of running the point, even as bad as he is.

Tony Allen at the PG is a decision that no GM in his right mind would make.  The guy has absolutely no value if he runs the point.  He is a SG and we have viable replacements on the roster. 

Maybe we can trade him for that center in S/T. 

It's not about not wanting Walker, it's about him not having a role in this current team this year. They want him for next year and on. And I believe it's more about roster flexibility than anything else. The tax thing is just a bonus.

If they can find a spot for him, great.  If not, they can easily place him as the final spot on the roster and have him play in the NBDL.  I simply don't see the final spot as that big of a deal either way. 

The idea is not of Tony running the point for us. The idea is that he's capable of doing it. It's a utility man of sorts... the value is in him being able to play multiple positions as needed in particular cases, especially if our back-up PG is small. Anyways, I see Rondo playing more minutes and Pruitt getting a bit of burn as our PG, but that Tony can play PG is a good thing to have.

The final spot is a big deal... it's what enabled us to get PJ. Roster flexibilty in the later portion of the season is important.

under that logic, if they find a backup center they like before the season begins it renders this conversation moot. not only do i think walker wouldnt go and that his agent would do everything in his power not to let him go it just doesnt make sense. i dont think walker is nearly as raw as being suggested here. and everything ive heard from danny suggests he believes walker can be every bit the player he was and more with the right treatment, development and guidance around him.

dont think for a second that having 2 great role models like paul and ray doesnt come into play with this. ray is reknowned for how well his focus, professionalism and preparation rubs off on younger players. rashard lewis swears by him. as does damien wilkins among others. and we need look no further than rondo here. bill is a huge fan of paul pierce. walker and giddens have some question marks mostly maturity issues but this is EXACTLY the lockerroom for them to be in. you WASTE that asset by suggesting walker go overseas to learn from people he doesnt know or respect.

If the Celtics don't plan on using him anyways through the season, then you don't WASTE anything. He plays one year overseas, and you still have the rights to him. How is that a waste?

And no, under that logic it doesn't render this conversation moot. We had Scott Pollard remember? He got injured, that's why the real need for PJ arised. And it's not only about a Center. What about if our back-up PG gets injured, what if Ray, Paul, or KG get injured and we need to find some vet. depth in that position suddenly? There are a myriad of reasons for why having that roster flexibility at the end of the season can be very helpful.

[Mon]

I would be shocked if the C's send Walker overseas.  They wanted to send raw players overseas...but Walker isn't that raw.  If he is healthy, he could probably play in the NBA right now.

The issue is his health.  The C's likely will want him on an intense rehab routine, trying to keep him healthy.  They will likely want him under their trainers care at all times.  They are allowed to send a coach or trainer with him if he goes to the NBDL for experience, so I think they will take advantage of that.

I think the whole thing about europe is just someone putting 2 and 2 together after Ainge's comments before the draft about him looking for players who would agree to play in europe...but I don't think that was ever about someone like Walker.  That was about European players, or very raw players (which Walker is not).

That's how I feel as well.  He is NOT that raw.  The reason he dropped to the second round was due to the injuries.  But his skill set is NBA ready.  Now he has to adjust to his role, NBA schedules, NBA defenses, etc....

But he is not raw!  Keep him here with the big boys!

[wahz]

You guys, when TA "played the point" it was PP who was actually playing the point. He would typically bring the ball up as far as he could, then fire a safety pass usually to Tony, Ray or House depending on who was in, and then they would get the ball back to him asap and run the offense through Paul.
It worked well, actually, unless there was serious on the ball pressure. We all understand Tony can't dribble.
I don't know if they are going to keep TA but its tragic what happened to him and I am hoping he gets signed a gets one more shot.I think he was a decent contributor this year. He became a good teammate too. Its not my money, though.