Post by John on Aug 9, 2005 12:10:10 GMT -4
Guys, even though I'm the Wolves GM, I love the Celtics in real life. Antoine Walker was dealt in the biggest NBA trade in history involving five teams and 13 players. The Celtics didn't get a lot back, since it was merely a sign and trade with the Miami Heat, but just trading Walker away, even to a division rival, is the definition of addition by subtraction.
Walker had been drafted by the Celtics in 1996 and it seemed like he would be the guy who could bring the Celtics back to the depths they'd sunk to in the Rick Pitino era. It seemed plausible - a player with his size, physical gifts and obvious talents with passing and ballhandling. Unfortunately, that never happened as he became a pretty good player, but never great and it seemed that he himself kept himself from becoming a great player with an atrocious shot selection and constant turnovers. Add to that, a coaching staff which perpetually let him get away with these sins, and it was a recipe for trouble.
Danny Ainge took over the basketball operations for the Celtics in 2003 and immediately made his mark by trading Walker away, noting that the Celtics wouldn't improve with Walker or Pierce as they had plateaued. It wasn't a totally popular move in Boston, but Ainge has a great reputation, so people gave him a little slack. The Celtics had to take on Raef LaFrentz' bad contract to get rid of him, but to think about how maddening it was to watch Walker, it was worth it.
Walker came back to the Celtics in 2005, basically because he was a free agent to be in the summer, but all the while I was praying that Ainge hadn't lost it and would stick to his guns and NOT sign Walker just because Walker was so popular in Boston. Thankfully, it appears that Ainge is a shrewd talent evaluator and knows how to build a team. Shipping Walker out for nothing would have been a terrific move, but the Celtics did get two second round draft picks and a few players, one being Qyntel Woods - another player with loads of potential but has had off the court problems.
All in all, while the Celtics haven't had an active offseason, they've already had a very very good one. Their draft which netted Gerald Green and Ryan Gomes already has people buzzing about the Celtics once again. Sure, signing Brian Scalabrine was not a franchise maker, but getting rid of Walker was a wonderful move and it will help Al Jefferson grow more which will be a great thing to watch.
Call me a Walker hater if you will, but the fact that he had the worst shot selection I've ever seen combined with the physical tools of an All-Star but seemingly refused to put it together, I'm ok with that label.
Walker had been drafted by the Celtics in 1996 and it seemed like he would be the guy who could bring the Celtics back to the depths they'd sunk to in the Rick Pitino era. It seemed plausible - a player with his size, physical gifts and obvious talents with passing and ballhandling. Unfortunately, that never happened as he became a pretty good player, but never great and it seemed that he himself kept himself from becoming a great player with an atrocious shot selection and constant turnovers. Add to that, a coaching staff which perpetually let him get away with these sins, and it was a recipe for trouble.
Danny Ainge took over the basketball operations for the Celtics in 2003 and immediately made his mark by trading Walker away, noting that the Celtics wouldn't improve with Walker or Pierce as they had plateaued. It wasn't a totally popular move in Boston, but Ainge has a great reputation, so people gave him a little slack. The Celtics had to take on Raef LaFrentz' bad contract to get rid of him, but to think about how maddening it was to watch Walker, it was worth it.
Walker came back to the Celtics in 2005, basically because he was a free agent to be in the summer, but all the while I was praying that Ainge hadn't lost it and would stick to his guns and NOT sign Walker just because Walker was so popular in Boston. Thankfully, it appears that Ainge is a shrewd talent evaluator and knows how to build a team. Shipping Walker out for nothing would have been a terrific move, but the Celtics did get two second round draft picks and a few players, one being Qyntel Woods - another player with loads of potential but has had off the court problems.
All in all, while the Celtics haven't had an active offseason, they've already had a very very good one. Their draft which netted Gerald Green and Ryan Gomes already has people buzzing about the Celtics once again. Sure, signing Brian Scalabrine was not a franchise maker, but getting rid of Walker was a wonderful move and it will help Al Jefferson grow more which will be a great thing to watch.
Call me a Walker hater if you will, but the fact that he had the worst shot selection I've ever seen combined with the physical tools of an All-Star but seemingly refused to put it together, I'm ok with that label.