This Antione Deal does nothing for me

[Celtic17]

jambr380 said:

2 more 2nd rnd picks?? do we really need more 2nd rnd picks?

This gives DA options to trade up on draft day. Also, look at the 2nd round picks he has nabbed the last couple years. I say this is much better than nothing.

[meltinjohn]

Sure is.

[celtics4ever]

He wasn't coming back here, period. This was the best they could get for Twon. That speaks volumes to me.

Danny and C management did not want him for the length of contract he sought. They wanted him cheap and short term.

At least Danny got something for Walker which is better than nothing. By the time we are ready to contend that Miami team will be Shaq free. I give it 3 years or so. Hopefully, by then we will be ready.

Youth is exciting to me because its unknown and the Chris kid sounds like a prospect with some potential. Not great potential but sounds like he needs to get healthy. I am sure Ainge had these fellows brain typed. Walker will have a shot a ring. We got something for a free agent who was going to walk. Sounds like a win win to me.

[DERRENMATTS]

The way Ainge spoke at the press conference, Jefferson is going to be playing a lot this year. Maybe this will be a year spent on youth development. I was hoping we'd be able to compete in the playoffs this year, but if using this year to get our young players up to speed so that the 2007 season will be stronger, then so be it. I wouldn't mind swallowing a .500 season as long as I'm seeing progress from the young guys.

[Roadrunner]

Since AW wanted a lucrative, long-term deal, and Danny bagged that idea years ago, he made the right move. Walker's stock wasn't that high, so we actually got some tradeable assets for him. This opens up the door for AJ to play more minutes as well.

[Celtic17]

Will AW work in Miami's game?
For 8.5+ they mus think so.

If they keep him down low, it might work. And he's not thinking he's the main guy. If he does, he's lost it...

Best of luck to AW - as long as we kick their rear! ! !

[freshnthehouse]

Id take a crappy 05-06 and 06-07 as long as this team is ready to deal some serious pain by the end of the decade.

[Celtic17]

freshnthehouse said:

Id take a crappy 05-06 and 06-07 as long as this team is ready to deal some serious pain by the end of the decade.

Sounds like you want the Celts to kick some !!!GREENIAC!!! in a couple years...

I want it now.
;D
See how I am FreshN? I do know what you mean Greeniac!

[freshnthehouse]

Id love to see them compete in a year or two, but theyll still be so young. besides Pierce and Davis, the most of the import guys will be around 22-3 yrs old. Teams that young rarely do anything in the play-offs.

And Im more than willing to have a couple 20-62 seasons if it would make us contenders in the long run. I have a good friend who has been a spurs fan for a long time, and when we talk basketball, its like our teams play in different leagues. I want to root for a team that is going to win championships, dammit! The last time one of my teams won one was the 91 Twins(the greatest World Series ever, IMO). Im about due.

[Celtic17]

I don't see us going under .500 with this team. Might be slow to start, we'll come out of it. Maybe a trade or two in Jan or Feb. ?

[DERRENMATTS]

I definitely can stomach a losing season--but I don't know about the general public. I don't know if the owners would want that either. We'll see what happens. Ainge still may bring in a vet PG and that may stabilize things more than we expect.

I would not be opposed to bringing back Payton, if he's told up front that Delonte and the young PG's will get a lot of playing time. And he needs to know that running is going to be a key ingredient of our game. Plus he needs to come back cheap. If no other team wants him, he may be had for real cheap.

[meltinjohn]

You think GP is coming back at all? I say no. Unless its at the very end and no more pgs can be had, then maybe he can be the last resort.

[mev17]

But if I recall, Ainge has already said that we are moving in another direction at the PG spot -- that Payton did not have the shooting he would like at the point.

As to how much we got in return for Walker, it was a lot more than Washington got for Hughes or Memphis got for Swift. Like another poster mentioned, the value we received in the trade won't come to fruition until we use the trade exception.

BTW, the exception cannot be used to sign a player, it can only be used to facilitate a trade that otherwise would not be allowed under the CBA. For example, we normally would not be able to trade a $1 million player for a $6.5 million player, but with the $5.5 million exception, we now can. So we could conceivably sent Borchardt's $1.9 million expiring contract and a first round pick for someone earning up to $7.4 million (1.9 million + 5.5 million exemption). It expires a year from when the original trade is made, so we have up to next August to use it.

[mev17]

BTW, I am not convinced the Heat are well on their way to a championship. They now have two players in ball-handling positions (J Williams at PG and A Walker at SF according to what I've read about the trade) who are not exactly well-known for their good decision making. There certainly is potential, but I can see a lot of turnovers as well.

I thought this was an interesting quote in the Miami Herald about the prospect of the Heat adding Walker to their team:

"Bringing in forward Antoine Walker would complete a formidable-looking front line. The only way you might not like such a big, multitalented player is you've actually seen him play. At 6-9, 245, Walker often seems dedicated to embodying the oft-quoted movie review line, ``There's much less here than meets the eye.''

He's not as strong inside as he should be, which is fine unless the Heat wants him at the power-forward spot instead of the 6-8 Haslem. ''Capricious'' describes Walker's shot selection.

MOVING AROUND

Also, take a look at his recent itinerary -- this guy has been passed around more than the good stuff at a Pink Floyd concert. Boston to Dallas to Atlanta and back to Boston. There's a reason.

Ever see somebody who looks good, seems to have everything, so you wonder why they're single, then you go out with them, spend a little time in their orbit and realize why they're single? That's what the Heat is risking if it brings in Antoine Walker.

But I'm going on some more faith here. Maybe Riley sees something else. Maybe he thinks he, coach Stan Van Gundy or peer pressure can get more out of Walker."

www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/sports/basketball/12273474.htm

[meltinjohn]

Who do you think Danny will get with that money? I say he should get nobody for more. Just keep the cap the way it is now.