Maybe trading Billy Walker was a good idea.
Feelings on both sides of the 'trade Billy Walker for cash' issue have been expressed on this site. My initial reaction on draft night was disappointment. Since, I've become neutral to the scenario, figuring that Walker would not have made the team in the first place.
Head over to the Hoops World Blog to check out a YouTube of Walker recently mixing it up with the Houston Rockets. Now, the action in the clip might not sway you to the 'good trade' side of the argument....however, take note that the Celtics announcers recount that Tommy Heinsohn calls Walker the most combative Celtic and say that he's already picked a fight with Kevin Garnett in practice.
Knowing what we know about the Wizards and the dynamic of the team, I would suggest that we don't want a "personality" like Walker in the locker room.
On another note, how 'bout that Ron Artest?
about 1 year ago
Truth About It
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That first shove by Mcgrady was inexcusable during a preseason game but
you’re right. He looks like a hothead
by hibachi on Oct 13, 2008 1:15 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
It was a good idea to trade him
He needs to stay in his place. He is a rookie second-rounder trying to find a place on a team coming in thinking he can intimidate two NBA superstars like Tracy and Yao. Thats whats inexcusable.
Also, if I were him i’d be trying to get Kevin Garnett to be my best friend not fighting him.
by lj15 on Oct 13, 2008 4:47 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Wow
What rookie in his right mind would pick a fight with Garnett?
by hotplate on Oct 13, 2008 6:14 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
It's not about Walker
I don’t think Wizards fans were upset about trading Walker to the Celtics… They were upset about trading the PICK…
I doubt very seriously that the Wizards would have selected Walker, had they elected to keep the pick.
Given the roster situation, I think Ernie would have drafted a Euro in the 2nd round, and stashed him overseas…
by Rook6980 on Oct 13, 2008 7:50 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
The proper phrase would be...
“Euro Stash”
…..something we should start using more often. And yes, I would not have minded if Grunfeld took that route.
Representing DC with Wizards & Stuff - Truth About It Dot Net
by Truth About It on Oct 13, 2008 8:43 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I thought the term was
“Draft and stash.”
I’m tired of that strategy, especially after the JCN fiasco.
You know you'll get devoured by Cheaney, Wallace, and Juwan Howard.
by Mike Prada on Oct 13, 2008 8:46 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I like the play on Euro Trash
Which is also one of my favorite terms.
I think we should always hold that strategy as an option……and of course I’ll point to the Spurs as an example.
I guess the use of it is contingent on a number of factors….such as current roster and scouting ability.
Representing DC with Wizards & Stuff - Truth About It Dot Net
by Truth About It on Oct 13, 2008 11:06 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Fiasco?
Not so sure that you could call JCN a fiasco…
If, by fiasco, you mean to imply that somehow Ernie Grunfeld didn’t get max value from the trade – then I disagree.
If, by fiasco, you mean that Ernie Grunfeld should have signed JCN – then I disagree.
If, by fiasco, you mean that Navarro never intended to be a Wizard; never wanted to play here; and that he and his agent did everything they could to ensure he went somewhere else. – then I agree with that.
by Rook6980 on Oct 14, 2008 9:57 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Point is
What’s the point of drafting Euros when they either a) don’t want to play here, b) can potentially sign for much more money overseas or c) force you to trade them?
You know you'll get devoured by Cheaney, Wallace, and Juwan Howard.
by Mike Prada on Oct 14, 2008 10:14 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Because
Because Navarro’s case is an aberration.
The hope is that a team can pick up a talented player, stash them overseas to get more seasoning, and bring them to the NBA when they’re ready…….. like:
Manu Ginobli (drafted 2nd round 1999, joined the Spurs 2002)
Andrei Kirilenko (drafted #24 in 1999, joined Utah in 2001)
Nenad Krstić (drafted # 24 in 2002, joined NJ in 2004)
Jorge Garbajosa (undrafted)
and our own future All-Star, Oleksiy Pecherov (drafted # 18 in 2006, joined Washington in 2007)
by Rook6980 on Oct 14, 2008 11:07 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Those are aberrations
For every Manu Ginobili, there are five Tiago Splitters who chose to follow the money and get a pro contract overseas. It’s not worth the risk of losing a draft pick, because there’s little financial incentive for those Euros to stick with their NBA teams when their rookie contract is much less than anything they could make in Europe.
It was a big-time strategy earlier in the decade, but recent years indicate it’s becoming more risky, with guys like Splitter, Fran Vasquez and Ersan Ilyasova being prime examples. Oh, and JCN too.
You know you'll get devoured by Cheaney, Wallace, and Juwan Howard.
by Mike Prada on Oct 14, 2008 12:59 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
but
I only used examples where a Team drafted a player, and allowed them to stay overseas…. before bringing them over…
I could have used a ton more examples of International players drafted, who came directly to the NBA…
Dirk Nowitzki, Jose Calderon, Tony Parker, Yao Ming, Pau Gasol, Mehmet Okur, Leandro Barbosa, Zydrunis Ilgauskas, Andres Nocioni, Peja Stojakovic, Andrew Bogut, Andris Biedrins, Anderson Varejao, Hedo Turkoglu, Andrea Bargnani………….. I could keep going…. I doubt you could keep naming TOP players that skipped the NBA to play in Europe..
So if a couple of mid-Low level players decide to make a few bucks in Europe – It still won’t matter. The greatest majority of the best players in the World will eventually make it to the NBA.
An NBA team cannot afford to skip over a Top International prospect, on the off-chance that he may not sign. Name me one GM that would say “I’ll pick the less talented guy, because the guy I really want may want to play in Europe”…."
by Rook6980 on Oct 14, 2008 4:50 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
BTW
An excellent article on DraftExpress about Brandon Jennings going to Europe by Luis Fernández – Director of International Scouting
http://www.draftexpress.com/article/Brandon-Jennings-to-Europe,-Which-Europe-2960/
His point is that it’s not as simple as “going to Europe” to play. There is a mish-mash of different Leagues, with varying skill levels, styles, salary levels and pressures.
If it was Jennings’ intention to go to Europe for a year to show his talents for NBA scouts, then he better make a good choice as to which team he selects – otherwise, he’ll be sitting on a European bench while his contemporaries are showcasing their talents in the College ranks.
UPDATE: Interesting that Jennings signed with Pallacanestro Virtus Roma of Italian Series A League…. Luis Fernández says it is a "physical league where strength and mental toughness is at a premium, two things a player like Jennings cannot be expected to bring to the table "
by Rook6980 on Oct 14, 2008 10:17 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
off topic?
This got a little off topic…. for that I apologize…
My original point was that the Wizards probably never intended to draft Billy Walker. He was the Celtics choice. The Wizards, given their roster situation, probably would have played the "Euro Stash" card.
(I like that term, Truth About It )
by Rook6980 on Oct 14, 2008 10:20 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
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