Just as we receive word that one old-timer is interested in coming back, another becomes available. The Memphis Grizzlies today waived Antoine Walker, after coming to a buyout agreement on the remainder of his contract. I know what you're thinking: Antoine Walker was on the Grizzlies? Yes, yes he was. Although it was in name only, as he didn't play in a single game for them this season.Walker was part of the eight-player draft day deal in June that ended up sending O.J. Mayo to Memphis, and saw the Grizzlies send Kevin Love and Mike Miller to Minnesota. Now that Walker's available, the question is, can he still play?
I'm guessing Walker wouldn't have bothered taking a lesser amount than his contract guaranteed him if he was done as a player -- that's just bad business. So assuming he can still contribute something, where might he end up?
I say the Celtics sign him. They already have Sam Cassell's corpse rotting on their bench, and if they're looking to add the (approximately) 57-year-old Dikembe Mutombo, why not let Walker take up a spot and get himself a ring too? He gave the best years of his NBA life to that team, playing for them for seven and a half seasons, including three where he was an All-Star.
So go ahead and cut Cassell (or turn him into an assistant coach, whatever) and give Antoine Walker that roster spot. Since the Celtics are in the business of letting people get rings who do nothing to deserve them, it's really the least they can do.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
12-19-2008 @ 12:03AM
no said...
Walker deserves better then to play for ignorant and arrogant Celtics fans.
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12-19-2008 @ 3:01PM
Maddy said...
I agree with this article to a certain extent, but not the negative parts toward Antoine.
I think that Antoine Walker deserves to come back to Boston. He has learned from whatever "mistakes" he made in the past - and does not expect to become a franchise player. He has proven that he can be an effective player coming off of the bench - look at what he did for Miami in '06. I think it'd be wonderful for 'Toine to be back home in Boston to finish out his career. He's a great teammate and friend of Paul's and I think it be great to have him back as a role player off the bench.
He's not a player who will "do nothing" and get a ring anyway. I think he still has a lot of playing time left and would be really beneficial to the team.
I do agree with the first comment saying that the Celtics fans are ignorant and arrogant. How soon they forget how much Antoine did for the team.
Antoine would certainly be of more and better use than Sam Cassel, and especially more than Dikembe Mutumbo. He deserves a chance to play for a ring in Beantown.
Bring Antoine back home.
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12-22-2008 @ 9:59AM
css said...
I love watching Antoine play. I was a season ticket holder when both he and Pierce came into the league. Whether you liked his game or not, Antoine brought it every night. He could rebound, pass, dribble and shoot. As much as I'd love to see him get a ring for the Celtics, they don't need him now, they already have Powe and Davis playing his role and they have plenty of players who shoot the 3 better than Walker. What the Celtics need is a backup point guard who can bring the ball up court during intense playoff pressure. Clearly last year Casell didn't know the offense, so why this year is he on the team if they aren't grooming him for that role. Mutombo may play the PJ Brown role, but I really think they need a ball handling back up to Rondo.
12-19-2008 @ 6:27PM
f5alcon said...
he could start for the thunder
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12-20-2008 @ 1:09PM
third row said...
Celts would be NUTS to bring back this egomaniac. No one does 'downtrodden' better than 'Twan, which is why no one wants him. He was a good enough guy in his time, but the TRUTH is he brought Paul's play DOWN to his level--thank God the Celts brass kept the right guy. It was PAUL that stuck out all the stinkers to get to today's right chemistry--no need to mess with that. Dikembe as a big body to relieve a few minutes a night is a great choice, because he has no EGO. This is a team of winners--look at the streak for chrissake!
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