Walker A Rocket ?

[SkipToMy_Lou]

On the first day of the NBA's free agent negotiating period, Houston emerged as a potential landing site for Antoine Walker [news].

According to sources, the Rockets contacted Walker's agent, Mark Bartelstein, and expressed interest in the power forward who returned to the Celtics in a trade this past February. Walker, in turn, showed interest in the Rockets and reportedly could be visiting Houston as early as next week.

Director of basketball operations Danny Ainge also contacted Bartelstein to reiterate the Celtics' interest in bringing back Walker. But assuming the Rockets are willing to spend their entire mid-level exception (approximately $5 million for one season), Walker could find Houston a more inviting option than the Celtics because of the Western Conference team's proximity to contending for a title.

The Rockets did sign first-round pick Luther Head, a guard selected with the 24th overall pick in Tuesday's draft.

Source: http://celtics.bostonherald.com/celtics ... 92385','11

[Nel]

I dont like this deal. Man, if i were the GM of houston i'll try to get players like reggie evans, songaila, dalembert who concentrates on reb, defense. Walker isn't a good compliment to yao. He will keep on jacking up brick after brick. Hope this deal not to happen..

[J@3]

I think Walker's underrated... he's not the same player he was 2 or 3 seasons ago, I think he has the ability to put the reigns on the amount of shots he takes if he wants to.

[T-Comm55]

OK so let me get this - Boston, Mass. >> Dallas, Texas. >> Boston, Mass. >> Houston, Texas. all within 2 years? lol

[Andrew]

He was also with the Hawks this year.

[Indy]

Whoever ends up with Walker will not improve.

[FendeR`]

Whoever ends up with Walker will not improve.

I agree with that, for the Rocket's sake I hope they don't sign him.

[kevC]

He'll be great for the Rockets offense if he assumes the role he did with Dallas as a Point-forward but if he wants to jack up shots incessantly it'll be terrible...

[Amphatoast]

since rockets lack point guards he could be a decent pick up since he can bring up the ball up the court without a problem

[Cloudy]

Ha ha, I hope he won't go to Houston, what if Tracy gets mad and leaves again...

[Null17]

I'm ok with him in Houston if he was actually going to help and not be trigger happy

[Fenix]

I thought Houston needs shot-blocking post presence to complement Yao ? Did Antoine changed his game since the last time I saw him play (=playoffs)?

[fgrep15]

I think Walker's underrated... he's not the same player he was 2 or 3 seasons ago, I think he has the ability to put the reigns on the amount of shots he takes if he wants to.

...but he doesn't want to, if he could just be an efficient scorer like he was this season in Boston, and not try so hard to be a SG, then he'd be a good fit, but turnovers and too much outside shooting scares everyone.

[-BHZMAFIA-]

IMO, the Rockets are just mouthing off and I don't expect them to get Walker or Swift because from what I heard on the radio, they contacted Swift as well. I don't see how they would have the money to sign those players to the amount of money they want unless they want to sign for less money just so they can play with Tmac and Yao.

[J@3]

I think Walker's underrated... he's not the same player he was 2 or 3 seasons ago, I think he has the ability to put the reigns on the amount of shots he takes if he wants to.

...but he doesn't want to, if he could just be an efficient scorer like he was this season in Boston, and not try so hard to be a SG, then he'd be a good fit, but turnovers and too much outside shooting scares everyone.

If he was an efficient scorer in Boston then I think that's a fair indication that he's willing to slow down on the amount of shots he takes.

[zmac]

I dont like this deal. Man, if i were the GM of houston i'll try to get players like reggie evans, songaila, dalembert who concentrates on reb, defense. Walker isn't a good compliment to yao. He will keep on jacking up brick after brick. Hope this deal not to happen..

Thats too true! Said like a ....a man??

[cklitsie]

He shot the best he ever did from the field when he was with Boston at the end of this season and he's also a solid rebounder, someone Yao could learn some things from...
I would love for him to go to Houston, just so that the Knicks won't pick him up.

[Kemp]

Hey remember the Inside Outside combo between T-Mac and Yao. Walker will not likely to play with the Rockets, because the main offence will always go to T-Mac first, this guy can average 30 points a game. Along with Yao 20 points 10 rebounds effort per game. Rockets only need these two to get the Rockets to the Champion round. Also, Juwan Howard is Already there along with Vin Baker. Those are good PF so Walker would not join the Rockets. Anyway, the Celtics are trying to trade Paul Pierce so Walker will remain in Boston.

[Zee]

Does Houston even have the money to sign him, or is he willing to sign for the mid-level? If he is, then Houston won't be the only team trying to get him - even though, it's not like he can help anybody improve that much. He's alright, but it's obvious that he lost his touch when he was playing with Dallas.

[baller status]

Hey remember the Inside Outside combo between T-Mac and Yao. Walker will not likely to play with the Rockets, because the main offence will always go to T-Mac first, this guy can average 30 points a game. Along with Yao 20 points 10 rebounds effort per game. Rockets only need these two to get the Rockets to the Champion round. Also, Juwan Howard is Already there along with Vin Baker. Those are good PF so Walker would not join the Rockets. Anyway, the Celtics are trying to trade Paul Pierce so Walker will remain in Boston.

... r u a youth? your points are a little weak and lame. just trade rumors... but if walker were to go to houston, he could make an immediate impact. take some more pressure off of mcgrady and be an offensive threat at the pf position. defensively, i think that he is a better defender then howard is. he could possibly be more affective by playing on the rockets... getting open for 3s and such because of the ball handling that mcgrady and ming do.

[maes]

Also, Juwan Howard is Already there along with Vin Baker. Those are good PF so Walker would not join the Rockets.

You're having a flashback to the 90s. It's 2005.

Houston has a large amount of contracts expiring this year, not as much as NJN but along w/ the greatly increased salary cap they could definitely work a deal w/ Walker for a bit more than the MLE.

The question is, do they resign guys like Mutombo or go for Walker?

[fgrep15]

I think Walker's underrated... he's not the same player he was 2 or 3 seasons ago, I think he has the ability to put the reigns on the amount of shots he takes if he wants to.

...but he doesn't want to, if he could just be an efficient scorer like he was this season in Boston, and not try so hard to be a SG, then he'd be a good fit, but turnovers and too much outside shooting scares everyone.

If he was an efficient scorer in Boston then I think that's a fair indication that he's willing to slow down on the amount of shots he takes.

Who knows, I expected him to be one in Dallas with all the options they had, but he was far from it. In Boston it was also only for 24 games, and it was efficient according to Antoine Walker standards, decent for others.

[COOLmac©]

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

we don't want no celtic pride hurting T-mac's ego here.i hope this deal wont push thru

[[L3]1101]

Walker is a selfish ball hogger. He's also overrated. He's gonna be asking a lot, and walker would need to do a sign and trade deal with another team for him to play for houston. I don't think Walker wants to the 3rd-go-to guy. And he's certainly not worth that much money for a 3rd man on the team. Swift would be a good idea though. He can block, defend, and grab rebouds. He's also a pretty good inside score. This way Yaho don't need to worry about getting dunked over by Swift anymore....

[MaD_hAND1e]

Walker is a selfish ball hogger. He's also overrated. He's gonna be asking a lot, and walker would need to do a sign and trade deal with another team for him to play for houston. I don't think Walker wants to the 3rd-go-to guy. And he's certainly not worth that much money for a 3rd man on the team. Swift would be a good idea though. He can block, defend, and grab rebouds. He's also a pretty good inside score. This way Yaho don't need to worry about getting dunked over by Swift anymore....

Or... he'll have more chances to do that during practices.