Re: trading Walker

[Kim Malo <kmalo19@idt.net>]

I'm not saying Rick will or should, but would everyone who keeps insisting
it's impossible beause of things Rick has said about him please remember
that Rick also said Eric Williams was untradeable not so many months ago. To
quote one Rick Pitino on the subject of coaching changes "I'm sure he meant
it when he said it, but situations change."

I doubt if he'll be traded now, short of a blockbuster offer. However, if
there are signs after this year that he would prefer to return home to
Chicago when he becomes a FA or will insist on a truly impossible contract,
then Rick may trade him to get something in return rather than have him walk
for nothing.

As for the reported attitude problems, yes youth is behind a lot of it, but
no it is more than just cockiness. See constant whining about not being
considered for ROY, among other things. And Rick made comments beginning
when the Cs drafted Walker about his work habits, the need to constantly
push him and keep his head on straight, and some other things that don't
leap to mind. So yes, he has said some things. Not particularly incendiary,
just signs that he is realistic about his star -which should be taken as a
*good* thing.

At the same time, anyone who was bothered by Walker's attitude needs to
consider a few things, along with his age. He was playing for a coach (ML)
that exerted almost no discipline, and actively encouraged him to pad his
stats and be a me-me guy over concern for the team. In the interests of
making him happy. So yes, he showed immaturity, but he was being egged on by
the guy that was supposed to be the authority figure keeping him under
control. Also, he was playing for a losing team that had a lot of attitude
problems on it as influences around him, no matter how good ML was at
keeping them from speaking out publically. The influences around him will be
much better this year, ranging from Pitino himself to the team Pitino and
Wallace say they have built largely on a basis of their attitudes.

- -Kim
Kim Malo
kmalo19@idt.net