Trade Toine before it's "too late?"

[peter delevett <pdelevett@amcity.com>]

When exactly is that time? Houston traded a boatload of talent for a washed-up
Charles Barkley, giving up much more than Phoenix did when they snared a
prime-of-his-career Barkley from Philly. Chris Webber suffered through several
injury-plagued, bad attitude seasons marked by a rape scandal and still netted
two quality veterans in exchange. JR Rider drove everybody nuts in Portland
with his constant arrests and still landed the Blazers Steve Smith. My point?
A talented young player like Antoine Walker is not like a carton of milk, with
a best-by date. Teams in this league will always be willing to take a gamble
on talented young scorers who can also handle and rebound. Unlike many on this
list, most general managers recognize that a player is entitled to a season or
two of dropping statistics without it meaning he is washed up -- especially at
age 23. If this list had been running the Orlando Magic a couple years ago,
Nick Anderson would have been run out of town on a rail, and he would have had
his career-saving renaissance elsewhere. If there is a time to trade Walker,
it is not when he is "just not playing that well" (Rich's words, not mine). I
agree with your post, Jim, when you say Walker will always have trade value.
Now Rae Carruth, there's a guy with no trade value.


Date: Tue, 21 Dec 1999 13:34:41 -0500
From: Jim Hill <jahill@leasingservice.com>
Subject: Re: More Walker talk

I don't disagree entirely with the "Time to trade Walker before he
really can't be traded" opinions on this list.