Re: If only Toine felt this way...

[bird <birdw@aloha.net>]

>From: "Berry, Mark  S" <berrym@BATTELLE.ORG>

>Training camp isn't for getting in shape anymore.

No, it's not.  It used to be, when players weren't making enough to 
support themselves over a whole year, and had to work other jobs in 
the off-season.  Obviously, that's not the case anymore.  I don't 
begrudge a guy a vacation, but "training camp" is a minomer nowadays. 
Guys are, and ought to be, training earlier than September.

>So many on the list preach patience and gradual improvement, but why should
>we expect improvement from Toine? It doesn't happen automatically, just by
>getting older. It happens through hard work, something he seems adverse to.

Nobody's saying it happens automatically.  If that were true, "Hot 
Rod" Williams would be our starting center.  I think people are 
saying that they think the best chance for the team is to develop the 
core guys we have, unless a better offer comes along for one (or two) 
of them.  I don't see how any of this changes that.  Everyone (except 
the most "optimistic" or "pessimistic") knew that there was a chance 
Walker could be a great player or an underachiever.  Walker, in the 
latter scenario, may not even be that bad, though overpaid.  (I mean, 
if he gave you 15/7/4 or something -- he'd have to be the second or 
third option on offense, but it's not terrible, though overpaid, and 
the team would probably still want to move him for that reason.)  And 
there's still a chance he will "get it" and become a great player. 
Or at least improve his game.  There are evil portents in the sky for 
that happening this year, I'll grant you, but I'll wait until I see 
some games before I start wishing he were quite gone.  Lot's of guys 
in the NBA have decided one year that they need to work harder.  Some 
actually do it.

Sure, I'd trade Walker for Webber or Garnett -- who wouldn't?  I just 
don't see any good offers like that happening.  (Well, I do, but it's 
usually online and obviously pulled out of thin air and/or a fantasy.)

And there's money issues, too.  Since Walker's a BYC player, if the 
team waits on moving him, they can get more back for him.  Or, if 
they just want to dump salaries, go with a youth movement (ay, 
carumba) and/or free agents-types, then doesn't the end of this year 
bode well for that sort of thing?

The longer Walker waits to start getting with the program 
(literally), the lower his chances are of improving significantly. 
There are other players on the team, though -- maybe they can improve 
enough to make up the slack.  (Well, we had better hope so, because I 
don't see a big trade coming down the pike anytime soon.)  But if you 
have to trade Walker, then do it.  Just do it smartly.

Regards,

Bill