Re: Walker at PF?

["Berry, Mark S" <berrym@BATTELLE.ORG>]

Alex wrote: 
"The other thing about your statement is, what exactly are you expecting to
get back when you trade Walker this offseason? I mean, this sort of
ultimatum statement (move him to small forward or trade him) doesn't really
make that much sense without the context of what you expect to receive in
return, unless you are advocating trading him solely to get rid of him.
Would you trade him for Dale Davis? Antonio Davis? Jermaine O'Neal? Theo
Ratliff? A draft pick?" 

My answer is, it depends. Do I trade Toine for Dale Davis? No, but do I
trade Toine for Davis and Bonzi Wells? Probably. I trade Toine--and when I
say that, I mean Toine as the centerpiece--for anything that will improve
the team. Maybe that's a center (Ratliff? the pick that becomes Yao
Ming/Eddy Curry?); maybe it's a point guard (Jason Kidd? Mike Bibby and a
pick?). Everyone assumes you trade Toine and you can't get value back, but I
don't think that's true. Forget trying to match up player-for-player,
because you can make an argument over any of the names that might be tossed
around (J. O'Neal, Rasheed Wallace, Shareef, etc.) Think about packages of
players/picks. I make the argument for trading Toine (remember--only if they
don't see him as the small forward of the future), because if he's the power
forward long-term, this team isn't going anywhere. If the Celts honestly
believe Antoine can only play power forward, then trade him to improve the
team--maybe that's for a small forward, maybe it's a 2-guard, who knows?

Of course, if your goal is simply the playoffs, maybe you keep doing what
you're doing and hope by adding a few pieces you get over the hump, win 40
games and make the eighth spot in the East. But isn't the long-term goal to
compete for a championship? If it is, then that's where you run into a
problem with Antoine at PF. I just don't see a championship contender built
around a power forward who leads the league in three-point attempts and
turnovers and shoots 41 percent from the field. Look at those three stats.
It's not as if I'm suggesting trading Michael Jordan, people. Toine is a
good, but flawed player. I think he's playing out of position, which
magnifies his flaws.

There are plenty of folks on the list who have suggested trading Toine just
to be rid of him, but I'm not one of them. My goal is to improve the team.
Trade him only if you feel his only position is power forward, because no
championship team is going to feature Antoine Walker at power forward
(unless he's flanked by Shaq or Duncan, which ain't happenin').

Mark