Only if Walker divested himself of Rasheed Wallace's on-court demeanor could he match any expectations of himself. And he doesn't have Sheed's talent.
Ultimately he's a power guard in the Bonzi Wells mold. Though, I assume that one of his appealing traits is his ability to guard bigger SF because of his size/strength.
So to answer your question....he's both in the pros. He needs to continue to work on his handle and improve consistency on his jumpshot in order to become a viable 2-guard, but I expect that's how he'll be listed when all is said and done.
if he develops his jumper - he'll be an unguardable player. he's already better finishing around the hoop than bonzi.
there's only a few players in the entire league that match his size/strength/quickness combination.
he just needs to learn to keep his cool on the court and develop his range & defense.
Increasingly I think Walker is the guy we should target, even more so than Batum.
I still think that if you're looking for a guy who can contribute in the next 2 years (duncan/manu window), you have to look real hard at Courtney Lee @ 26.
If you're looking for somebody you can team up with Parker to carry the franchise past that, Walker is a high reward (and not a huge risk) player at that spot.
Although, from what I'm hearing, the KSU coaches think he'll be gone by 26.
#26 is not going to happen. That's Lee-Rush-CDR territory. I would that we keep that pick and take one of those three at 26, but take a 3 million dollar flier on Walker and buy a pick in the late teens or early 20s. I'm advocating for that between now and draft day. That's my strategy and I'm sticking to it.
Not bad for a Freshman. I'm sure he has some growing up to do.
Chad Ford has Walker at #29 in his latest mock draft (and Batum at #25). I continue to think that the value in the draft is between 20 and 30 and if there was ever a year the Spurs should buy another pick in that range, this is it.
Bill Walker is the man. Please Spurs. Draft him.
From reading the scouting reports on him, it doesn't sound as though he's as far along defensively as a team like the Spurs would want. I've never seen him play, so someone would need to confirm or deny this. If that is true and despite his crazy athleticism, I would wonder if the Spurs would be interested.
The Spurs are interested. Read earlier posts in this thread.
Rare is the 20-year-old perimeter prospect who excels at defense. If a swingman prospect that young is good at defense, chances are they are horrible at offense and use defense to justify their court time.
I wouldn't even worry about defensive play until the perimeter player is a junior or senior.
And if he is as much an athlete and student of the game as reported, his defense will come quickly. He'd play in Austin next year, I'd guess.
Point taken. Most of the mock drafts I've seen, has him going ahead of Rush, Batum and CDR. Anyone think otherwise?
Walker used to be a top five pick. Then he tore his ACL and gained a lot of weight. Heading into this draft process he was a second rounder. But now he's lost 30 pounds since the end of the college basketball season and he has recovered from the ALC tear.
So now it's tough to say. He could jump all the way up into the first half of the first round or he could top out around where the Spurs are picking. I doubt he falls out of the first round. Now that Walker is back to being skinny, I'm sure he's tearing up individual workouts.
He's not very far along defensively. And his jumper is very iffy.
However, if those two things were not the case, he'd be a lottery pick, and nowhere near available at 26.
NBADraft.net (probably the best) has him going at 40 in the 2d round.
More athlete than player.
http://www.nbadraft.net/admincp/prof...illwalker.html
The best is draftexpress.com.
I'll stake the life of my first born that (barring something drastic between now and then) he doesn't last anywhere near 40.
I'll bet my left nut that he is picked before 40--which is so absurd it nearly invalidates their entire mock.
Yeah, I think draftexpress is the most reliable. Givony is level-headed and in constant communication with agents, scouts and team officials.
I didn't get a chance to see him play much at all at KSU, but I remember seeing this kid just destroying all of his peers before the injuries. I mean, with the way he attacked the rim.... He made Amare look timid at times.
I know nothing about his character or if he'll ever be able to stay healthy, but if he's ever able to realize his potential... This kid could be scary.
well, if draftexpress is indeed the most reliable, they have him going at 29th, so we have a great chance. btw i agree taht we should try for another first round pick.
I am convinced.
I was in favor of the Spurs going foreign; however, the potential of Bill Walker is too much for the Spurs to pass up.
I would not even be too surprised if the Spurs trade up in the draft (Net's....early twenties) to grab Walker.
He has unbelievable talent. I like the fact that even after ACL injuries, he is still explosive and can attack the basket with ease. He appears to have a quick first step and has an NBA build.
He looks really strong, and quite frankly a freak of nature. I can see Walker becoming a big mismatch for opposing players and just dominating. Yet, his jump shot could improve, and his pull-up jumper is nothing to get too excited about.
However, we do have Chip who could work with him, and polish Walker's shot.
If the Spurs land JR Smith or someone who is more effective on the perimeter then it would be even better for the Spurs.
Thus, the Spurs could draft Walker and give him the Steven Jackson treatment. Ease him in easily and work with him on work ethic and maturity. Get him adapted to the system and let him know that he is unbelievable talent, but will have to work on things as well.
I am officially on Team Walker, and hope this is the individual draft in the 1st.
Tony Parker, Juan Dixon, Jacque Vaughn
JR Smith, Manu Ginobili, Bill Walker
Bruce Bowen, Ime Udoka, Brent Barry
Tim Duncan, Ian Mahinmi, Matt Bonner
Kurt Thomas, Fabricio Oberto, 2nd Rounder or Free Agent
I like this team.
Let's think this through. The Spurs need a scoring athletic wing and a backup point.
Free agent negotiations start a week after the draft. Who knows how that will turn out for the Spurs? They need new talent for next season. Banking on free agency, with the assumption that the Spurs will be reluctant to offer anything more than 2 year long contracts, is a bit, well, spurious.
With their needs, I do not see them taking an international talent who will not be available to join the team next season at #26 or #45. I think they go domestic at both picks. Also, you have an allegedly good domestic talent evaluator in Dennis Lindsey in the front office. Now's the time for him to earn his pay.
-MB
There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)
Posting Permissions
Reply With Quote
