I hope him losing weight isn't hurting his overall performance. If playing up front caused him to add weight then it's understandable. I like guards who use their weight, and, for someone who can't stroke it as well as scouts would like you'd hope his strength is still there for interior play. He moved some bigger guys around in the paint like they were curling rocks on ice. Hopefully he's still performing well if he's being out performed overall.
I think it was more a case of recovering from the ACL tear that he couldn't work out at full speed for 9 months that led to the weight gain.
That said, it's not like he was Bonzi Wells fat. He was a physical specimen even with the weight. But he needed to get quicker to play the wing effectively.
MRI needed after another knee injury strikes draft prospect Walker
http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/draft2...ory?id=3445779
Representatives for Kansas State redshirt freshman Bill Walker were scrambling to secure a commitment from a team drafting late in the first round after Walker injured his right knee during a workout in California this weekend.
Multiple sources close to Walker, and at least one who attended the workout in the Bay Area, said Sunday night that Walker would undergo another MRI on his knee Monday. Walker was one of 24 players at the Golden State Warriors' facility to work out in front of representatives from 21 NBA teams. The players in attendance were projected as being between the 20th and 45th picks.
Monday is the deadline for underclassmen who haven't hired agents to withdraw from the draft and return to school.
Walker has had multiple knee injuries during his playing career. He played in six games during the 2006-07 season before tearing his ACL in his left knee. He graduated from high school that October and became eligible for Kansas State in December. Playing as the understudy to Michael Beasley on the Wildcats this season, Walker averaged 16.1 points and 6.3 rebounds.
Walker has worked out for Detroit (29th pick) and Toronto (17th). He turned down an invitation to the Orlando pre-draft camp last month.
Reached late Sunday night, Kansas State coach Frank Martin, who hadn't been informed of the extent of Walker's injury, said he was told that Walker would not decide whether to remain in the draft until just before the 5 p.m. ET deadline.
If Walker were to return to Kansas State, and is healthy, then he would surely be the focal point on the Wildcats after Beasley declared and stayed in the draft by signing with an agent. Kansas State lost to Wisconsin in the second round of the NCAA tournament after the Wildcats beat Walker's former high school and AAU teammate O.J. Mayo and USC.
A year ago, Kansas guard Brandon Rush suffered a torn ACL prior to the withdrawal deadline and was forced to return to KU. Rush ended up helping the Jayhawks win the national championship in April.
Well at least we know now.Reached late Sunday night, Kansas State coach Frank Martin, who hadn't been informed of the extent of Walker's injury, said he was told that Walker would not decide whether to remain in the draft until just before the 5 p.m. ET deadline.
This could be the ultimate CIA move....tell a guy to fake his injury and try to secure a pick in the first round to scare others off, knowing the whole time that you're going to pick him at #26.
Well at least we know now.
But I doubt it.
I doubt he was good enough for the first round anyway. Another year of school will be good.
That would be quite intriguing. But I also doubt it.
Or it's a huge red flag and a team just got very lucky by not wasting a first rounder on someone with chronic knee problems. He needs to return to school and show this won't be an issue, and I don't see how someone chances guaranteed money on him after this.
That would be a bush-league, bullshiat ploy. The Spurs are classier than that: a promise is one thing, lying about injuries is quite another.
And besides, the team isn't as 'CIA' as we keep claiming they are.
Look at the bright side. Better now than in training camp if the team has used a first round pick on him.
WoW! That sucks.
If he stays in the draft anyways, I'd be for picking him at 45. Even if it's ACL tear number three.
Sucks for Walker. He might just have bad genes.
I'm interested to hear what the injury is and whether or not it's ACL related. Also, his agent might actually recommend he stay in the draft, even if it's a tear.
This guy has great upside, but he is too high risk for injury. With this most recent injury its probably a good idea for the Spurs to stay away.
I didn't see the first injury. But as for the second tear, I don't think anybody's ACL could have withstood that unnatural bend.
I wouldn't blame the genes just yet. We'll see what this turns out to be.
If he was legitimately up in the air coming into this weekend, hard to believe that this wouldn't push him to return to school.
Could be the worst thing to do to stay in. He'd drop to the 2nd round, non-guaranteed money, no guaranteed roster spot, and could be out of the league instantly. Back in school he can rehab and try to move up the board under closer tutelage.
Of course, he could go back to school, be plagued by injuries, and go undrafted next year.
Unless he needs a complete reconstruction of his knee, it might be worth his while to stay in. Someone will take him in the 2nd round unless his knee is really screwed up and he should be able to get at least the rookie min for a couple of seasons ($400K+ per).
By far the better idea would be to return to school. Even with a dodgy report on his knee someone will nail him with a 2nd rounder and he'll be screwed.
Well, if his knees are this fragile it might be worth his while to take the $$ now. Otherwise he's playing another year of ball without any safety whatsoever.
If it's ACL, he might miss the whole college season next year anyways. A second torn ACL on the same knee usually takes closer to a year to heal -- if at all. So if I'm him, I go to the NBA even if a team just promises me a second round pick than to potentially try to draft again in two years.
I'd still take him at 45, though. Second round is a crap shoot anyways so you might as well get a guy who used to be a top five player in his class before injuries hit.
We'll see when more info hits about his knee. Sucks for him. By all accounts he had put in a lot of work. Perhaps this is just a false alarm. Hopefully the NBA allows him an extra day or two to figure this all out. It'd suck for him to have like 15 hours to decide.
Are you trying to convince yourself he'll be a Spur this year or something? What money would he be taking? It's not guaranteed. No, going into the uncertainty of the 2nd round would be a hideous fate and well something worth avoiding. He can rehab in school and at worst would be a 2nd round pick again next year; best case would be a deserved first round berth. It would make absolutely no sense to take the risk of having to make the roster for whomever selects him in the 2nd this year -- if cut, he's lost in the wilderness.
The analog to this is Ron Steele from Alabama, who pulled out of the draft recently after recurring injuries, although he's clearly a 1st round prospect when healthy. Naturally he did the smart thing for his future and is returning to school where he can rehab in the safety of a Div. I school and not be thrown to the fates of a 2nd round pick, which basically consigns him to overseas play or unsponsored NBDL when he is inevitably cut. You're advocating a very bad position.
So he returns to K State, rehabs, and never gets back to what he was. Or maybe he busts his knee yet again. At least by staying in now he has a shot at getting drafted high in the 2nd round and getting some guaranteed money.
At worst next year he goes undrafted after an injury plagued season.
I can only say I'm glad this young man is not taking advice from you.
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