I just read this article off of Hoopshype: <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">That ex-Celtic Antoine Walker, who will be a free agent if he doesn't get a contract extension from Atlanta this summer, pines to return to Boston. But boss Danny Ainge reportedly wants no part of that. One person who reportedly wouldn't object to the return: Paul Pierce, who's stressed-out and cranky 'cause he's taking all the flak 'Toine used to catch! </div>Link Something tells me this is a false article...but if it isn`t and Walker wants to return to the Celtics, I think he`s making a mistake. Walker is now the leader of the Hawks and they have talent but they lack chemistry. It`s going to take time for Atlanta to develop a good team. If Antoine sticks around, he could be one of the reasons for that. <font color="red">EDIT- When quoting an article or any text whatsoever from another site, please provide a link to it. Thanks- 44.</font>
While I agree that Paul would probably love for 'Toine to come back, I can't see any way that Walker would come back here while Danny Ainge is still running things. He said too many things on his way out the door. I also doubt he would admit in public that he wants to come back here. Unless he agrees to a HUGE paycut (and I can't see that happening) Toine will look elsewhere for his new contract, maybe Philly to re-unite with Obie.
It wouldn't surprise me if he wanted to come back. Even though I was one the the biggest Antoine critics out there, I would love to have him back, for less money of course. I think Doc would know how to use him, and would provide the proper discipline that he requires. In hindsight, it probably wasn't Walker that I hated so much, but it was the freedom he was given by Jim O'Brien.
I went to HoopsHype to read the full article and it turns out that its from the Herald's Inside Track, which is the papers gossip column. You probably want to take this article with some skepticism. Anyone who uses the phrase "canoodling" immediately loses some sports cred with me.
I read that Walker was asked about that before a game in the Hawks locker room. The report said that Walker, as well as Tony Delk and even Al Harrington, just busted out laughing. Walker replied that he "ain't going back there. Honestly, I never said that." I apologize, but I don't remember where I read it. I'm an addict and I read about 10,000 articles a day. I'll post the link if I find it.
it'd be nice to have him back, if only to trade him again and actually get something for it this time. no offense to raef and jiri but that was one of the dumbest trades ever on the celtics part.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting celtfan:</div><div class="quote_post">I read that Walker was asked about that before a game in the Hawks locker room. The report said that Walker, as well as Tony Delk and even Al Harrington, just busted out laughing. Walker replied that he "ain't going back there. Honestly, I never said that." I apologize, but I don't remember where I read it. I'm an addict and I read about 10,000 articles a day. I'll post the link if I find it.</div> Yeah you read it on hoopshype.com, because I read it as well honestly there is no chance as good as it would be to see Walker back in Boston as long as long as Ainges is there. I honestly think that if Ainges was not in Boston Walker one sign with the team in one second. But with Ainges there he will enver go there why would you want to work for a guy you called a quote "snake" and that said flat out "I hate your game" to your face. It would not be a good relationship at all. I know that Pierce would love to have him back, because of the good relationship they had together. Once calling them Batman and Robin at the all star game. Walker I think would be a all star if he did go back to Boston do to playing with Pierce he gets mroe of a look then playing for the sorry Atlanta Hawks. I am not sure why, but Walker has been lighting it up in Altanta yet does not recieve even a mention to be a all star same with Shareef when he was there he played great every season there, but was only named to the all star team once. I think that Walker although he acts like h doesnt really misses playing in Boston, because he was a all star two years straight there, and in the going on two seasons he has not been there he looks to be missing two straight all star games to me. I think that Walker new this might happen if he was traded from Boston this was probably why he said AInges was trying to set back his career.
Well, looks like Vescey has been reading the Inside Track as well: <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Don't say you haven't been put on notice: Believe it or not, the Celtics ? yes, Danny Ainge's Celtics ? are going out of their way to renew acquaintances with jilted forward Antoine Walker, whose unsavory shot selection and tacky dance routine prompted his new boss to unload him two summers ago. </div> link I usually don't believe any of what Vescey says, but figured I would pass the link along
I've been hearing this EVERYWHERE! I read HoopsHype, InsideHoops, and apparently a NEW article about this same subject was recently posted on the ESPN Insider page as well. It seems like it would be a weird admission on Ainge's part that the intangibles that Toine can bring to a team would outweigh the surface things he does that piss off rival players and coaches. He hasn't been doing those things in Dallas or Atlanta (in Dallas they didn't keep him on the court enough and in Atlanta they aren't winning NEARLY enough for him to feel comfortable enough to either). I'd love to see him be able to pull the Walker Wiggle out of mothballs again. I don't know how much stock to put in these reports, but if you hear them from EVERY SOURCE for more than two weeks..... One.
hopefully this is true news i want walker and his big contract gone. unless he opts to take a huge salray cut for our team atlanta to prosper. i would rather havea bunch of role players than one star.
Yes. Walker's contract expires this summer. That's the only reason that there might actually be some truth to the rumors.
Walker's contract does expire after this season and Quickness, believe me, he'll be taking a paycut. No one is giving him that kind of money now... But the Hawks may be looking to take back some younger talent instead of just having a ton of cap space, because they had a load of cap space last year and it didn't do them any good.
