<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">When it comes to the subject of the trade that sent him to Dallas, Antoine Walker clearly has not moved on from the seven seasons he spent with the Celtics. Walker maintains strong feelings about the Celtics organization and the transaction, reserving his harshest comments and criticisms for director of basketball operations Danny Ainge. Walker called Ainge "a snake" for sending mixed messages about a possible deal. During an interview this week, Walker discussed the Oct. 20 trade that sent him and Tony Delk to Dallas in exchange for Raef LaFrentz, Jiri Welsch, Chris Mills, and a first-round pick in 2004. Walker termed the transaction "personal." The All-Star power forward said Ainge dealt him to Dallas because he wanted "to set my career back a little bit." But Walker contended the transaction might set the Celtics back "three or four years." Ultimately, Walker believes Ainge will regret the trade. "Danny wanted to get rid of me," said Walker. "If you look at the trade, I think he really felt like I wouldn't mesh with these guys in Dallas. Me, personally, I think he was really trying to set my career back a little bit. If you really look at what I got traded for, it's got to be the biggest difference [in talent] in history. Usually, an All-Star gets traded for an All-Star. And you gave away Tony Delk, a proven scorer in this league. </div> Full Story I'd like to hear some thoughts before I comment.
I don't know why this guy is talking. Why don't you respect the fact now that you have a chance to compete for a championship, you're on a better team with better players, and with a excellent owner that cares about his players and wants to win, so why talk smack about Danny Ainge when all he's trying to is make his team better? Trades happen all the time, and if you get traded, that's too bad. Make the best of the trade, and allow your old team to miss your presence on the basketball court.
This is and never was personal, it was all about money. Walker was in the last year of his contract and wanted a max extension, it wasn't going to happen. Although they didn't get much in return something is better than nothing.
Last year of his contract? He still has 1 more year left on his contract after this season. He is getting paid $13,500,000 this season $14,625,00 next season He is suppose to be a free-agent in the 2004/2005 season.
I cant seem him staying in Dallas for too long.If he becomes a free agent God knows where he wants to go.
Somehow I see him being dealt from Dallas for something much more, so I don't think he has to worry about being 'set back.' Cuban probably still wants that center to clog up the middle, and Toine seems like the guy I'd give up. Even after his game tonight. I don't really mind Walker talking his smack, cuz when you get down to it, he is right. Ainge made a poor move in my opinion, not becuase he was giving up Walker, but because he didn't profit enough from it. Ainge should have either tried to get another proven scorer in return or a point guard, which he could have had from Dallas if he had moved quicker. However, the fact that Walker is right in his assessment doesn't mean he has to talk trash. That just goes to show his immaturity, which along with 3 pt attempts he has plenty of. I think Walker has gone a long way down from the player many thought he could become after his first two seasons.
Walker never wanted to leave Boston. That's sort of the bottom line hear. He loved the Celtics, and he didn't want to win a championship somewhere else. He wanted to win one in Boston. I don't understand why the Celtics traded him for, of all people, Raef Lafrentz. They should have gone for a center, and an all star. They screwed themselves over by making a trade like that. The only explanation is that someone didn't like Walker and wanted to get rid of him. I think Walker voiced his frustration in the wrong way by going to the media. He would have been better served to talk to Ainge himself and understand the situation. That's his mistake. Trading Walker was, in my opinion, a bigger mistake.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting BigMemo:</div><div class="quote_post">Walker never wanted to leave Boston. That's sort of the bottom line hear. He loved the Celtics, and he didn't want to win a championship somewhere else. He wanted to win one in Boston. I don't understand why the Celtics traded him for, of all people, Raef Lafrentz. They should have gone for a center, and an all star. They screwed themselves over by making a trade like that. The only explanation is that someone didn't like Walker and wanted to get rid of him. I think Walker voiced his frustration in the wrong way by going to the media. He would have been better served to talk to Ainge himself and understand the situation. That's his mistake. Trading Walker was, in my opinion, a bigger mistake.</div> Danny Ainge wasn't looking to get anything specific from this trade, he was simply looking to move Antoine Wallker. He received offers from many teams, but the Mavs gave him the best one.
LaFrentz is a center, albeit a better power forward. In Denver playing center he put up some misleadingly good numbers, which given a chance he may or may not be able to duplicate. I think Ainge was banking on him, Blount and Battie doing a decent 'center by committee' job until Perkins matures into playing the role regularly. Judging by guys like Curry and Diop, that may be several years down the road.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting BigMemo:</div><div class="quote_post">Walker never wanted to leave Boston. That's sort of the bottom line hear. He loved the Celtics, and he didn't want to win a championship somewhere else. He wanted to win one in Boston. I don't understand why the Celtics traded him for, of all people, Raef Lafrentz. They should have gone for a center, and an all star. They screwed themselves over by making a trade like that. The only explanation is that someone didn't like Walker and wanted to get rid of him. I think Walker voiced his frustration in the wrong way by going to the media. He would have been better served to talk to Ainge himself and understand the situation. That's his mistake. Trading Walker was, in my opinion, a bigger mistake.</div> damn skippy
