<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">The biggest deal in NBA history almost wasn't. Not long after Antoine Walker sat for his introductory news conference at American Airlines Arena in Miami and said all the right things, an arthritic condition in his knees gave the Heat pause. According to two Eastern Conference sources, concerns that arose during the Walker physical resulted in a restructuring of his original six-year deal worth $53 million. Now, the deal is guaranteed for only four years, approximately $30 million, with the final two years being team options. The same two sources added that reaching a compromise was not easy. But given all it took (five teams, 13 players) to get Walker a deal for more than the midlevel exception in the first place, cooler heads prevailed. It is unlikely Walker would have found more money or a better situation elsewhere. Besides, Walker and his agent, Mark Bartelstein, believe the power forward will prove his value over time and receive the six years of salary.</div> http://www.boston.com/sports/basketball/ce..._little?mode=PF
Walker with bad knees aint good, but the Heat are still fine without him IMO, also he'll be coming off the bench so i think hell be fine.
As I said in the C's forum, from a Miami standpoint, he's worth it. He gives them something that will help them win a title. They're trying to win right away, not building for a few years from now. They also lucked out because they got to adjust the deal down to 30 million over 4 years, saving them big money because they obviously won't be picking up his option for those last 2 years at 8-9 million per.
The fact that he has an arthritic condition in his knee's is not good, but we did save about 22 million dollar in salary, and 2 years, which is good for the ball club. We just have to wait to see what the real result is because his agent is claiming that the contract is still worth 6 years and said that he "believes Antoine will get every dollar of the six years".
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Banks:</div><div class="quote_post">We just have to wait to see what the real result is because his agent is claiming that the contract is still worth 6 years and said that he "believes Antoine will get every dollar of the six years".</div>That's just Mark Bartelstein is damage control mode because he knows it makes him look bad as an agent. He's just dancing around actually admitting that the guaranteed years have been cut down by overstating his own opinions of Walker's durabilty. The problem with that is he's an agent and not the team doctor, so now it's only 30 over 4 and there's nothing he can do about it.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting 44Thrilla:</div><div class="quote_post">That's just Mark Bartelstein is damage control mode because he knows it makes him look bad as an agent. He's just dancing around actually admitting that the guaranteed years have been cut down by overstating his own opinions of Walker's durabilty. The problem with that is he's an agent and not the team doctor, so now it's only 30 over 4 and there's nothing he can do about it.</div> Fair enough. I was one of the people that didn't fall in love with the huge trade because we gave 'Toine a gigantic contract after we signed Haslem and drafted Simien. However, now, it's not as big so the block buster deal a little more sweet for Heat fans.
