Bill Walker Is The Next "Next"

by Jeff Clark on Sep 14, 2009 9:48 AM EDT in Articles Comment 30 comments

More photos » by Brian Babineau - NBAE/Getty Images

Next stop, top floor.

Kedrick Brown didn't work out. Gerald Green didn't work out. Tony Allen hasn't worked out. But each of them have taken turns capturing the attention and at times adoration of Celtics fans. Each was a high flier that dazzled the crowd with impossible dunks. Each played limited minutes from the wing. Each fizzled out when they couldn't back up their potential with actual on-court production.

Enter Bill Walker. He's also an athletic wing that earned only limited minutes because he didn't always "get it" enough for the coaching staff to feel comfortable with him. So why should he be any different than any of the others?

Well for starters Bill Walker is not Kedrick, Gerald, or Tony. He should not be judged based upon the failings of those that preceded him. In addition, while there are physical similarities to the others, the apparent separating factor is from the neck up. Kedrick was tentative, Bill is aggressive (to a fault sometimes). Gerald was lazy, Bill is by all accounts very hard working and dedicated to improvement. Tony has questionable character traits (at the very least in the company he keeps), Bill has done nothing but put the very best foot forward that he can (spending summers in Boston working out and doing community service).

So while we've established what Bill Walker is not, we have yet to fully grasp what Bill Walker is. Potential leads to projection which leads to the project label. But when does the project become a pro? The sample size is small, but that's never stopped us from drawing preemptive conclusions before.

Since we don't have a lot to go on from last year, it helps to first take a step further back in time. Before he was a 2nd round pick, Bill was a highly touted prospect. Back in high school, he was a teammate of OJ Mayo's and still managed to steal much of the spotlight for himself. One scout gushed:

In all of my years of watching high school basketball, I have NEVER seen a player as electrifying as Bill Walker.

Sadly, his rocketship to the stars was waylaid when he ruptured the ACL in his left knee his freshman year at Kansas State. This was actually the 2nd time he had surgery to repair an ACL with his right knee failing him back in 2003. After a strong season with the Wildcats in 07-08 (where he was once again overshadowed by a teammate - this time by Michael Beasley) he declared for the draft and might still have been a lottery pick if he hadn't suffered a 3rd knee injury in pre-draft workouts.

His misfortune turned into the Celtics gain when they made a trade with the Wizards to pick him up. Perhaps emboldened by the success of gambling on Leon Powe, the Celtics were willing to give Bill a shot. Anyone who has seen one of his eye popping dunks is witness to the fact that (barring another injury) Bill's athleticism is the least of his worries.

Walker split his rookie season between the Celtics and the DLeague's Utah Flash. But his time in Boston was eventful. Right from the start (during preseason) he made a name for himself by getting on the nerves of LeBron James and Tracy McGrady. On the court he simply refuses to back down from anyone, anytime, for any reason. I almost wonder if he seeks out the biggest stars and pushes the limit just to prove that he's not afraid of them. Whatever it is, it gets under the skin of the opponents and endears him to Boston fans. I think it is safe to say that he fits in just fine on this team.

As for his game, the best way I can describe it is "ready, fire, aim."

When a shot goes up, he's flying through the air looking for one of those mind numbing putback dunks. When a ball is on the floor, so is he. When his man is headed toward the basket with the ball, ...well, lets just say that Billy takes the "no layups" rule to heart. In short, he's got athleticism and aggression to spare. You can't teach that.

I think you can, however, teach the elements of his game that are lacking. Last year he didn't always know where to be on defense. For that matter I'm not sure he was sure where to be on offense either. He also didn't know how to throttle back the aggression. Paul Pierce has made a career out of making faster, more athletic players look stupid because he's a master of changing speeds.

To use a baseball analogy, Bill Walker is a fastball pitcher. Once the hitter times the pitches, he's bound to catch up to one eventually. Pierce is more of a Greg Maddux, using location and changing velocity to keep batters (defenders) off balance. Some of that is just innate talent on Paul's part. But a lot of it was learned. Bill needs to pick up some tricks of the trade from Paul and keep the other team guessing.

It is a delicate balance. You don't want Bill slowing down too much. Running the break, you want him flying at the rim. But you don't want him running straight into a triple team without knowing where the kickout options are. You want him to fight for every loose ball. But you don't need him literally fighting for it, if you follow.

So that is where coaching and hard work comes in. He's been in Waltham both of the last summers, working with coaches, working out, watching tape, learning the game. He's got good intentions for sure. He wants to take that next step and contribute to the team. He wants to be more than a garbage time dunker and emergency sub.

The thing is, this team has little time to work young players into the rotation. The ever present window inches further down. If he can contribute now, he'll play. If he can't, he'll continue to be this team's human victory cigar. It doesn't help that Marquis Daniels was brought in to back up the wing position. JR Giddens is still here looking to fill largely the same role that Walker is after (in fact, Danny and Doc have hinted at the fact that they might be after the same spot). There are ample excuses to go around if things don't go well.

However, if Bill Walker is worth the adoration we've already heaped upon him, he won't need excuses. If he is going to be the kind of player we all want him to be, then he will make his own opportunities and force the Celtics to play him. If not, then he would simply join the long list of guys that we thought was "next."

Poll

This year, Bill Walker will...

become a part of the rotation

1297 votes

be mostly inactive or in Maine

664 votes

be traded or cut

150 votes

other

93 votes

2204 votes | Poll has closed

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Comments

I am hoping he develops into a serviceable player…

Fans always get excited about prospects that are great dunkers but in all honesty he hasn`t shown much thus far. I like his attitude on the floor but there is lot more to basketball than dunking…

I was disappointed in his performances in summer league. Especially with his lack of intensity and desire on the defensive end, it actually looked like he was bored…

I have my reservations about him. He is undersized for a SF, doesn`t have a good shot and doesn`t seem to play 100% all the time…

I am hoping for the best but he needs to show a lot more for me to believe that he can help this team and back up PP…

by thebirdman on Sep 14, 2009 6:17 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Defense + Rebounding

Bill Walker is a poor defender and below par rebounder for a small forward.

That’s what has to change if he wants court time.

I was also very disappointed with Walker’s play during summer league. He doesn’t look like a rotation worthy player at this point in his career, not with the Celtics or anyone else.

by Who on Sep 14, 2009 7:25 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

He's on the cusp alright... of leaving the league

I agree with “Who” in that Walker is a subpar rebounder and not a smart defender. I don’t think he’s an awful defender though. I also don’t buy into the fact that he’s a really hard worker… he has a bit of that gabe pruitt type mentality.

Don’t forget about that video of him eating dinner around his friends and they asked him about D-Wade, etc. Bill pretty much responded that he’s completely overrated, and that he could take him easily, etc. He’s said that about several players in the league, which is ridiculous b/c Walker can’t even crack anytime on the court. I do really like his charity work though, and I’m proud of him for that.

Overall, I think Bill Walker is similiar to Tony Allen in that he doesn’t have a good shot and requires slashing to the hoop to score. However, Tony is a better defender, and while Bill might dribble better and is smarter, he’s not smart enough to be a real keeper.

by TomHamilton30 on Sep 14, 2009 7:38 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

co signed

agree with who, tom hamilton and points others like nick make below. i’d love for walker to be a contributor but to me he much more in common with the gerald greens, and kedrick browns of the world than he has in contrast. right now he can dunk and foul hard. i’d seen evidence of little else and i wasn’t impressed with what i saw at summer league. i agree that giddens seems more ready now. last year the big thing every said about giddens was that he looked like a deer in headlights, too timid to assert himself. interesting now that people’s critiques of him now state he seems OVER-aggressive occasionally to the point of being out of control. clearly he’s over his timidity issues and he always had better defensive potential than walker. i do like walker though and i do hope the kid makes it.

by bucknersrevenge on Sep 14, 2009 2:05 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

not co-signed...at all

Completely disagree. Gabe and Bill have zero in common. Bill is a go-getter with attitude, Gabe was a wallflower with no personality.

Bill Walker has spent his entire offseason in Boston, working out in the gym and helping out in the community. He’s a very hard worker.

The video in circulation was in reference to Lebron, not D-Wade. He HASN’T said anything about any other players in the league, and in fact he’s been very humble on the whole.

Bill Walker has all the skills to be successful as a 12-15 minute small forward reserve. He needs just a little more consistency on his outside shot and I think he’ll be fine. I’m looking forward to watching him develop this season, and I hope we give him some looks in the post. He’s killer down low.

by SalmonAndMashedPotatoes on Sep 14, 2009 2:33 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

dude, who's talking about gabe pruitt?

i mentioned gerald green and kedrick brown and he DOES have more in common with them than he does in contrast. he can dunk and he shows incredible athleticism and not much else much like those other two. nobody is saying bill walker isn’t a nice kid. by most accounts so were gerald and kedrick while they were here but that alone doesn’t get it done. all 3 have show little understanid of even the basic concepts of team defense. bill walker does not have the skills to be trusted at all right now with 12-15 mpg. as for being killer down low, maybe against college shooting guards but he can bully nba small forwards to the hoop.

by bucknersrevenge on Sep 14, 2009 11:48 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

The sample size is small, but that’s never stopped us from drawing preemptive conclusions before.

Thanks for the giggle :]

That said, nice piece. Looking forward to see more of him and ~~as all of us do (probably)~~ I hope he surprises us this season, and gets lots of play time.

- Dirk 'DaarisDirk' van Boxtel

by Kiorrik on Sep 14, 2009 8:36 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Rather than reading about all his good charitable work....

I would MUCH prefer to read that he is working on his game 10 hours per day…tearing up the summer league….and how various NBA stars are amazed at his vast improvement!

Unfortunately, that doesn`t seem to be happening.

by Title 18 on Sep 14, 2009 8:56 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Is it healthy to work out 10 hours a day 7 days a week? I’m pretty sure the answer is ‘No’.

by guava_wrench on Sep 14, 2009 11:04 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah, you may be right...

Those paying his salary {Celtics} would just hate to see him totally dedicate himself towards improving his game…and strive for true greatness while the opportunity still exists for him.

Shame on Larry Bird, Karl Malone, and Jerry Rice for setting such poor examples!!!!!

by Title 18 on Sep 14, 2009 11:25 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Giddens looked better in the summer league

I love everything about Bill Walker the person but BW the bball player is not a good shooter and is foul prone. Giddens is smaller but is a better rebounder and I think is a better on the ball defender. What Bill brings ( and which we need) is toughness and “attitude”. With Leon gone we really don’t have an enforcer othe than Kendrick. Leon and KP together was one nasty front court ( I still wish we’d kept Leon!!). Anyhow if it comes down to Giddens or Walker I think they’ll keep Giddens. If it comes down to Walker or a stiff like Dan DIckau, God I hope they keep walker!!!

by Red2 on Sep 14, 2009 9:13 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Agree With This Statement

I would comment on your statement about Walker being an enforcer and introducing Leon into the discussion. The difference between Leon and Walker is that Leon was an effective player while I’ve seen nothing from Walker except electrifying dunks. I also think Walker’s apparent toughness is different from Leon’s or Perk’s. Walker seems to want to fight while Leon and Perk were just plain physical in a good way. What little I saw of Giddens in pre-season last year makes me believe he will be the guy that makes it. He seems to have more skills and a better understanding of the game. Either way, I don’t see either contributing much this year. It would depend on how Daniels is used if they even get out of street clothes……Just one more point. Concern seems to be cutting down Pierce’s minutes. I think Daniels will do this, but between Walker and Giddens I think Giddens can play that role better.

"I don't come to play, I come to WIN"--Larry Bird
"Criminally Negligent Officiating"--Tommy Heinsohn

by TrueGreen on Sep 14, 2009 9:55 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

mostly agree

The offensive side of things won’t count for much. The winner of the Giddens/Walker competition will be decided on defense. It’ll be whoever can move their feet the best, stay balanced with their hands up, and not make reach-in fouls. (It’s not rocket science.)

by no kidding on Sep 14, 2009 10:53 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

How can he be part of the rotation

No Way,

Where is he going to pick up minutes unless it’s garbage time and even that, do I want to see him going in for a highlight dunk? I don’t think so

He is your 14th player on this team at best, so explain how he gets productive minutes?

Nice guy (maybe) but as far as a quality player on this team. He should be lucky that he’s riding the bench and enjoying his NBA Life

by Ancient Red on Sep 14, 2009 9:53 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Not Ready

Walker’s biggest problem is not defense and rebounding, it’s the lack of a relaible jump shot.

I expect that he will be a practice player who will excite the crowd with a few dunks during garbage time, but who otherwise will be a non factor.

I feel the same way about Giddens, BTW.

by Brickowski on Sep 14, 2009 9:55 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Not as disappointing as others, no matter what happens

We should not forget that this guy was a late 2nd round pick. The fact that he is in the lineup for the 2nd year is already something. The fact that we are already comparing him to TA, Gerald Green and Kedrick Brown in terms of expectation is already something. I guess we are doing this because of the position he plays. Otherwise, the template for his success should be more in-line with the likes of Leon Powe, Ryan Gomes and BBD.

by afflatus on Sep 14, 2009 10:01 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Wont see much of him

And I really dont understand the Fascination….Doc didnt not play him because he was a rookie, this an overblown myth(an out of shape glen davis played nearly 1000 minutes in his rookie season on a championship team), he didnt play because he isn’t that good, and wasnt ready.. hopefully that changes, but I see billy and JR working out like Gabe did

by latin on Sep 14, 2009 10:04 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I Voted Other

1 – I don’t see him cracking the rotation, where just to deep.

2 – He has little trade value.

3 – My guess, he will either be inactive sitting on the bench or in Maine.

4 – Why I voted other? I hope with my bleeding green heart, he stuns all of us and becomes the player we all dream about on draft night.

by Little D on Sep 14, 2009 10:59 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Strange

The vote is going 2 to1 in favor of people thinking Bill Walker will become a part of the rotation but every comment here that actually looks at his game and analyzes it seems to come to the conclusion the kid is sorely lacking and won’t be anywhere near the rotation.

I have to echo some of those views:

1.) His summer league was uninspiring and even forced danny and Doc to comment that they felt J. R. Giddens was ahead of Walker now. That has to be disappointing to Walker and his people given that Giddens saw playing time in only 6 games last year during a season where the bench was incredibly thin due to injuries and seriously lacking talent. Now the team has added talent and is healthy and deeper, things are not looking good.

2.) He showed me nothing last year except that he can dunk and mistime his leaps on offensive putbacks because he’s to concerned with the crowd rattling, rim rattling put back dunk than he is in just getting a rebound and putting it back in off the window for two or kicking it back out to restart the offense.

3.) He was completely lost defensively. Say what you want but Powe and Baby were young and playing with great players in 2008 and didn’t look lost, Walker was just lost on the defensive end. That’s going to be his biggest obstacle to overcome in order to secure more minutes. Doc isn’t letting young guys on the floor if they can’t play or understand the defensive system.

by nickagneta on Sep 14, 2009 11:17 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Very Good Point on Number 3

You have made a very good point. Look coming from someone who has played the game for years and coached its not about being able to jump the highest or dunk the best. The only way Walker will get minutes right now until he can improve his jump shot is to understand the offensive and defensive schemes. This is a team game and if you are not in the right spot at the right time you are lost and will never look as good as you can. Bird is a perfect example. He was never the best athelete but he was always the smartest. I don’t think anybody would disagree that Jordan, Magic and any of the other great players of his era where also great atheletes. Bird was always slow and could never jump that well but he was in the right place at the right time and and impecable court vision. That is why he is one of the best to ever play the game. Because he was smart, not because he was atheletic.

by celts12289 on Sep 14, 2009 7:35 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Sorry, but I don't think Kedrick Brown ever captured the adoration of anyone except his mom

and Jeff Clarke.

Lots of guys can jump high.

by Cousin It on Sep 14, 2009 12:03 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

If we get anyhting above average expectation from

Giddens or Walker we will be very tough. I’m hoping a kind of Trevor Ariza-light. Attack the basket and pressure the D.

by thereallargejames on Sep 14, 2009 2:35 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Tony Allen has bad chacter traits

I think you are wrong by saying that. He grew up with all those ‘so called’ bad guys you are thinking about. Give me a break, will ya!? Why do I have to explain my reasoning here? He deserves an apology and you know it. You really shoudn’t badmouth the guy just because you have a need to write something here every day(and this article is a good one), and you had this idea and when it came to Tony you had to find some reason. Well, that ain’t the reason and if I were him I would be pissed at you. Tell me that he doesn’t stop dribbling, is wild, sloppy with the ball, injury prone. Bad character traits? Naaaa. Why? He didn’t want to turn his back to his old friends? A few years ago? He’s come a long way and I hope he surprises all of us this year. He certainly has the tools.

by gustusias on Sep 14, 2009 2:43 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Sorry

But when all I keep hearing is that Bird won’t take TA back in a S&T for Daniels because of his “bad character traits” then that element of his personality does become a negative for me. When personal issues hurt a players trade value that becomes a tangible element to their value.

Also, Jeff was using those comparison to highlight how different parts of Walker as a player AND person contrast to our past “potential”, so I think the description was drawn as much to highlight Bill Walker’s volunteer work as it was to point out a flaw in Tony.

by MaineBleedsGreen on Sep 14, 2009 8:39 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

shouting down a reporter in the locker room

doesn’t exactly speak to his character does it?

"We few, we happy few, we band of brothers" Henry V

by Jeff Clark on Sep 14, 2009 9:02 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

By the way, where was BW drafted? And Giddens....

Think of the many draftees #1 thru 10 …who failed!

Think of the many more draftees 10 thru 20…who failed!

Think of the mega amount of draftees 20 thru the first round….who failed!

Again, where was BW drafted? And Pruett ( now a proud NY Knick). And Gibbens.

by Dipper on Sep 14, 2009 2:50 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

It looked like he was growing up in the few minutes we saw him play. Going from the cocky celebrations after dunks to just getting down the court. The potential is there if he pays attention to winning and not the mirror.

by Finkelskyhook on Sep 14, 2009 4:33 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

bill walker is the next powe ??

bill has the talent but when he gets a shot to prove he can be a viable piece of the team he will get the powe sindrome . if he has a history of bad knees like powe had he will hurt himself and when contract time comes he will be shown the door just like leon so celtic fans don,t get a crush on sky walker cause he will get the same fate like are beloved leon powe ….

by lohaus#54 on Sep 14, 2009 4:43 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

It isn't easy for a second rounder to get minutes

on a scrub team, never mind the defending champions. BW’s rookie year served to acclimate him tot he league. If he gets a chance this year, through injury or just great play from training camp on, he needs to produce.

If not, he’ll just be another guy with great physical tools.sitting on an NBA bench. I love the guy’s attitude and toughness, but as a basketball player, he hasn’t shown that he can hang with this team, unfortunately.

Hopefully, he gets it this year.

by TripleOT on Sep 14, 2009 5:59 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs