Do you think Walton could play in the NBA?
I've been operating under the fairly safe assumption that Walton would never be an NBA guy. He's really short, a decent defender but not overly quick, and (until recently) hasn't had the offensive output to make it worth it. His best skill is defensive rebounding, which will probably disappear in the pros. The last string of games, though, he's been brilliant--finishing at the rim, slaying at the three point line, and getting pretty damn open for some 12-18 footers.
So two questions: 1) do you think he could actually be a functional NBA player? Is there a role for him? 2) Do you think if he finishes the season this way he has a chance of getting drafted in the second round?
Would have never thought I'd be asking this question even as of a month ago, but he's really flipped a switch IMO. Carrying us on his back.
February 13th, 2017 at 10:10 AM ^
Since this team has become his team, as opposed to Irving's team, the team has looked competitive. He has the so-called dog in him. I do not see him being a starter, but hell there have been plenty of back up point gaurds in the NBA where you ask yourself, "where did he come from?"
February 13th, 2017 at 10:26 AM ^
Holy shit, we've had Julius Irving on the team all year?!?!?!
February 13th, 2017 at 11:31 AM ^
Not Julius Erving
February 13th, 2017 at 12:07 PM ^
February 13th, 2017 at 11:02 AM ^
yupyupyupnopeyup
February 13th, 2017 at 9:54 AM ^
February 13th, 2017 at 9:55 AM ^
so.....yeah
February 13th, 2017 at 9:57 AM ^
Something:Something Else::Anything:Anything Else
February 13th, 2017 at 1:02 PM ^
Now you need to be good at SOMETHING to make a roster. You can be one-dimensional, but be well above league average at that one skill.
In order to stick around as a glue guy, good locker room presence veteran, you need to get a shot to begin with.
February 13th, 2017 at 9:56 AM ^
He was the NBA Finals MVP in 1977. If I recall, his son played in the NBA as well.
I'm all for comebacks, but dude is turning 65 this year. Do not want.
February 13th, 2017 at 9:58 AM ^
February 13th, 2017 at 10:00 AM ^
Too short and not a strong enough outside shot to make it. For a guy to make it in the NBA at his size he either needs an amzaing handle like Ricky Rubio, a killer outside shot like Seth Curry or both like Kyrie Irving.
He's the classic great college player but I think that's about it.
February 13th, 2017 at 10:04 AM ^
He's a 44.2% three point shooter on 5.5 attempts per game. That's pretty good. Not Steph Curry good, but Steph Curry is also a star.
February 13th, 2017 at 10:11 AM ^
Its also a few feet closer than the pro version.
February 13th, 2017 at 10:15 AM ^
February 13th, 2017 at 10:17 AM ^
Even though I hate him
February 13th, 2017 at 11:09 AM ^
February 13th, 2017 at 10:02 AM ^
Just looking at this season, Yogi Ferrell has been a sensation for the Mavs. If walton can keep up this run, he might not be drafted but he could make the most out of a 10-day contract type situation like Yogi did.
February 13th, 2017 at 10:32 AM ^
This is what I was gonna say. He's a similar size and is putting up similar numbers his senior year. Yogi wasn't drafted, but signed on with the Nets before eventually getting cut and then catching on with the Mavs and earning a 2 year contract.
Think there's a small chance Walton could be a late 2nd round pick if he continues to play at this high of level, if not he'll probably at least get picked up for summer league and get a chance in the D-League.
February 13th, 2017 at 11:50 AM ^
This was the recent comparison that came to my mind as well. Yogi is probably a little quicker vs Walton being a little stronger. He should get a shot, especially if he keeps his play up.
February 13th, 2017 at 12:01 PM ^
Was thinking the same thing. They are about the same size, Ferrell is a bit better athlete but Walton is a bit more physical. Both can shoot well, have decent handles, and can captain a second team offense. It'll be an uphill climb, but this is a decent comp.
February 13th, 2017 at 10:05 AM ^
Sure. He can play in the NBA. Doubt he'll ever be a starter or a guy who gets a bunch of PT. But he could be a role/bench guy who plays 5-10 a game. But I don't watch the NBA so I'm likely wrong.
February 13th, 2017 at 10:05 AM ^
February 13th, 2017 at 10:07 AM ^
February 13th, 2017 at 10:33 AM ^
He's averaging 12 minutes per game in DC as John Wall's backup. His overall and 3pt shooting percentage have improved markedly from when he was running the show in Utah. He's not living up to his 1st round selection but regular minutes running the Wizards second unit isn't "barely hanging on".
February 13th, 2017 at 11:14 AM ^
February 13th, 2017 at 1:24 PM ^
are almost all barely hanging on, and Trey is included. He has upped his 3pt FG percentage but on too few 3FGA/2FGA. His PER is only 10 and he's not a plus defender so unless he improves more, he'll be at risk of not being on a roster to give a younger guy a chance to be better.
That profile does sound about like D Walton Jr's ceiling for NBA potential: backup PG who shoots well from three but doesn't do much else particularly well. DWJ is a better FT shooter so he could be a little more efficient than Burke is this year.
February 13th, 2017 at 12:11 PM ^
Burke's problem was always two-fold to me, namely he was always a shoot-first player who can't create his own shot consistently against good defenses (but has had a decent resurgence as an outside shooter), and is a bad defender. He clearly isn't a starter, but on a second team that ball dominance can help keep the offense moving a bit and give you an identity, which is why he works somewhat in DC where they rely so heavily on their PGs to move the ball around. Walton could do much the same. And as for defense, Walton is far better both on- and off-ball. Again, no promise he'll stick on a roster, but unlike Burke I think he gets his role and could be a guy who gets a couple 10-day contracts and maybe sticks on a roster late in a season.
February 13th, 2017 at 1:32 PM ^
I wholeheartedly believe that Trey's deficiencies were masked by the talent around him. THJ is probably the player doing the best in the NBA right now. Trey benefitted immensley by having McGary, Levert, Spike, THJ, Sauce, and GR3 around him. I distinctly remember the Indiana game at the close of that season where Beilein benched him for almost the entire first half because he was a such a liability out there. He had some really bad stretches during the tournament that were masked by everyone else's exceptional play, especially Mitch's. He got the qb love on that team. As pg he got the credit and adulation we see qb's of great football teams get.
All in all, it think that its tough for him to hide his shortcoming in the league. It's not a matter of him being in the wrong system as much as him being what he is.
I've had the walton v burke discussion with a few friends. I'd love to see what Walton would've done with the '13 team. His rebounding and shoot second mentality would've been great to watch with THJ, Sauce, GR3, and McGary on the floor with him
February 13th, 2017 at 3:33 PM ^
from being on a very good team, but he was as responsible for the team being so good as the team was responsible for him being good...on the offensive end. Trey was an incredible offensive player in college and he deserves all the credit for that. He was a very high efficiency, high usage player, which is rare. 80%/50%/38% shot splits and an absurd 3:1 assist to TO rate his 2nd year.
He was never very good at defense, which doesn't get considered in the college awards season and in people minds, so in that sense he was overrated. To make it in the NBA as a mediocre defender you have to be really, really good at offense and he just isn't quite that good. His height probably makes it more difficult to be good enough at offense since he can't shoot over bigger NBA guards like he could in college.
He was one of those very good college players whose skills didn't carry over to the NBA. It happens all the time. Doesn't take away from how good he was in college.
February 13th, 2017 at 10:08 AM ^
For the record, my official answer is no. Look at how Burke dominated the college game and has struggled in the NBA. Walton is a bit beefier than Burke, but Burke was plenty tough as well. Neither has elite physical attributes or skills.
Having said that, I think a favorable player comp for Walton would be Derek Fisher. Fisher was 6'1" and 200 lbs, same height as Walton but a little bit heavier. Fisher was not a plus offensive player, especially early in his career, but he had solid fundamentals and took care of the ball. Later in his career he developed a reliable-ish jump shot and became an excellent free throw shooter. His assist rate was always pretty low for a PG, even when he was playing starter's minutes.
Now, I think that's probably a best case scenario for Walton. I would guess that out of college, Fisher was more athletic and quicker than Walton, and almost certainly a better man defender. But there are some similarities.
February 13th, 2017 at 10:13 AM ^
to some it up, it is either "No" or an 18 year NBA career where starts as point guard on three NBA championship teams?
February 13th, 2017 at 10:15 AM ^
Yes, that is exactly what I said.
February 13th, 2017 at 10:19 AM ^
just kidding around. I think the size comparison in terms of measurables is a little bit misleading. Fisher was a very strong guard and played very big for his size. Walton is a good reounder but I don't think he could throw his weight around, or have the weight to throw around, to play like Fisher did. Fisher regularly guarded big shooting guards if the situation called for it. That is not something I could see Walton ever doing in the NBA.
How about BJ Armstrong?
February 13th, 2017 at 10:08 AM ^
But no
February 13th, 2017 at 10:09 AM ^
No, for the reasons you listed. He's too short and not athletic enough.
Trey Burke was a great college point guard, yet he was too slow to make it in the League. Walton is less athletic than Trey, so I don't see how he makes it. He's shorter too.
February 13th, 2017 at 10:16 AM ^
If the O/U on NBA minutes is 0, I'll take the over. I think that he'll probably spend the next 2-3 years in the D-League with periodic NBA call-ups but will never really catch on.
February 13th, 2017 at 11:25 AM ^
February 13th, 2017 at 10:17 AM ^
February 13th, 2017 at 10:17 AM ^
not exactly the same guy, but a real energy-type player who can get streaky and moves the ball well. Has been in the league almost 10 years, I think, and made a living. 6 feet (generous) and about 170, so size has not kept him from plying his trade.
February 13th, 2017 at 10:56 AM ^
February 13th, 2017 at 1:31 PM ^
no comparison there. Brooks is/was lightning quick and that allowed him to have an edge as a creator in the NBA (and defend the ball). Walton's game is much more of strength in college. He doesn't blow by anyone, but can back down guards and hit the turn around jumper, hit threes and rebound. He's like a college Chauncey Billups and for that style to translate to the NBA, he'd have to be Billups sized: couple inches taller and much bigger and stronger.
February 13th, 2017 at 10:19 AM ^
But I don't see it. He can carve out a great living in Europe.
February 13th, 2017 at 10:24 AM ^
February 13th, 2017 at 10:28 AM ^
The NBA is now a PG league and is dominated by dynamic scoring PGs. As many have said, Trey Burke is clinging to a role as a back-up and Yogi just got his first ever NBA contract - both were far better than Walton. Darius Morris flamed out quickly. Michael Carter Williams is barely clinging to a bench role.
I'm sure that Walton could play overseas for a few years because of his shooting, ball handling, and rebounding. But this year will end Beilein's run of putting guys in the NBA after getting 7 guys drafted over the past few years. I think we'll have to see if Wagner and/or Wilson get the call in another year or two. Or if you're really an optimist then you're hoping that our Kentucky transfer is so good next year that he leads us to glory and goes pro.
February 13th, 2017 at 10:36 AM ^
I have almost zero doubt that both Wilson and Wagner will be in the league.
February 13th, 2017 at 10:42 AM ^
I have some doubt.
Wagner needs to smooth up his post game a little and stop getting so cute when he dribbles. I know he's pulled it off a few times, but his interior dribbling has resulted in multiple turnovers and/or jump balls the past few games.
There are a lot of guys like Wilson that couldn't make in the NBA. I always cite Tony Mitchell as an example. 6'8, could jump out of the freaking gym. But he never specialized in anything and is now overseas. I know his jumper is getting much better, but he has to continue to make that a point of his game that he can step out and hit the shot with regularity. He'll make a couple, and then when he misses, they are WAY off. Needs that consistency. Also needs to add about 20 more lbs of muscle. He gets pushed off the block pretty easily.