The Layup Line

Who Will Draft Bill Walker?

KSU freshman Bill Walker is able to do some pretty amazing things on a pair of suspect legs. When word broke earlier this week that he had injured a knee, yet again, nearly everyone expected him to pull his name out of the draft. But he didn’t, and now he’s a lottery talent that is a projected 2nd round draft pick. Strange, to say the least.

From everything I’ve read, no team is rumored to have made a promise to Walker, but there are a few worthy candidates for such speculation at the end of the first round.

Before his injury, Walker had a strong workout in Detroit.  With Detroit looking to retool their roster, Walker might fill a hole somewhere between Rodney Stuckey and Amir Johnson. Although impossible to quantify, Bill Walker smells like a Joe Dumars draft selection. 

Boston is drafting at the end of the first. They’re returning most of their championship roster and are in a position to take a chance on a high risk player like Walker.

Earlier this month, KSU assistant coach Brad Underwood was confident that Walker would return to school if not drafted in the first round. In the same interview when he made those remarks, he said that the San Antonio Spurs were high on Walker. That makes all kinds of sense given the age of Bowen, Barry and Ginobili and the presumed departure of Finley. Not to mention that R.C. Buford seems to limit Spurs scouting to continental Europe and the state of Kansas.