Has-Been Deserves Chance to Play

Is this what Memphis Grizzlies beat writer Ron Tillery does, befriend the old veteran on the Grizz and then write articles each year saying that player deserves a chance to play?

Last year, how many Damon Stoudamire buyout articles did we have to read? It should’ve been one blurb: Stoudamire released by Grizzlies. That’s it. Instead, Grizz fans had to suffer through numerous Tillery articles detailing the veteran players desire to have more minutes, play for a contender, etc. It didn’t matter that Stoudamire was broken and was never able to contribute, that he’s out of the league as we speak.

So what do we get now? The Grizzlies should give Antoine Walker a buyout, give him a chance to play, etc. And why should the Grizz do that? They owe Walker something? Walker really thinks he’s got something left to offer a team?

Tillery says, “Why hold a capable and passionate player prisoner when the team has no use for him?"

I didn’t realize that Walker was being held prisoner. Which prison pays you $9 million again? And if he’s such a capable player, why aren’t teams making on offer for him? He’s just like Stoudamire, a player with too much pride to admit that his skills have declined, that the game has passed him by. Once again, I’ve wasted my time reading an article about how some grizzled old vet is owed a release and a chance to play. Walker can leave the Grizz anytime he likes, he’ll just have to forfeit a big chunk of his paycheck, which of course, he doesn’t want to do. If Walker wants to prove doubters wrong and show that he can still play, you can give up a few million for it. Otherwise, enjoy being one of the highest paid bench players in the league. There’s worse things in life, you know, like being a real prisoner.