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Pat Riley to Antoine: Stop Eating Already!

The Miami Heat dropped their second preseason game last night from the AAA 106-100 in overtime. The wins and losses are not that important in the preseason but the fact many veterans are still aching and out of shape is a concern, mainly to Pat Riley. Shaq managed to get back on the court last night and scored 10 points in 16 minutes. Afterwards Shaq spent the rest of the game creating open looks for others. The Crushernaut led the Heat with 22 points and 12 rebounds, providing the double-double Riley said he expects from the starting power forward. The real matchup of the night came between Riles and Antoine, when Riles decided to call out Antoine before the Hawks matchup. From the Miami Herald…

Riley said Walker, 31, reported to camp weighing 262 pounds — more than 20 above what was expected — and might not meet his team-imposed body-fat percentage goal until January. Walker, Riley said, is now down to 256 pounds but has been slowed by an Achilles’ injury.

”That’s what happens. They come in and they’re not in optimum camp condition and they get hurt,” Riley said.

Riley said he has been dealing with Walker’s conditioning problems since the Heat acquired him in a five-team, 13-player trade in 2005. Walker reported for his first Heat camp at 267 pounds, Riley said.

”I’m beyond irritated,” said Riley, who wants the 6-foot-9 Walker at about 240 pounds with a body-fat percentage at seven percent. “I was irritated the first year I signed him. I don’t have time to be irritated. He and I have talked. We met the other day — just trying to get him there.”

So let me get this straight. Riles knew about Antoine’s major conditioning problems when he was signed in 2005 but turned his cheek to get the deal done? This reminds me of Boston having to take on Mike Lowell’s contract in order to get Josh Beckett. Only difference is Lowell managed to turn his career around in Boston while Antoine has come to South Beach to eat, drink and be merry.

So what to do? Walker is scheduled to earn $8.3 million this season and $9 million in the 2008-09 season. He’ll earn a $9.7 million salary for the 2009-10 season and has a player option, which means he can decide to either return or become unrestricted free agent. The Heat could try to trade him but no one would be stupid enough to give up talent for him. However, if the Heat waives him before June 30, 2009, it owes him nothing. If Miami keeps Walker for the duration of his deal it owes him $10.4 million for the 2010-11 season, the last year of his contract.

I’m not sure I can last a whole season of Toine and his fat tippy toes.