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What if Tracy McGrady completely concedes to 7-foot-6 Yao Ming, Peja Stojakovic continues to quarrel with Chris Webber, Kobe Bryant's trial somehow drags into another season and Kevin Garnett decides that averaging triple-doubles is more important than setting another career high in points per game?

Then what are we going to do when Antoine Walker leads the league in scoring?

We're talking about the same Antoine Walker who is playing for his third team in three years after his former general manager wanted nothing to do with him and his long-range game anymore and his current one simply wanted to dump salary.

The three-time all-star is now nothing more than a salary-cap placeholder who is in the final year of a $76.6 million deal that will leave him as a free agent and his current team with flexibility. The Atlanta Hawks' plan is to scrap this season in order to accelerate the rebuilding process.

As a result, Walker was acquired not for his ability to shoot, score or tally triple-doubles. He was acquired because he and his cap number disappear in 82 regular-season games whether he scores two points per game or 24. He is one of only 10 current Hawks under contract, and three of those players, including Walker, have their 2005 walking papers.

As it stands now, the Hawks' starting five consists of Tony Delk at point guard, Josh Childress at shooting guard, Al Harrington at small forward, Predrag Drobnjak at center and Walker at power forward.

In other words, they've got a career backup running the offense, a rookie joining him in the backcourt, a disgruntled reserve on one end of the paint, B-role in the middle and Walker at the other end, respectively.

How hard is it going to be for Walker to score 20 points a game? Or 22? Or 24?

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