Re: Baker, Wesley, Fox

["Jeff Tepper" <jaytee@itasoft.com>]

- ----------
> From: DENNIS_SMITH@HP-Waltham-om3.om.hp.com
> To: celtics@igtc.COM
> Subject: Baker, Wesley, Fox
> Date: Thursday, May 22, 1997 6:02 PM
> 
> Item Subject: cc:Mail Text
>      >Date: Wed, 21 May 1997 16:00:46 +0100
>      >From: "Jeff Tepper" <jaytee@itasoft.com>
>      >Subject: Re: anyone see Chanel 68 sportstalk last night?
>      >
>      >
>      >Sounds good, but how are we going to get Baker?  He's not a free 
>      >agent until after next year, so we would have to trade something to

>      >get him. And it can't be just draft picks either because we would
be 
>      >over the salary cap with Bakers salary (around 3.75 million).  We 
>      >certainly couldn't get him and still resign Fox and Wesley......
>      >
>      >The other thing they said on channel 68 last night is that we won't

>      >be able to resign both Fox and Wesley.  It will most likely either
be 
>      >one or the other, or maybe even neither of them.  
>      
>      Baker has expressed his desire to play for Boston for a while.  This

>      must be known around the league by now.  Because he is a free agent 
>      next year, the Bucks are in a bind.  They need to trade him now or 
>      lose him next year.  The problem is what team is going to trade for 
>      him if they are also going to lose him next year!  Answer, none.  So

>      if the Buck were smart they should make a trade with Boston.  I
would 
>      like to see this trade involve Dino.  I would not use either first 
>      round pick in this trade, we have the upper hand.  It would have to 
>      involve another player, however, because of the trade resistions 
>      (salaries must be within 20% of each other).  

For the Bucks, making a trade with Boston wouldn't necessarily be smart. 
Consider that even if they lose Baker after next year, that frees up 3.75
million salary cap dollars to go after someone in next year's superb free
agent class.  On the other hand, if they trade for Dino they have to eat
his 5 million dollar salary for the rest of his contract.  If they really
want Dino and think that he can help the team then it may be a good trade
for them, but they shouldn't just trade Baker for him just to try and get
something for him before he turns FA.

>As for signing Fox and 
>      Wesley we can sign them for whatever we want using the Larry Bird 
>      clause.  We definitely need to sign Wesley he is a proven point
guard. 
>      If you look on ESPNnet Wesley is rate #22 right behind A. Hardaway
in 
>      the NBA player rating, the only Celtic to make the list.  He is a 
>      valuable player!  What the Celtics need to do is sign a FA first
then 
>      negotiate Wesley contract.  Hopefully he will sit tight and not
demand 
>      too much money.  We don't need another large, long term contract. 
Fox 
>      on the other hand is expendable because of the glut a SF.  It too
bad 
>      because he has stepped it up this past year and was one of the best 
>      defensive players in the league.  I hope they work something out.

I agree that Fox is expendable, and i don't see any benefit in re-signing
him.  The only thing that makes me wonder about Wesley is that Pitino came
onto the scene saying that the 2 biggest team needs are center and point
guard...

Jeff