News from Seattle

["Thomas Murphy" <tfmiii@worldnet.att.net>]

The Sonics certainly sound as if they're planning to build around Baker in
the article I quote from here.

>>Although the 6-foot-10 Grant played power forward for the Magic the past
five seasons, Seattle intends to start him at center along with Baker, who
is currently a free agent. 

"We're going to play them together a lot," said Coach Paul Westphal.
"Horace will guard the better low-post player, usually. Vin will be working
offensively in the low post, and Horace likes it around the high post." <<

>>The Sonics still need a backup for Payton, an athletic swingman and a
starting small forward. But the deal enables Seattle to be one of the
biggest players in free agency. 

"We still have some other things we'd like to do," Walker said, "but the
additional salary-cap room really helps us in that regard, too." 

The Sonics are about $3.5 million under the cap. The only three teams with
more room under the cap - expected to be $34 million - are the Bulls,
Clippers and Raptors. 

"We've got some money burning a hole in our pockets, so we'll go out there
and find some people," Westphal said. <<

http://www.seattletimes.com/sports/sonics/html98/soni_19990701.html