Seattle PI: Baker Covets Celtics, But Salary Cap And Seattle's Non Interest In Celtic Players Prevents Deal

[Way Of The Ray <wayray@ix.netcom.com>]

A source inside the Sonics says there's no one on the Celtics they
would want for Baker....

       

      Do green pastures beckon Sonics' Vin Baker? 
      Forward coveting Celtics, but money is on Seattle 
      Friday, July 9, 1999
      By RONALD TILLERY 
      SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER REPORTER 
      ORLANDO, Fla. -- Sonics free agent Vin Baker will discuss his future today 
      with new agents Aaron and Eric Goodwin.
      The conversation could be short because there aren't many options for the 
      6-foot-11 power forward. Still, the Goodwins will meet with Baker, who is 
      practicing here with USA Basketball's Olympic qualifying team, to plot his 
      free agent course.
      Baker has offered only wavering comments about his intentions.
      Yesterday, Baker told Peter May of the Boston Globe that he wants to play 
      for the Celtics.
      "It's always been a dream of mine to come back (to New England) and don 
      the Celtic green," said Baker, who grew up in Connecticut. "So we'll see 
      what we can do. 
      "I know if it's going to be done, it's going to be a sign and trade. It's 
      definitely something I'd want to do. Seattle is right up there, too, and 
      I've had some good times there and it's been a great city. But, obviously, 
      coming home and closing out my career right up the street would be great."
      Earlier this week, Baker told the Post-Intelligencer he definitely wants 
      to be back in Seattle. "It's a situation where I feel like I have a lot of 
      unfinished business there," he said.
      Sonics point guard Gary Payton is also represented by the Goodwins and is 
      Baker's teammate on the qualifying team. Payton believes the talk 
      surrounding Baker is posturing.
      "I'm hearing all of these rumors and all of this talk. I'm sure the Sonics 
      did not trade Shawn Kemp to only have Vin Baker for two years," Payton 
      said. "I'm sure they're going to come at Vin correct. They can pay him the 
      most money.
      "What would you rather have, $87 million or $68 million? That's almost $20 
      million you're giving up. I don't think he's going to do that. He can get 
      paid in Seattle and he can win there for a long time."
      Baker's best financial option is to return to Seattle, where he played the 
      past two seasons. The Sonics can pay him the most of any team, a 
      seven-year deal worth $87 million.
      Only Chicago, Toronto and the Los Angeles Clippers have enough money under 
      the $34 million salary cap to approach Baker. However, the maximum those 
      teams can offer is a six-year deal worth about $69 million.
      It has been speculated that Baker could be involved in a sign-and-trade 
      deal. But a specification in the new collective bargaining agreement that 
      deals with "base-year" salaries makes it virtually impossible to sign and 
      trade Baker to a team over the cap.
      Even if such a deal could be done, the Sonics would have to approve it. 
      One Sonics insider said the Celtics did not have any players Seattle would 
      accept in exchange for Baker.
      Because he opted out of his last contract, Baker became a free agent July 
      1. But NBA teams are not allowed to sign players until Aug. 1. Team 
      president Wally Walker will visit Baker later this month in San Juan, 
      Puerto Rico, while the USA team competes in the Tournament of the 
      Americas.
      "We intend to sign Vin Baker and keep him in Seattle," said Walker, who 
      engineered a three-team trade that landed Baker and sent Kemp to Cleveland 
      two years ago.<snip>