three way for Baker?

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

Now THIS is the rumor I've been expecting to hear! 

NBAtalk has a rumored three way deal with the Celts, Bulls, and Sonics.
http://www.nbatalk.com/rumors.shtml

It just seems so logical for the three teams involved. The details are
sketchy but it would seem to involve Walker and possibly Pervis going to
Chicago, Kukoc going to Seattle (along with who? Mercer and Barros?) and
Baker and Ron Artest coming to the Cs. 

That seems like a lot to give up for Baker (28 years this Fall) but the
trade is in some sense for Rick Pitino's present (and the present team's
chemistry) in exchange for the *potential* future. The cap numbers should
work out (Kukoc $4.5 mil, Barros $3.5 mil, Mercer $2.0 mil for Baker's $9.0
mil). 

Chicago can take Walker's base year comp salary because they are so far
under the cap. Walker's presence makes Kukoc expendable. Krause (who -
unlike Pitino - is not under the gun to make the playoffs this season)
would have to be pleased to get a hometown stud to play alongside Brand for
the price of a number one pick and an aging piece of the last dynasty.

As many on the list have noted Kukoc doesn't seem a good fit for Pitino but
would seem an excellent fit for Westphal on an aging team that needs to try
and get over the hump before Payton jumps ship. That was the logic behind
the Magette for Grant swap. From Seattle's POV getting two starters (if
Mercer is included) - one with championship experience - for the price of
one has got to be tempting, particularly when they already have Horace
Grant for the dirty work, Detlef Schrempf weighing his options, and agile
seven-footer Stepania looking to get some minutes. Those three should pick
up a good deal of the slack entailed by the loss of Baker. Mercer, Kukoc
and Barros would be perfect for the run-and-gun style that Westphal coaches
and would give the Sonics a level of flexibility (sliding Payton to SG,
Mercer to SF, Kukoc to PF?) they sorely lacked last year.

The Cs would add Baker who along with Potapenko and Battie should by and
large solve their four and five problems. Baker's ability to slide to the
five should render the Riley/Schintzius combo moot and free Battie to play
most of his minutes at the four, his natural position. Pierce stays at the
three, his natural position, although he is available to slide to the two;
Artest is groomed as the future SG but initially getting minutes at both SG
and SF; and Barros's departure opens up space for Turner and Damon Jones to
both remain on the roster (whoopee?). SG remains a big Q - will it be a
chance for Minor to start? I tend to doubt it. I would look for them to
offer Jon Barry (30 years old) starter's minutes and the $2 mil exception
or perhaps throw in another body (Popeye? Minor?) in exchange for Hersey
Hawkins (33 years this Fall). Both Barry or Hawkins would lend a degree of
veteran stability to the position (without the need to feed shot attempt
egos) thereby enabling Pitino to groom Artest for the position. (From what
I've heard - thanks for the reports guys! - Adrian Griffin doesn't have the
outside shot to start at the two). The Cs also - when viewed strictly in
terms of the present - add by subtraction since they give up their two
major shot-hogs, both of whom we're heaving it up in the low 40s%, and
replace them with a far more reliable inside option in Baker (career - 50%)
as well as more shots for Pierce and Potapenko. 

Now THIS would represent a major shake-up that should place the Cs in a
much better position to make the playoffs this coming season.

Best wishes - Tom Murphy