Re: Three way for Baker?

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

Here's a question: Will Fat Vinny set the IV record at Camp Pitino?
Jackie MacMullan isn't high on Artest, but the Celtics staff and Jersey
Red loves him.  Let's not forget about Tony Battie - May seems awfully
cocksure about him exiting stage left very soon.  And you know Il Duce
would love to foist Kenny on someone. These are the basketball end times
Sweet Lord Jesus........
Ray


> Subject: three way for Baker?
> Date: Sat, 24 Jul 1999 10:58:00 -0400
> From: "Thomas Murphy" <tfmiii@worldnet.att.net>
> To: "Celtic list" <celtics@igtc.com>
> 
> 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