RE: Baker a possibility again?

[OzerskyJA <OzerskyJA@cmog.org>]

Vin is a true head case, a Sean Kemp in the making.
Not only hasn't he produced in several years, but he
has been a coach killer and a team cancer of the most
malignant kind.  They desperately wanted him to succeed
in Seattle, and did everything short of brainwashing all viewers
into thinking Vin wasn't a horrible player, Manchurian Candidate-style.
They want him out of there so bad that Kenny would be a small
price to pay.  The question is whether we could use him; personally,
I'd rather have Michael Bradley if all I'm looking for is low-post scoring.
Vin needs to have some kind of conversion experience before he
can be any good to anyone again.  Right now, he's a bum.

Josh Ozersky	
Marketing Communications Specialist 
Corning Museum of Glass

> -----Original Message-----
> From:	Josh Farber [SMTP:nbaj2k@home.com]
> Sent:	Friday, April 20, 2001 4:46 PM
> To:	OzerskyJA
> Cc:	celtics@igtc.com; Celtic_Pride@yahoogroups.com;
> bostonceltics@yahoogroups.com
> Subject:	Re: Baker a possibility again?
> 
> Is there a reason that Seattle would want to do that?
> they do have Gary Payton already, would they want to pay that much for a
> backup?  We would have to throw in a pick or 2 I would think.
> 
> I was thinking the exact thing, and tried to use RealGM to put it in.  But
> I
> forgot that RealGM goes as of this date, so Vin's BYC isn't off yet.
> 
> 
> Do you like this trade at all?  I honestly believe in Baker and think if
> we
> could use him at Center, he could really help us.  Forget his numbers for
> the past 2 seasons for a second.  He really was promising early in his
> career, and if you forget his horibble seasons in Seattle, where he never
> found his groove, we may have something.  He came into Seattle playing
> this
> passed season, really not enjoying to play basketball.  Maybe a change of
> scenery is just what he needs.
> 
> Below is ESPN's article on Baker wanting to play in the East.  Again he
> mentions Boston.
> 
> He may be able to rejuvenate his career back to his Buck days, you never
> know.
> 
> Josh
> >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
> Baker would like to play on East coast
> 
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------
> --
> ----
> ESPN.com news services
> 
> 
> SEATTLE - SuperSonics forward Vin Baker says a change of scenery would be
> good for both him and the Sonics next year.
> 
> 
>  Baker
> 
> 
> "There's a very slim chance I'll be back here next year," Baker told the
> Seattle Times.
> 
> Vin Baker is not one of the Sonics' seven potential free agents, but the
> 6-foot-11 power forward believes his future is best served elsewhere.
> 
> "To be honest with you, I would think that change might be better for the
> both of us - myself and the Sonics," Baker told the newspaper. "We'll see
> what happens. I think there's a very slim chance that I'll be back here
> next
> year. So I look at this as pretty much the end.
> 
> "It's not anything negative toward the organization. I think a change is
> the
> best thing. I thought it was last year, and we said, 'We could win a
> championship with this team.' Well, the bottom line is that everyone was
> fooling themselves saying that this was the best situation for me." Last
> summer, the Sonics had agreed to trade Baker to the New York Knicks, only
> to
> see the trade go up in smoke. The organization was left to persuade the
> forward that it had reluctantly traded him.
> 
> After contemplating holding out for another trade, Baker returned with
> visions of rejuvenating his career. But instead, he ended up embodying the
> inconsistency that marked the Sonics' 2000-01 season, which ended at 44-38
> and out of the playoffs for the second time in the past three seasons.
> 
> "It's been another tough season for me," said Baker, who averaged career
> lows in points (12.2), shooting (42.2 percent) and rebounds (5.7). "It's a
> situation where I had expectations, the Sonics had expectations. And I
> don't
> think we met them. I didn't meet mine. It's disappointing to me."
> 
> A strong hint that the Sonics will jettison Baker came recently after new
> owner Howard Schultz publicly criticized his player's work ethic.
> 
> A lowpoint of the season came on Nov. 27 when coach Nate McMillan took
> Baker
> out of the starting lineup. Although Baker didn't complain publicly,
> animosity lingered before coming to a head early this month when Baker was
> kicked out of practice after cursing at McMillan for not calling fouls
> against his player in a scrimmage.
> 
> The Sonics could have dealt Baker this season in a package deal. The
> Vancouver Grizzlies, Mavericks and Wizards all showed interest. But the
> clubs also wanted other valuable players besides Baker. Dallas sought
> budding star Rashard Lewis.
> 
> A reason it might be easier to trade this offseasons is that on Aug. 18
> the
> forward will no longer be a base-year compensation player, which had
> prevented the Sonics from trading him for full value.
> 
> A trade to the Eastern Conference is more likely because of its dearth of
> talented big men. And Baker hopes a trade lands him closer to his hometown
> in Connecticut.
> 
> "Any East Coast team," said Baker, specifically mentioning Boston, New
> York,
> New Jersey and Philadelphia. "Even playing in Milwaukee. I think George
> (Karl) is a terrific coach, and that would be a good situation for me."
> 
> 
> 
> 
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "OzerskyJA" <OzerskyJA@cmog.org>
> To: "'Josh Farber'" <nbaj2k@home.com>; <Celtics@igtc.com>
> Cc: <Celtic_Pride@yahoogroups.com>; <bostonceltics@yahoogroups.com>
> Sent: Friday, April 20, 2001 4:24 PM
> Subject: RE: Baker a possibility again?
> 
> 
> > Kenny and Walter for Vin would match up precisely; Vin's BYC
> > is coming off some time very soon.
> >
> > Josh Ozersky
> > Marketing Communications Specialist
> > Corning Museum of Glass
> >
> > > -----Original Message-----
> > > From: Josh Farber [SMTP:nbaj2k@home.com]
> > > Sent: Friday, April 20, 2001 3:53 PM
> > > To: Celtics@igtc.com
> > > Cc: Celtic_Pride@yahoogroups.com; bostonceltics@yahoogroups.com
> > > Subject: Baker a possibility again?
> > >
> > > Ok, well, I have been a Baker supporter since day one.  I agree I may
> be
> > > biased since he's been born and brought up in my state of CT.  I
> really
> > > believe its not too late to turn his career around.  I believe he
> needs
> a
> > > scenery change.
> > >
> > > Could he be a possibility in Boston?  Can anyone come up with possible
> > > trade
> > > scenarios that they may like involving picks, Patterson, and possibly
> a
> > > sign
> > > and trade with Williams?
> > >
> > > I never said i would do this, or that I want him on the team.  I am
> just
> > > thinking about how it might work.  If we could get him to play Center,
> he
> > > might be able to be a decent low post presence.  Read below what
> BskBall
> > > has
> > > to say (www.bskball.com/Rumors.htm)
> > >
> > > Sounds like he may be officially on the market again.
> > > If Seattle wants him out soo bad maybe we can actually get a deal that
> > > favors us.
> > > (I know he has a gigantic contract, but I'm not sure what the exact
> > > figures
> > > are and even if it would work.  Can anyone come up with a possible
> > > scenario
> > > on RealGM.com?)
> > >
> > > >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>.
> > > 04/20-VIN OUT IN SEATTLE- Vin baker was handed the morning paper by
> Ruben
> > > Patterson, in the paper were quotes from new Sonic owner Howard
> Schultz
> in
> > > which he made less than flattering remarks about Vin, and said his
> > > durability was in question. Baker was so enraged at this he has vowed
> > > never
> > > to speak to Schultz, and has demanded a trade both officially via his
> > > agent,
> > > and through the press making comments to the effect of wanting out of
> > > Seattle. Sources close to the team say this isn't not viewed as a
> problem,
> > > they were going to trade him away. Its not clear where the Sonics will
> > > attempt to move baker to, but the word is they simply want him gone,
> and
> > > would entertain almost anything that made that happen. <<<<<<<<<<<