RE: [Celtic_Pride] Re: Baker a possibility again?

["Berry, Mark S" <berrym@BATTELLE.ORG>]

Don't touch Baker with a 10-foot pole. He's deteriorated so bad he's even
more unmovable than Kenny, because his contract is longer. He's soft and a
total head case. Rumor has it he's an alcoholic. Stay far, far away, even if
it's just Kenny and Walter-their contracts aren't as bad as Baker's. 

Mark

 -----Original Message-----
From: 	Josh Farber [mailto: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:	[Celtic_Pride] 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. <<<<<<<<<<<


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