Bulpett has more rumor details

["Thomas Murphy" <tfmiii@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

C's mull trade for Sonics' Baker: Kenny, Vitaly may be bait

by Steve Bulpett
Friday, July 19, 2002

The Celtics will sign free agent Bruno Sundov today, and they were closing
in on another big man last night. Sources close to Vin Baker said yesterday
the Seattle center could well be coming to the Celts in a deal that would
include Kenny Anderson and Vitaly Potapenko.

There was word from the West on Monday that Seattle was looking to move
Baker for Anderson and another Celtic contract, but the talks were
characterized as mainly a Sonics creation. A source said last night that the
Sonics' persistence may be paying off as the Celtics put further conditions
on the potential trade.

While Seattle is interested in Eric Williams instead of Potapenko, the Celts
want it to be the latter. They would also like to get a point guard in
return - most likely Shammond Williams but possibly Earl Watson - and are
said to be offering Joseph Forte to make that work. Watson is a restricted
free agent, so that would have to be dealt with, as well, making Shammond
Williams the easier choice. If the Celtics can get what they want, the
transaction could go down within a week.

Celtics general manager Chris Wallace declined comment on the subject last
night.

Baker makes $12.375 million this season and has three more years at the
maximum. Anderson, attractive now after a strong season on the court and for
the fact his contract expires after he gets $9.18 million this year, would
allow the Sonics to get their financial house in better order. The club is
reportedly in a difficult position, posting losses in the millions.

While Baker would be a big hit on the payroll, the Celtics would actually
gain on the transaction if it plays out the way they wish. If completed, the
move would also pretty much end the pursuit of Rodney Rogers, who is a
dimming hope for the Celts anyway. The club has offered him just the $1
million veteran minimum.

Sundov, a 7-foot-3 center/forward with more of an outside game, will come in
for the $637,435 minimum based on his four years in the NBA. But dollars
weren't the issue, according to his agent, Frank Catapano.

``It came down to that Bruno thinks he has a better opportunity to play here
than he does in Indiana because of the numbers,'' Catapano said. ``Jim
O'Brien didn't promise him any minutes, but he likes O'Brien.

``It was a tough decision for him to leave Indiana because he was very happy
there and he likes the coaching staff. He just felt they had a lot of guys
at those positions (center and power forward) and thought he'd have a better
chance to get minutes here. And because it's a short-term deal (one year
with an option), it gives him the opportunity to move on if it doesn't work
out.''

Celtics notes

Forte continued to take advantage of his opportunity at the Shaw's Pro
Summer League, going for 21 points, five rebounds and five assists as the
Celtics entry moved to 3-0 with an 83-68 victory over Orlando last night.

Newly signed guard J.R. Bremer continued to impress, hitting 7-of-11 shots
on the way to 16 points in 25 minutes, and Kedrick Brown had 10 points. . .
.

Omar Cook, the man Bremer essentially replaces on the depth chart, did not
play. ``They keep bringing in two-ones,'' Cook said. ``I'm a true point.'' .
. .

Second-round draft pick Darius Songaila had eight points and eight boards,
but it's clear he's in a transition period. ``He's a little bit of an
undersized power forward and we have to see what he can do from the small
forward spot, from the standpoint of his ability to move his feet,'' said
O'Brien. ``He's just getting a feel for the level of the talent. He's got to
be a role player, obviously, and he's not used to being a role player.'' . .
.

Oliver Miller hit 2-of-3 shots and pulled in six rebounds in just 17
minutes.