Re: I want Baker

[bird <birdwl@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

> From: "Greg Odegaard" <grodeg@xxxxxxxxxx>
>
> Other than the contract, sure a big deal, I couldn't agree with you more.
> Vin is one of those big bodies that has actually fared pretty well against
> Shaq in the last 2 years, with the Sonics doing better against the Lakers
> out here than just about anyone. Given the challenge of reaping rewards 
> from
> the FA market, and using talent only, this deal does make sense.
Yeah, but "other than the contract" makes this an entirely different 
animal.  Try finding someone who wouldn't give it a chance "other than the 
contract".  Without it, Seattle probably doesn't make the trade.  Of 
course, that brings up the interesting possibility that Baker could opt 
out of part of his four-year deal.  I believe Alex suggested opting out of 
the last two; to me, this still doesn't make it palatable, though I could 
see C's management taking a chance.  And, hey, maybe Baker does rejuvenate 
somewhat.  I'd even bite if he opted out of the last three years -- though 
I think that's unlikely.  But four more years of around $12mil/year?  I'd 
never call Gaston a "tightwad" again, that's for sure.  Might start 
thinking he's "retahded" though.   Wicked retahded.


> Can anyone
> imagine us going much further with Pot? Not damn likely.
I just don't think it's a matter of having V *or* Baker.  V's way down on 
the depth chart now, due to injury and the acquisition of Sundov, but, if 
we lose Blount, then yes, I would like to keep V.  I don't want to go to 
war without at least three big men not named Antoine Walker.  But, the 
real question is, does the C's point guard rotation without Kenny Anderson 
and including the likes of Earl Watson (or Shammond Williams), Tony Delk, 
Joe Forte, J.R. Bremer -- not to mention the possibility of a powerhouse 
like Damon Jones -- scare the living beejesus out of me?  You bet it does 
 But, who knows, maybe that eventuality is being planned for... .

As Alex also said, the list tends to "freak out" over these sorts of 
possibilities.  And hey, let's face it, sometimes it's freakish, and you 
almost have to freak out.  I won't seriously start self-medicating until 
possibilities become realities, though.

In the same vein, what's gotten lost here is the actual signing of Bruno 
Sundov for around two-thirds of a million dollars a year, though for only 
one year.  Nice money, but if he has a breakout year, we probably can't, 
then, afford him.  But it's still a good pickup.  Certainly he hasn't 
dfone anything t warrant bigger money or a longer contract, but i hope it 
at least has a team option.  Anyway, one of those could-be "sleepers".  He 
may be poised for a breakout year (dare we hope for 20 mins, 10 points, 8 
rebounds?  That'd be pretty OK -- not to mention looking a lot like the 
numbers Rodney Roge--forget it), or Sundov could be the next coming of 
Eric Riley, or Dwayne Schintzius, or Travis Knight.  Well, we'll never 
have to pay him what we paid Lemur Boy, though.


> We'll see...................the sky is falling, the sky is
> falling..............
Indeed, indeed.

Bird