RE: Baker

["hironaka@xxxxxxxxx"<hironaka@xxxxxxxxx>]

> ---------- Initial message -----------
> I'm sorry, but all of these trades based on the idea 
that the Clippers will
> be monumental idiots (which is arguable) and 
furthermore idiots that
> want to take on expensive, mediocre players while 
giving up cheap
> young talent (which is completely implausible), are a 
waste of time.
> 
> Alex


Yup, point taken ...that's why I'm starting to realize 
the Kurt Thomas for Kenny Anderson trade is also a pipe 
dream.

Picture that scenario in any other context, and it would 
seem beyond the possible. 

Thomas is coming off a quasi-All Star season, averaging 
9.1 boards and 14 ppg with 33 double-doubles. The Knicks 
can't be THAT desperate to get rid of their anti-semite 
point guard Charlie Ward.

Still, if the Knicks do want Baker as their center (its a 
genuine void on that club), they MAY need a third party 
to even out the salary gaps to make it work. 

That would be the elegance of Boston's gambit: with 
Kenny+Vitaly's salary fitting in neatly 15% above 
Baker's, who in turn costs 15% more than Thomas-Ward. 

Boston gets a very serviceable player with a ton of trade 
value in normal circumstance, plus the combined 30% or so 
savings (crappy math on my part, I'm sure) from 
Kenny+Vitaly's 2002-03 salary to re-sign some of our own 
guys.

Of course, where the ultimate luxury cap ceiling stands, 
Wallace might still balk at re-signing RR. But anyway, 
what am I talking about? This one's not very believable. 

Maybe we should get used to Vin Baker as our "third All 
Star". My feeling is that in Boston's scheme, a true low-
post threat will be roughly as valuable as a true point 
guard. Baker will probably average around 9 points and 6 
boards in the same minutes, now that he doesn't have the 
Glove or anyone else feeding him the ball.

In many ways, Vin Baker was Kevin Garnett before there 
was a Kevin Garnett. Had he kept closer to his college 
weight, he'd still have every shot of being a 20-10 
player off his tremendous talent. It is outrageous how 
fat and complacent he got the moment he signed for big 
dollars. He's all talk now...there is nothing much 
separating him from Oliver Miller and Hot Plate Williams 
and other formerly versatile NBA bigmen. 15 million+ per 
year in the 05 and 06 seasons is a frightening thought.


***



 
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