7 Vin trades

[Mark Piotrowski <markp@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

I certainly hope for the best for Vin as a person but feel like we 
have to do whatever we can to rid the team of him -- if either (a) 
Obie isn't going to use him, (b) the team is starting to turn on him 
and/or (c) he has a problem that he's not getting treated.

I've watched only a handful of games this year but have been 
astonished by how often Baker shies away from the action on both ends 
of the court.  Maybe this is adjustment, but it seems the team is 
screaming for him to come in w/ energy and passion.  I was 60-40 
against the trade at the time, and have become almost 100% so since 
seeing Baker play and thinking that we could have a Abdur Rahim or 
Brian Grant for KA's expiring contract.  Ooh it gets ME depressed 
thinking about this.

Can we trade Baker? Can we get someone as productive as Erick 
Strickland or Grant Long w/o further hurting our future cap 
situation?  Probably not but here  are a few *slim* possibilities 
[all work on RealGM;  The # in parenthesis is the # of years left on 
a players' deal.]

1.  Shammond, Baker and Philly's #1 pick to INDIANA for Ron Mercer 
(1), Austin Croshere (4) & Primo Brezec (3)

I don't want Croshere for Walker but would take him for Baker & 
Philly's #1.  Mercer would provide some kick off the bench and his 
contract coupled with EWilliams' next year might actually let us sign 
a mid-level guy.

Indiana might do this only b/c (a) they want cap room (this adds 
about 7 mil) for signing O'Neal and the Millers and (b) b/c they want 
to get rid of Croshere's contract.  One thing Baker isn't really 
doing is complaining about playing time and they could just sit him 
on the bench and not worry about it.  They are stocked enough where 
it might be worth getting rid of Croshere's contract.


2.  Baker + Philly's #1 to CLEVELAND for Michael Stewart (2), Bimbo 
Coles (1), Chris Mihm (2) and Dsanga Diop (3)

Hey adding Baker might help them lose more games, thereby getting 
LeBron!  None of these
folks is playing any sort  of important role for the Cavs.


3.  Baker to GOLDEN ST. for Danny Fortson (4 yrs remaining) & Erick 
Dampier (3 yrs)

The only reason Golden St. is b/c Fortson is a timebomb waiting to 
happen.  They out of his contract a year earlier.  We at least get 
someone who can defend and rebound.  Is it worth 2 contracts that are 
as long/longer than Baker's?  The one thing is that both are at least 
somewhat useful players and somewhat tradeable commodities.


4. Baker & Philly's #1 to MINNESOTA for Terrell Brandon (2) and Marc 
Jackson (4)

Not sure either side would really do this.  Minn will probably hold 
onto Brandon's salary and use it as bait;  Jackson doesn't really 
play in Minn, but his deal is longer than Bakers (although at less 
money).  Minn gets a pick back that they lost in the Joe Smith fiasco.


5.  Baker & PHilly's #1 to NEW YORK for old friend Travis Knight (1), 
Shandon Anderson (4) and Othella Harrington (2).

Doubt NY parts with Harrington so easily but Knight and Anderson for 
a #1 pick? They are clearly rebuilding.

6.  Baker & Pilly's #1 to Houston for Glen Rice (1) and Kelvin Cato (3)

Don't know that Houston would do this but they don't need Cato w/ 
Ming and Rice is on the downside (although being productive for 
them).  The bait is of course Philly's #1.  Rice would fit right in 
here though, huh?


7.  Baker to DALLAS for Shawn Bradley (5), Evan Eschmeyer (4) and 
Tariq Abdul-Wahad (4)

I don't know that I'd really want to do this one, but we at least get 
a few serviceable players out of the deal.  It'd be interesting to 
see the C's use Bradley.  Intersesting -- not necessarily productive.



Well here's hoping Wallace can pull something out of his hat.  The 
Baker trade was a mistake.  No sense in denying it.  But maybe we can 
salvage SOMETHING