Guest MrRant Report post Posted July 22, 2002 The Sonics have made a bold move that could eventually change the entire face of the franchise. The Sonics have traded Vin Baker and Shammond Williams to the Celtics in return for Kenny Anderson, Vitaly Potapenko and Joe Forte. "I believe the marriage between Vin Baker and the Sonics really had problems,'' Sonics coach Nate McMillan said during a news conference in Seattle. "He had lost his confidence out on the floor and just couldn't get it back. We couldn't take another chance on bringing Vin back and having him not want to be here.'' The Celtics will hold a news conference at noon on Tuesday. Facing the loss of Rodney Rogers, a key free agent, this summer due to luxury tax issues, the Celtics decided to act swiftly to replace Rogers scoring and inside presence. Baker, who had career highs in scoring (21 ppg) and rebounding (10.3 rpg) for the Bucks during the 1997-98 season has struggled since being shipped to the Sonics. Last season Baker averaged 14.1 ppg and 6.4 rpg, but only started 41 games for the Sonics. However, Baker averaged over 19 ppg versus Eastern Conference teams. For the Celtics, the trade culminates a series of moves in Boston. In the last six months the team has dealt away two 2001 first-round picks, Joe Johnson and Joe Forte, its 2002 first-rounder and its starting point guard for Baker, Williams and Tony Delk. The Celtics were also able to rid themselves of Potapenko's contract. He'll make $27 million over the next three years. Anderson is coming off his best season in years as the Celtics made their way to the Eastern Conference finals. Anderson's trade value may never have been higher. He is in the last year of his contract and was finally living up to the huge expectations he's been saddled with his entire career. While, at 32, he didn't have a long-term future in Boston, the move leaves a gaping hole at point guard for the Celtics. For the Sonics, the move was clearly a financial transaction. Anderson is in the last year of his contract. Baker has four years remaining on his. The deal will clear nine million off the books for the Sonics next summer, allowing them to be a player in the free agent bonanza of 2003. HAHAHAHAHAHA... BIG SOFTIE IS GONE... AND LOOK I CHANGED MY AVATAR.. GO SONICS!!! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest pinnacleofallthingsmanly Report post Posted July 23, 2002 The Celtics are fucked. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Kingpk Report post Posted July 23, 2002 Just when I was actually getting back into the Celtics, they do something stupid like this. What the hell are they going to do for a center now? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Mr. Slim Citrus Report post Posted July 23, 2002 On the Kings message board I post at, some people actually had the nerve to wonder who got the better of this deal; I mean, come on!! I can't even conceive of any reason why anybody could even ask if the Celtics are getting better; I think they just gave up any hope of getting back to the ECF... They may be losing Erick Strickland to free agency, which officially leaves them without a point guard (as much as I like Tony Buckets, he went to the Wally Szczerbiak school of sharing the basketball), and they traded just about the only guy they had who resembled a backup frontcourt player for an overpriced bum. Vin Baker has the almost uncanny ability to suck the life out of any basketball franchise; he hasn't been really good since 1997, and hasn't even been mediocre since 1999. How bad do they have to hate Vitaly Potapenko in Boston to make this trade?! Vin Baker stinks on wheat toast with a large side order of suck, and a super-size cup of diet shitty to go with it. I'd say he was a whole Super Sucky Value Meal, except that he costs 55 fucking million dollars!!! I dunno... maybe the Celtics were just itching to get a second-tier SG to sit on the bench with his thumb up his ass while he watches Paul Pierce play basketball, and Seattle conned them into taking Baker as part of a package deal, the way Denver did with La Frentz/Van Exel, except that Nick the Quick actually saw PT. Didn't Paul Pierce lead the league in minutes last year? Lotsa luck, Shammond... And what was Seattle's rationale behind getting Kenny Anderson? Have they given up on that whole Gary-Payton-as-a-point-guard "project?" Or has it always been a fantasy of Nate McMillan to have the smallest starting backcourt in the Pacific divsion? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest MrRant Report post Posted July 23, 2002 On the Kings message board I post at, some people actually had the nerve to wonder who got the better of this deal; I mean, come on!! I can't even conceive of any reason why anybody could even ask if the Celtics are getting better; I think they just gave up any hope of getting back to the ECF... They may be losing Erick Strickland to free agency, which officially leaves them without a point guard (as much as I like Tony Buckets, he went to the Wally Szczerbiak school of sharing the basketball), and they traded just about the only guy they had who resembled a backup frontcourt player for an overpriced bum. Vin Baker has the almost uncanny ability to suck the life out of any basketball franchise; he hasn't been really good since 1997, and hasn't even been mediocre since 1999. How bad do they have to hate Vitaly Potapenko in Boston to make this trade?! Vin Baker stinks on wheat toast with a large side order of suck, and a super-size cup of diet shitty to go with it. I'd say he was a whole Super Sucky Value Meal, except that he costs 55 fucking million dollars!!! I dunno... maybe the Celtics were just itching to get a second-tier SG to sit on the bench with his thumb up his ass while he watches Paul Pierce play basketball, and Seattle conned them into taking Baker as part of a package deal, the way Denver did with La Frentz/Van Exel, except that Nick the Quick actually saw PT. Didn't Paul Pierce lead the league in minutes last year? Lotsa luck, Shammond... And what was Seattle's rationale behind getting Kenny Anderson? Have they given up on that whole Gary-Payton-as-a-point-guard "project?" Or has it always been a fantasy of Nate McMillan to have the smallest starting backcourt in the Pacific divsion? From David Aldridge's report on ESPN.com: "Meanwhile, the Sonics have to make a minimum commitment (Anderson makes $9.1 million this upcoming season, the last of his $50 million contract, while Forte is on his rookie contract; Potapenko has three years and $17 million left on his deal) to get rid of Baker's huge numbers. After re-signing center Jerome James last week, Seattle only has a little more than $26 million committed for the 2003-04 season. If the Sonics can re-sign Rashard Lewis without breaking the bank, they should be a major player in next summer's mega-star free agent class, able to add to their young nucleus of Lewis, Vladimir Radmanovic and Desmond Mason. (File this under your hat: Jason Kidd has a very strong relationship with Sonics owner Howard Schultz.)" Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Mr. Slim Citrus Report post Posted July 23, 2002 And how soon is that? I don't pay attention to salary issues outside of my own team. Which is probably why I can't think of a single reason why Boston would want to make this trade, unless Vitaly Potapenko was caught doing unspeakable things to the exhumed corpse of Red Auerbach's mother, or something... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest cartman Report post Posted July 23, 2002 Well I am a Boston fan...I dunno how good of a trade this is other than the fact we got rid of three dead weights for one dead weight. To answer someone's question about who qill play center....according to the Herald Baker is a Center/Forward...scary! I assume he may share time between Power and Center and Battie will start at Center. For the comments about Baker sucking the life out of a franchise...How about a franchise sucking the life out of a decent player? How many people think that Payton could play even better somewhere else? hmmmm....? All I know is Baker sucked in seattle, but was great in Milwaukee...so what can it hurt to give the guy a shot in a new system? Not like Boston gave away anyone important anyways. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Ripper Report post Posted July 23, 2002 Like I have been saying for years. Baker went from being a all-star, 21 pt a game 10 rebound a game player to near nothing in Seattle(14 and 8 still isn't anything to sneeze at) Kendall Gill went from being the future in Charlotte to being institutionalized for depression when he went to Seattle. Seattle has the highest suicide rate in the country.... Maybe it has something to do with seattle...or PAYTON. I BLAME GARY!!! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Some Guy Report post Posted July 23, 2002 Well I know almost nothing about Baker, but he was on the radio here this morning and said he is only about 5lbs overweight and really happy to back in New England, so maybe he'll be ok. Kenny Anderson is just not very good. He tanked in the last to games against NJ, missing wide open 10 footers and such. Pitino fucked the Celtics with his dead weight and huge contract. But at least he tried last year. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Ripper Report post Posted July 23, 2002 WHAT!!! ANderson was the only bright spot in the 4th quarters in the last 2 games against the Nets. DUde had a pretty good year, and he will probably be the starting point in Seatlle before the year is over with GP playing the 2. Nate McMillian/Gary Payton...the 1-2 punch that got Seattle into the finals...Nate McMillian/Gary Payton...the 1-2 punch that won every game against Chicago in the finals and lost when McMillian couldn't play. Maybe they are trying to make McMillian/Payton 2k2. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Some Guy Report post Posted July 23, 2002 I meant the first half of the games, but the whole team didn't start playing until the second half either. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Zero_Cool Report post Posted July 23, 2002 Heh, check out The Sport's Guy's new article on Page 2 at espn.com. It basically sums up everything in 1200 words. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest MrRant Report post Posted July 24, 2002 Heh, check out The Sport's Guy's new article on Page 2 at espn.com. It basically sums up everything in 1200 words. I read it and I understood but I don't care.... as long as I don't have to deal with Vin anymore. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest HartFan86 Report post Posted July 27, 2002 And THIS is why I don't want the Celtics. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest pinnacleofallthingsmanly Report post Posted July 27, 2002 Who did the Celtics pick up in the draft? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Redhawk Report post Posted July 29, 2002 I understand the logic of bringing in a natural power forward, since the Celtics want to finally move Antoine Walker to 3 and Paul Pierce to 2, but they couldn't find anyone else? They drafted Darius Songaila from Wake Forest, who from what I've seen isn't too bad. If all they're asking for is someone 6-foot-9 or taller who can grab a few rebounds, score every now and then, set picks and pass to Walker and Pierce, then they could have got it for a lot cheaper than $55 million over four years. But I don't understand why they traded Kenny Anderson. As of right now their point guard is probably going to be Shammond Williams, and behind him they'll have Tony Delk (not a true PG). Shammond is decent, but the only thing he has over Anderson is his age and salary. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Ripper Report post Posted July 29, 2002 I'm calling it now, Vin will have a Big Bounce back year. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
