Given the chance, I think Baker could be much more productive for us than that scrub Weatherspoon. I cannot believe we will be paying Spoon 6 million dollars this season.
No kidding, Barkley could get loaded the nite before, throw a midget out of the window and still get 20 and 15 the next day.
Mostly agree. However, Spoon is not a scrub -- just short, overweight and past his prime. I don't think we pay him $6M -- I believe it's more like $8M. Baker, if JVG can restore his confidence, could really help the Rockets if he can just return to 75% of his former self. I sincerely hope JVG and staff has been working on his confidence, diet, strength and playbook this off-season. I'd love to see him named comeback player of the year.
I'm not nearly as optimistic as you. When I saw Baker playing in garbage time last year, he looked absolutely lost. His reactions were terribly slow, he seemed indecisive, and he just didn't look much like an NBA player. I just think his skills and athleticism have eroded to the point that he'll never again be an effective player in the league. Even if he gets into great shape, I think he'll just be a 6'11 guy with a great physique and absolutely no game. It's sad, but I'm pretty confident that Vin Baker is done. Last offseason I was hoping that Spoon would work his butt off (or at least some of it off...) and give Howard and Mo some competition. It didn't happen. So I'm not going to get my hopes up over Baker. I could be wrong though. Here's hoping I am.
Totally agree dharocks. I had hope that Vin would show a % of what he had when we got him, but what I saw was just sad. I think Vin will be cut for LT reasons and to clear a spot for 1 more FA.
You bring him in to camp and you run him till he pukes, everyday. He either gets into shape or he retires. Either way is a win.
That's why I specified working on the playbook as well as conditioning. He could have been in the best of shape, but, without knowing where to go and where to be on a given play, he would still look lost. I know he is a longshot, but longshots bring the best payoffs and the happiest endings.
You guys are just wrong. He's a human being for crying out loud. Have some sympathy, some compassion. Try to understand him before criticizing him. (These words sponsored by your bleeding heart liberals.)
Houston will have snow in August before V Baker plays one second next year for the Rockets. There are no "ifs" left. The guy is done; get over it. He has zero potential. If he truly could produce more than Spoon JVG would have given him garbage minutes last year. The only reason he re-upped was to get paid. They will hopefully cut him and add another player who actually might help us next year. Baker is lower on the pole than Charlie Ward.
Oh sure I feel sorry for him: 1994 $866,000 1995 $1,065,300 1996 $3,765,000 1997 $3,765,000 1998 $4,064,373 1999 $4,264,000 2000 $9,000,000 2001 $10,130,000 2002 $11,250,000 2003 $12,375,000 2004 $13,500,000 2005 $5,333,333 Career (may be incomplete) $79,378,006 I feel sorry for these people also:
What happens to Baker? He will sit on the bench, make 5M for doing nothing, and maybe see 1-2 minutes a week.
at least Paris and Nicole have to put on a reality show on TV, do interviews, and photo sessions. They work harder than Vin !
