Danny Ainge has made pretty clear a few times already he's going to try to make a big move before the trade deadline. ESPN reported today that Vin Baker's contract could be terminated since he has not been playable for 10 days - a contract worth 35 mil for the remainder of this and the next two years. That's a lot of cash and I see no reason why Ainge doesn't grasp the opportunity to release the ineffective Baker and make a big move. I don't know how this would work with the cap but the celtics have already too many serviceable guards with mike james and marcus banks being comparable and ricky davis coming off the bench with a starting jiri welsch. a big man is probably their target - predict the next move?
Have seen several rumors of Pierce being moved (Pierce for Zach Randolph is one). If Pierce is traded I hope they run Ainge out of town on a rail. Getting rid of Walker was great, the trade for Ricky Davis made no sense until O'Brien quit and said that Danny was telling him who to play. The only thing Ainge has going for him is the Celts being in that pathetic Atlantic Division. Now if Pierce is traded to Houston for Francis, I will Love Danny
bobfinn*- as a celtics, or rockets fan? I hope to got the termination is successful. Baker is the quintissential (sp?) example of how owners are willing to screw fans in order to make a little extra on their initial investment.
I don't have a clue what Ainge is trying to do there. He says he wants to concentrate on offense and trades Walker for jack. Baker's gone south, all he's got is Pierce, and he's saying he wants to blow the team up,which can only mean trading Pierce. If he means rebuild, ok, but that's not what he's saying. He had two big pieces, made a negative trade with one, and can be hoping for at best a lateral move with Pierce, given that his play and stock have dropped a bit, and that everyone can see Ainge coming. I thought he might have an idea going in, but nothing he's done would reassure me if I were a Cletics fan.
AWalker for jack? I think people forgot about Raef.. that guy might not have much impact here in the west but in the east he will be a good player. Type of player the Celts wanted.. big guy who can run and shoot. I think if he was healthy he would be a big contributer.. too bad Vin is suspended. I feel sorry for the guy and that team, when healthy he can be pretty good. what a waste. I think the Celts have had some set backs.. I dont like Awalker either and im glad hes gone, and brought his bad attitude to Dallas. (thats good for us I think) I do think Raef will be a nice contributer to that team and they need a few more pieces, but if they want to blow it up and give us PPierce for say almost anyone cept Yao and JJ I would do it. J
THe players union wont let the celtics release Baker because it would set a precedent for fututre players to get screwed. so i doubt theyll make any moves due to more money being available but they might for other reasons.
i don't see how they'll have enough say in this baker violated his rehab program three times and made a 10-day agreement with the team which he is now over. it's not like he is unjustifiably being terminated due to some obscure clause in his contract or nba-player agreements
Baker's contract will be terminated. It's doubtful that the player's union can win an appeal, since they signed off on his agreement back when he went into rehab the first time. What they will do is appeal, and then give Baker's agent the leverage to work out a buyout compromise of at least several million dollars, with the contract still terminated. More deals are surely coming, in that Ainge is trying to peddle the expring contract of the injured Chris Mills (6 million, most paid by insurance) to anyone seeking cap room to enter the Kobe sweepstakes (think LA Clippers, maybe Memphis).
