Boston
Philip Maymin
Basketball News Services
Former Celtic Vin Baker has agreed to a new deal with New York, which he views to be the "Mecca of basketball." If New York is Mecca, then Boston is Jerusalem, perhaps the holiest city of all religions.
Let's compare the re-signed Baker and his expensive contract to Boston's latest acquisition, Tom Gugliotta. Baker is an 11-year veteran, Googs a 13-year veteran. New York is Baker's fourth and likely last team. Boston is Gugliotta's sixth and likely last team. Both are about 6-10 and 250. Here are their career averages, with the leaderboldedin each category:
Baker:33.7 minutes,15.6 points,7.7 rebounds, 2.0 assists,
0.76 steals,1.04 blocks,2.29 turnovers, and 3.30 personal fouls.
Field-goal percentage: 48.6 percent overall, 21.7 percent from downtown.
Googs: 31.6 minutes, 13.5 points, 7.5 rebounds,2.9 assists,
1.45 steals, 0.66 blocks, 2.34 turnovers, and2.50 personal fouls.
Field-goal percentage: 45.2 percent overall,28.3 percent from downtown.
Very comparable stats. What about comparing their best years? In 1996-1997, they were both at the top of their games. Here is how they did that year.
Baker:40.5 minutes,21.0 points,10.3 rebounds, 2.7 assists,
1.04 steals,1.44 blocks,3.14 turnovers, and 3.50 personal fouls.
Field-goal percentage: 50.5 percent overall,27.8 percent from downtown.
Googs: 38.7 minutes, 20.6 points, 8.7 rebounds,4.1 assists,
1.60 steals, 1.10 blocks, 3.62 turnovers, and2.90 personal fouls.
Field-goal percentage: 44.2 percent overall, 25.8 percent from downtown.
Both in their primes and over their careers, Baker was more of a low-post player and a slightly better rebounder than Googs, but Googs has better assists and steals numbers. Googs is more of a tweener between the small forward and power forward positions.
The kicker is that Gugliotta is a lot cheaper. His contract was reported for between $1.1 and $1.6 million for a one-year deal. Baker's deal has been widely reported as anything from a couple bucks for a couple months all the way up to a $7.35 million two-year deal.
On a per-dollar basis, it's not even close. Gugliotta comes out way ahead.
In terms of expected minutes played, or able to play, it's not clear who has the edge. Googs reportedly is feeling healthier than he has since he was a bouncing baby boy in his late 20's while Baker's seemingly still keeping his alcoholism under control. It's a battle between injury and falling off the wagon. Not something you want to bet on.
One other common point the two players have in common: because of Boston's settlement with Baker earlier this year, both players are being paid by the Boston Celtics.
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Knicks.com had a Q&A sessionwith Vin Baker. Here's an excerpt: I'm really close to my family. I'm really close to everyone in the state of Connecticut. Obviously, no knock against Boston, because Boston was a great experience and a great city, but playing in the Mecca of basketball is really exciting for my family.
The United Press International writes inThe Washington Times: Today is Thursday, Aug. 19, the 232nd day of 2004 with 134 to follow... Also in 1992, professional basketball star Larry Bird announced his retirement because of a back injury after 13 years with the Boston Celtics.
Joanne C. Gerstner ofThe Detroit Newswrites: Gary Payton is mad. Really mad. It has not been a good summer for GP... Payton hated the trade, doesn’t like playing away from his native West Coast, and has since refused to report to the Celtics for his physical.
Joanne C. Gerstner ofThe Detroit Newsalso writes: Former Pistons guard Chucky Atkins loves wearing baseball hats. It’s a habit that dates back to his high school days in Florida. One of his favorites is a purple and gold Los Angeles Lakers hat. When Atkins was a Piston, it wasn’t uncommon to see him wearing the Lakers lid around the team’s practice facility.Atkins enjoyed playing for the Pistons, to the point that he came back after being traded to the Celtics to support the team during last spring’s playoffs. But he always had one secret love — the Lakers.
Gordon Engelhardt ofThe Evansville Courier & Presswrites: Our sad state of basketball continues to bother me. It used to be a game of beauty and grace and crisp passing and teamwork. Even though I was a Boston Celtics fan, I couldn't help but marvel at the majesty of the 1980s-era Lakers fast-breaking after a made basket.
Citing staff and wire reports,USA Todaywrites: The New York Knicks on Wednesday re-signed forward Vin Baker despite his history of alcohol-related problems.Terms of the deal were not disclosed, but it is likely a far cry from the seven-year, $86 million contract he signed with the Seattle SuperSonics in 1999.
Robin Adams Sloan ofThe Winston Salem Journalwrites: Yes, Williams and husband Rick Fox of the Boston Celtics separated several months ago, then tried a reconciliation last month, but now seem headed for a split.Fox officially filed for divorce several weeks ago.
Steve Popper ofThe New York Timeswrites: [Vin] Baker, who will turn 33 on Nov. 23, had a minor surgical procedure in the off-season to correct an irregular heartbeat. But with Dikembe Mutombo having departed to Chicago in the Crawford deal, Baker, who signed a two-year deal worth about $3.2 million a year, will be counted on to play behind Mohammed.That is unless Thomas can find a way to pull off a deal for a big man, a notion he did not dismiss.
Mitch Lawrence ofThe New York Daily Newswrites: It's not going to send chills up the spine of Shaquille O'Neal, or anyone named Wallace in Detroit, but the Knicks re-signed Vin Baker yesterday in what appears to be the only move Isiah Thomas is going to make to address his undersized and underwhelming frontcourt... What might not be a good sign is that only Cleveland expressed any interest in Baker, who signed a two-year deal worth $7.35 million.Most other teams were likely scared off by his past problems with alcohol and depression and the fact that he underwent a procedure this offseason to correct an irregular heartbeat.