 Oklahoma City WiretapBaker expects return to SeattleVin Baker expects to be back in Seattle for another season. The Sonics tried to trade Baker last summer, but weren't able to pull the trigger. Baker says this year is different from last year. Nunyo Demasio of the Seattle Times says the change started last summer, when owner Howard Shulz took Baker under his wing. After their rough start, Schultz and Baker developed a close relationship last summer. The owner realized that Baker was a sensitive player who reacted better to encouragement than criticism. For much of the season this approach worked. So Baker wants and expects to be back in Seattle. He says, "I loved being there this season. I think we had a great season." Coach Nate McMillan recognizes Baker's value a low-post presence in the playoffs. And Baker feels with a healthy Calvin Booth and Jerome James, he'll be a better rebounder. Demasio says it's same old same old: Baker saying he'll get better next year, while the Sonics pay him a ridiculous amount that makes it nearly impossible for them to trade Baker. But efforts to trade Baker this summer will be lower key. Read the Full Story Discuss Send Feedback Sonics cooking a trade for Baker?What are the Seattle Supersonics to do? It seems like this story keeps surfacing around this time annually; the Seattle Supersonics are trying to find a team willing to take on Vin Baker. How long before the Knicks rumors start up again? Steve Kelley of the Seattle Times states that Vin Baker is not a team player and has to go. The Sonics are a better team without him and he is taking valuable minutes from the younger players like Calvin Booth, Jerome James, Vlade Radmanovic and Peja Drobjak. His work ethic is non-existant and the only kind words coach Nate McMillan can find about him is "Vin has a lot of potential." Potential is for 19 or 20 year old boys, not for a 30 year old ex-All Star who cannot control his weight. Last year the Sonics made a mistake by announcing that he was being shopped, where this year they are taking a lower key approach with hopes of better results. "Vin is my player," McMillan said. "He is on my roster and I am preparing for him to be here. I have to find ways to try and get him to give us what we need, what I think he's capable of giving us." Where else could he go? Kelley suggests not to hold on for a blockbuster because the best that will happen would be Utah’s Greg Ostertag and others for Baker or perhaps Charlotte/New Orleans might sign Lee Nailon and package him with Elden Campbell for Baker. Even those, especially the Hornets scenario, sound unlikely. Read the Full Story Discuss Send Feedback Duncan Arrives, Wallops SonicsIn the end, Seattle didn't stand a chance. Exactly as Duncan predicted 16 days earlier. Fueled by the emotion of Duncan's return — his 23 points, nine rebounds and playoff career-high seven blocks didn't hurt, either — the Spurs rolled over the Sonics 101-78 to close out the five-game series and lift themselves into their much-awaited meeting with the Los Angeles Lakers. "Leaving my family and getting here was the hardest part," said Duncan, who flew in from St. Croix in the U.S. Virgin Islands on Thursday night. "But being here with these guys and getting back on the court and playing basketball was the easy part. "I wanted to be out on the court. It was kind of like a sanctuary. You get out there and play the game and nothing really matters but what's happening on the court." San Antonio Spurs, Oklahoma City, Los Angeles Lakers Read the Full Story Discuss Send Feedback Buy Tickets May 2002 Archive
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