One assumes that Vin knows that a "perfect fit"
means a team with a GM dumb enough to saddle
his 2nd year coach with another problem player
on top of all it's other deficiencies.

<cue Steve Miller> "Go on, take the money and run".



: Baker calls Wolves 'a perfect fit'
:
: Oct. 3, 2006
: Saint Paul Pioneer Press
:
: Vin Baker sure looks in good shape.
:
: For a veteran who turns 35 next month and has
: battled alcohol problems along with weight issues
: in the past, being fit enough to play basketball is a
: good first step.
:
: Baker said he feels ready to contribute when the
: Timberwolves open training camp today in Mankato,
: noting his 6-foot-11 frame is packing a relatively svelte
: 250 pounds.
:
: "This team is a perfect fit," said Baker, whose free-agent
: signing was announced Monday.
:
: During the team's media day, Baker said it would help that
: he has pre-existing relationships with all-star Kevin Garnett,
: vice president of basketball operations Kevin McHale, coach
: Dwane Casey, and veterans Ricky Davis and Mark Blount.
:
: Baker said he's not worried about starting or putting up big
: numbers. He is a four-time all-star and former Olympian. These
: days, playing the game is enough.
:
: In February 2004, Boston released Baker in the wake of the
: revelation that he had an alcohol dependency problem. That
: ended two tumultuous seasons in Boston, which included
: failed alcohol testing as part of his aftercare agreement and
: suspensions. The Celtics terminated Baker's contract and
: agreed on a settlement that reportedly paid him $5.3 million
: a year for three years.
:
: He has bounced around since, playing 41 games for the New
: York Knicks over two seasons, three for Houston and eight
: games last season with the Los Angeles Clippers.
:
: "There's two ways of looking at it," Baker said. "You can say
: what could have been, or you can look at it and say I've grown
: as a person. It took that for me to grow as a person. Where
: God has me right now, I'm very happy in my life. A lot of people
: don't get second chances to come out and have an opportunity
: to do good things."
:
: McHale said he believes Baker's problems have been resolved.
:
: "Vinnie's a good kid, and I'm looking forward to having him here,"
: McHale said. "When you sit and talk to him and look in his eyes,
: Vinnie's really had a long journey in our league, and it all hasn't
: been paved in gold.
:
:"It's up to you as an individual to hopefully make the right
decisions.
: He's been doing that for a while now, and now it's a matter of
: maintaining it."
:
: Garnett said he's looking forward to having Baker on board.
: "The potential is there," Garnett said. "I'm excited."

Pity KG, having to spout the corporate line.

levi wrote:

Haha. Hey - 8 years ago this would have been exciting news!

Matt

Matt wrote:

Didn't McHale draft some bum out of Miami of Ohio
who provoked the team's star player to fisticuffs?
Twice? That *was* exciting - on top of Doug West's
drinking, Laettner's childishness (and lack of ability)
and Isaiah Rider's gangsta shtick?

Eight years ago, Baker was traded to Seattle, where
George Karl was hardly a rookie coach. Seattle did
draft Bobby Jackson ..and... Mark Blount that year.
Those were the days!

Vin Baker is a PF. Now, if he can provide decent play
while KG rests a bit, that's excellent. On the other hand,
that's what I'd like to see EddieG doing, instead of being
forced to play center. That's if either/both of them are can
stay sober and out of jail.

perfect fit = lotsa bars

Dave McNulla wrote:

Gosh! Vin must have been keeping up with the
exploits of the Vikings. He read that we have
large boats that serve alcohol (and women who
apparently perform lewd acts on one's person).

Plus there's a club just across the street from the
Target Center that serves alcohol (and women
who apparently perform lewd acts on one's person
in adjacent public stairwells).

He's gonna love it here.

levi wrote:
te line.

*non-guaranteed* contract. Casey hasn't been "saddled" with Vin Baker,
and Baker only gets paid if he proves himself.

If you know anything about Casey's past, you know that he worked for
Seattle during Baker's best seasons. It's not a stretch to assume Casey
had some input here.

At least Vin isn't Stephen Jackson shooting up the parking lot of a
strip joint. Do you think McHale was on the phone chortling to Larry
Bird the next day?

ikrushlots@aol.com wrote:

Well, actually, yes, Casey was an assistant coach in
Seattle during Baker's best seasons...
<sarcasm on> ...in Milwaukee. <sarcasm off>

Reported rumors of Vin's alcohol abuse started in Seattle.
May we assume that Casey had some input there? Oh, and
in that equation note that by 1999, the Sonics were making
Vin play center. (Eddie G fans take note)

Quibbling about "saddled"? A sensible GM does not bring
a guy like VIn to a young, struggling team.

levi wrote:

The Bucks were sellar dwellers. His first season in Seattle he lead a
talented Seattle team that won 61 games in scoring and rebounding, not
to mention shooting 55 percent. More impressive than what he did with
the Bucks.

levi wrote:

Aside from Vin's *personal problems*, I can't remember Baker ever being
called a bad teammate, clubhouse malcontent or a guy who doesn't give
100 percent.