Baker, Williams Press Conference

Left-Right: Celtics GM Chris Wallace, Shammond Williams, Vin Baker and Celtics Director of Player Personell Leo Papile. Photo By Steve Lipofsky

Chris Wallace:
Welcome, and thanks for coming out today, the Celtics are pleased to announce our latest additions to the team. To my immediate left Shammond Williams and one over from Shammond a native from New England, who is ecstatic about coming home, Vin Baker. These are players that have established themselves in the league for their offensive gifts. Shammond has been one of the better three point shooters among the point guards in the league of the three years that he has been in the NBA. You might remember him in the Shaw’s Pro Summer League where he made his debut in the league three years ago. He is someone that we have tried to trade for in the past and been unsuccessful up until this point. Vin’s accomplishments speak for themselves; he’s been an all-star in the league and Olympian, and the best part about this whole situation is the look of joy I see on his and his father’s face since they have been here yesterday -- that they're back home and getting the opportunity of a life time playing for the Celtics. So if you have any questions feel free to fire away.

Vin Baker:
Well I’m very ecstatic as Chris mentioned about playing for the Celtics. A large part of the reason is because I grew up here in New England, Connecticut, about an hour and 45 minutes away. I have an opportunity to play in front of my family, and I also have an opportunity to play for one of the story franchises in all of sports, the Boston Celtics. Growing up in this area and being a fan of the Celtics, with those things combined and how they are a very good young team made it to the Eastern Conference finals last year. With those things combined, I think it makes for great situations being home and playing for the Celtics.

I think coming back East and playing out West for five years, I have gained more experience. I think my game at this stage in my career really fits the Eastern Conference. I think playing in Seattle and playing for a fast-paced team and playing on the West Coast offense, I think I’m going to suit this team well. I think this team likes to run. They’re an East Coast team but I think they’re a team that plays Western style. I think my game at this stage of my career, being a low post presence for this team and also being able to play in an up-and-down system, I think it's going to be a perfect fit. Four years in Milwaukee I was an All-Star, but never played in the playoffs. The last five years in Seattle I have been able to play in the playoffs three times, so somewhere in the middle of that road of being an All-Star and having playoff experience, I hope to bring that to Boston.

No, there are no concerns at all. My only concern is coming here and helping this team with the continued success that they have had. Those two guys Antoine and Paul are great young basketball players, and I just found out from Leo and Chris last night that I’m the oldest person on the team. I want to make this team, get this team over the hump. I think this team can make the finals, and hopefully I’m a piece of the puzzle to get them there.

I’m not sure yet, I’ll probably know by the time training camp starts. I know Antoine and Paul are very versatile players who like to handle the ball a lot, so I’ll find out in the locker room who I have to kiss up to to get the ball a little bit.

Shammond Williams:
For a young guy like myself, it’s a great opportunity and it’s been something have been waiting on for a long time. I have had the opportunity to play sporadically in the past and to just have the opportunity to be here in Boston, I can see myself becoming a better basketball player. And with the things I have to offer, it suits this team. It always feels great to be part of another one, not just somebody that’s winning year in and year out, but somebody that’s going to be consistent winners over the years. I think its going to be a great opportunity for myself, as well as Vin, to be in a situation where we're appreciated and we can go out and do the things that were customed to doing helping this team reach levels that they want to reach.

There’s a goal for me. I’m here to make this team better. There is an opening there, and I’m looking forward to filling that void. But the most important thing is me becoming a better basketball player, and like I said before, to help Boston get a world championship. They made it to the Eastern Conference Finals and the thing we’re here to do is make them go to the next level. And being a winner that’s what I’m about, try to win championships.

Vin Baker:
I definitely don’t think there was a problem with confidence. They also mentioned a problem with the marriage that we had in Seattle, myself and the Sonics, but my confidence is at an all-time high, and right before the three dislocated toes last year, right before the playoffs, I though I was playing the best basketball I played in the last three years. My confidence is still there, I feel like I can be a terrific player in this league, and I’m going to work the next two months to get ready for that coming this season.

Right now I’m about 260, my playing weight is about 255 so by the time camp hits, I should be right around 255 or well under 255. I probably got to about 275 during the lock out.