As Thursday's trade deadline looms, discussion has arisen around the Seattle SuperSonics about whether the team is better or worse without power forward Vin Baker.

Now that Baker has three dislocated toes on his left foot and is sidelined indefinitely, proponents of each side are about to find out which argument is best.

In all likelihood there was not going to be a trade for Baker before he was injured, given his inflated contract and his deflated numbers - particularly in rebounding.

So the debate will go on.

Those in favor of getting rid of Baker for a box of cupcakes - and some would say getting a box of cupcakes for one cupcake is a good deal - often say the Sonics are a more up-tempo team without Baker dragging up the court.

They notice that more players are willing to step in and rebound when Baker isn't there to play a big-man role.

They say the Sonics play better team defense without Baker because he tends to be slow on rotations, or at least when Baker chooses to rotate.

The pro-Baker camp has it's own points.

They say the Sonics have to have Baker on the roster because he is the only player on the team capable of drawing a double-team in the low post, and that his presence gets Rashard Lewis, Brent Barry, Desmond Mason and Vladimir Radmanovic open jump shots.

They also remind you that when jump shots are not falling, low-post play is a safety valve, a place to go when an offense is off or struggling to score points.

They also admit that Baker never, ever, ever will live up to his $87 million contract, but realize that his 17 points and seven rebounds per game are better than anything else they could get on the market, and that as frustrating as Baker is, he still demands some type of attention from defenses.

Good arguments on both sides. However, these are the statistical facts so you can decide on your own:

* Before the Sonics' game against the Boston Celtics Saturday night, Seattle was 7-3 when Baker did not play, 18-22 when he is on the court.

* When Baker is injured, the average score is 100.5 to 92 in favor of the Sonics, and when he plays the score is 97.3 to 96.9 in favor of the opponents.

* When Baker plays, the Sonics are outrebounded 43.2 to 40.9, but without Baker they are even with their opponents, 38-38.

Perhaps the game in which Baker was injured, a loss to the Los Angeles Lakers on Thursday night, is the best microcosm.

Immediately after Baker got injured, the Sonics upped the pace and turned a game that could have gone either way into a 10-point lead.

Eventually, the Sonics relied on jump shots and it got them in trouble when they began missing. Los Angeles came back in the fourth quarter for a 92-87 victory.

Perhaps the answer is the Sonics need to simply take the contract, and Baker's ego, out of the equation.

Keep him around for what he provides, but play him less minutes because of his detractions.

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* Reach staff writer Frank Hughes at 253-597-8742, ext. 6120, or frank.hughes@mail.tribnet.com

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Around the league: EASTERN CONFERENCE

Pushing for a change

There is an interesting dichotomy occurring in New York, where interim coach Don Chaney knows that if things don't turn around, he will lose his job.

To that end, Chaney is in the papers almost every day lobbying general manager Scott Layden to do something to shake up his roster.

One day, Chaney laments the lack of a low-post presence, the next Chaney says there is no leadership. Chaney is almost giving a blow-by-blow of Layden's conversations with other teams, saying the Knicks are close to pulling off a trade, or some team happened to pull out.

"Hopefully, we're able to get something going where we can boost this team up a little bit," Chaney said.

That's why he's the coach

Sixers coach Larry Brown has taken a lot of grief for turning over so many players on a team that made it to the NBA Finals last season and is .500 this season.

But, Brown brings up a good point.

"I've heard a lot of people talk about our trades, and what our team's like. I still haven't seen Theo (Ratliff) play, or Toni (Kukoc) play much, or Tyrone Hill, and (Devean) George just got back from an injury," Brown said.

If you don't like it, leave

In the "shut up already" category, Milwaukee's Sam Cassell, who signed a three-year, $17 million extension a week ago, complains that he still is not paid what he is worth.

"I'm still underpaid,'' said Cassell, who got the best contract he could under terms of the collective bargaining agreement. Cassell said he signed it because his family wanted him to. "If I didn't sign it, I'd be leaving. And then you won't have Sam Cassell. You might end up with some other guy. George Karl would leave Milwaukee and then you're back to the old Bucks.''

Again, shut up already.

A new defense for brick laying

Boston's Paul Pierce said the 3-point shooting contest at All-Star weekend separates the pure shooters from the game shooters.

"I don't consider myself a pure shooter," said Pierce, who finished with eight points, the lowest mark in the first round. "I think I thrive on the competition, having a defender. That's what hurt me. I should have asked one of the ballboys to just stand in front of me."

Earth to Heat, earth calling Heat ...

What are they putting in the water in Miami?

The Heat are still talking as if they will make the playoffs.

"I still believe we're going to make the playoffs, especially having the talent at home," Kendall Gill said.

So here's the deal: The Heat would have to win 24 of their final 35 to get to 42 wins. That would require 16-3 at home and 8-8 on road, and the Heat entered this week with the NBA's worst home record. It also would require passing four teams in the standings.

"It's a daunting challenge, it's a great challenge, but I think it's realistic," Heat coach Pat Riley said.

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WESTERN CONFERENCE

'Thunder Dan' to retire

Paul Westphal's favorite player, Phoenix's Dan Majerle, is retiring after the season.

"I'm definitely calling it quits after this season," Majerle, 36, said. "I've had a good career. My body's telling me it's time to move on, and now, my mind's starting to believe it, too.

"I get so frustrated because in your mind, you see a play happening, but your body doesn't respond well enough where you can get there. You're a step slow. That's the most frustrating thing. You've done this for so long, you've been able to make plays. Now you're at the point where you're not quick enough and you can't do what you used to."

A new spin to a real problem

The Blazers beat the Mavericks for the 11th time in 12 meetings at the Rose Garden last week, prompting Dallas coach Don Nelson to say, "I don't look at history. Besides, everybody has probably beaten us 11 out of 12 times. We hadn't won a game in 10 years."

A chance to heal old wounds

Also, this was Nelson talking about coaching former nemesis Chris Webber during the All-Star game.

"Well, I'm an emotional kind of guy - and it was just a fun time," Nelson said. "The whole thing was a 10. And it was special to coach Chris Webber and be reacquainted, if you will. (We had) some real fondness shared between us in the last couple of days, because we went through some hard times and we're back to where we call each other friends again."

Is that all you've got?

Kobe Bryant is not the only one getting booed.

Nuggets point guard Nick Van Exel, who has demanded a trade, has been booed of late, none louder than the jeers on Tuesday, when Van Exel raised his hands in the air and dared the crowd to bring the booing louder.

"It didn't hurt me because they have their own opinion," Van Exel said. "Everyone is entitled to their opinion. If that's how they want to go about it, so be it."

Too much Ike, literally

The Memphis Grizzlies are considering waiving center Ike Austin if it cannot trade him by the Feb. 21 trade deadline.

Austin is open to being released outright, hoping another team will sign and play him.

Fat chance, if you get the drift.

Garnett: The toast of the town

Minnesota's Kevin Garnett bought drinks for the first 10,000 fans to arrive at Target Center on Wednesday night. They could get a beer or a soda.

"I love our fans,'' Garnett said. "This is just my way of giving back and letting them know that I actually care about them and hear their screaming and booing the other guys. That's why we have a home-court advantage.

"No player in Timberwolves history has ever done anything for the fans like this. It's just my little way of giving back.''

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Rim shots

BETTER LEFT UNSAID CATEGORY

"I had a mirror on my shoes so I could look up girls' skirts." - Don Nelson to Chris Webber after he saw Webber's reflective shoes during the All-Star game.

DON'T SET YOUR GOALS TOO HIGH

"If we finish sixth (in the West), I would be real pleased with that, since we finished seventh last year. That would be a step up, and we would be happy with that."

- Blazers GM Bob Whitsitt, whose payroll is $87 million.

A KING WITH A TIE TO ROYALTY

"Yeah, he couldn't find another president to bring him back, so he had to ride commercial."

- Peja Stojakovic on Sacramento Kings teammate Vlade Divac, who rode back to Yugoslavia with the country's president during All-Star break, then missed practice when his flight home was delayed.