SEATTLE -- The Seattle SuperSonics are seeking to trade former All-Star power forward Vin Baker to the Boston Celtics, according to published reports.

	Anderson

	Baker

The Sonics would send Baker to the Celtics for point guard Kenny Anderson and center Vitaly Potapenko, The Seattle Times, Seattle Post-Intelligencer and The News Tribune of Tacoma reported Friday, citing NBA sources.

However, the Boston Herald reported Seattle is interested in Eric Williams instead of Potapenko. The newspaper also reported the Celtics would like to get a point guard in return -- most likely Shammond Williams but possibly Earl Watson -- and are said to be offering Joseph Forte to complete the deal.

If the Celtics get what they want, the transaction could happen within a week, the Herald reported.

Sonics general manager Rick Sund declined comment Friday, noting the team's policy against discussing possible trades.

On Thursday, the Sonics re-signed free-agent center Jerome James to a three-year contract reportedly worth about $15 million. Their top priority this summer will be re-signing starting small forward Rashard Lewis, who is an unrestricted free agent.

The Sonics would like to part company with Baker, a nine-year NBA veteran who has spent the past five seasons in Seattle, because his career is fading and he still has four years left on a contract that averages $13.5 million per season. He is scheduled to earn $12.375 million next season.

The Sonics gave Baker a maximum $87 million, seven-year contract after the strike-shortened 1998-99 season, his second in Seattle.

Baker, 30, was a four-time All-Star, but he last played in the All-Star game in the 1997 season, when he averaged 19.2 points per game. Seattle fans soured on him after that, as his production fell to a career-low 12.2 points per game by 2000-01.

Last season, Baker averaged 14.1 points and 6.4 rebounds in 55 games, including 41 starts.

Baker, from Old Saybrook, Conn., came to the Sonics from Milwaukee in a trade Sept. 25, 1997. The deal sent forward Shawn Kemp to Cleveland.

The Sonics could replace Baker in the starting lineup next season with 6-10 Vladimir Radmanovic, who averaged 6.7 points and 3.8 rebounds as a rookie last season. Radmanovic was the 12th pick in the 2001 draft.

The Sonics, who made it back to the playoffs with a 45-37 record last season, would like to build their franchise around their younger star players: Lewis, Radmanovic and swingman Desmond Mason.

Gary Payton, the Sonics' eight-time All-Star point guard, has one year left on his contract, and his 13th season with Seattle might be his last. He'd like a contract extension, but the Sonics have said they won't offer one.

Anderson, 31, and Potapenko, 27, wouldn't be expected to help the Sonics much next season.

The 6-1 Anderson is a 13-year veteran from Georgia Tech who is headed into the final year of a contract that will pay him $9.2 million next season. He has been in Boston for the past five seasons, averaging 9.6 points, 5.3 assists and 32 minutes last season.

The 6-10 Potapenko, who averaged 4.6 points and 4.4 rebounds last season, underwent surgery for a torn knee ligament in May after being injured in the final game of the regular season. He's a seven-year veteran who has been with the Celtics for the past four seasons. He was expected to need six to eight months after the surgery to be able to play again.

Potapenko has three seasons remaining on his contract and is scheduled to make $5.24 million in 2002-03.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.