WALTHAM, Mass. -- Vin Baker was suspended indefinitely by the Boston Celtics on Thursday after meeting with team officials.

The Celtics released a statement saying Baker "has left the team to address personal issues. It is unknown when Baker will rejoin the team.'' General manager Chris Wallace later confirmed that Baker had been suspended, but he would not elaborate on the reason.

"We wish Vin the best. We're hoping Vin Baker will come back and join us someday,'' Wallace said on his radio show. "I don't want to speculate. It's hard to say where this will all go.''

Baker did not attend practice Thursday after The Boston Globe, citing unidentified sources, reported that he would be suspended for two weeks for alcohol-related problems. The brief statement from the team did not refer to a suspension, but Wallace confirmed that Baker was suspended without pay.

However, ESPN's David Aldridge reported Thursday night that Baker was not suspended for alcohol abuse, and that he is treating several problems during his leave, according to a league source.

Baker still is having problems with the heart palpitations that caused him to miss the Celtics' game against Seattle on Feb. 5 and will receive additional medical attention for that condition.

It is unclear whether Baker will be paid by the team during his absence.

"Our first and foremost concern is Vin Baker the person, and we believe that taking time off is the best thing for him to do at this time,'' Wallace said in the statement. "We look forward to his successful return to the team.''

Celtics coach Jim O'Brien, who was not at the meeting, would not elaborate on Baker's problems, except to say they were personal and that the team would support him.

"He's a wonderful guy. He's a gentleman, a sweet man. Whatever he has to deal with he will have the full support of everybody with the Boston Celtics,'' O'Brien said after practice. "Good organizations support their people. That will be the case here.''

A call to Baker's agent, Aaron Goodwin, was not returned Thursday. Attempts to reach Baker were unsuccessful because his voice mailbox on his cellphone was full.

Baker, 31, was earning $12.375 million this season, meaning he would lose about $3.75 million if he does not return this season. He also has three years and about $44 million left on his contract.

On Wednesday night, Baker was adamant in telling the Globe he would not retire or accept a buyout.

He said he wanted to address his teammates before practice Thursday, but he was not at the team's workout facility. The players said their only concern was Baker's well-being.

"This is more important than basketball. That's something we understand as friends and as teammates,'' Antoine Walker said. "Right now we've got to make sure he's OK before we worry about him coming back to the team.''

Baker came to Boston from the Seattle SuperSonics last summer in a trade that was supposed to give the Celtics the presence in the middle they had lacked. But the 31-year-old player hasn't been able to acclimate himself and O'Brien has left him on the bench for three consecutive games.

"Me and Coach and the others are just going to talk about things,'' Baker said Wednesday night after the Celtics beat Indiana 71-69.

"I'm making a request,'' Baker said without elaborating. "I just want to talk, and then I'll let everyone know. As you know, this is a very tough time for me.''

The 6-foot-11 Baker was the eighth overall pick by the Milwaukee Bucks in the 1993 draft. He averaged 21 points and 10 rebounds over his last two seasons in Milwaukee before he was traded to Seattle for the 1997-98 season.

He first season in Seattle showed only slight dropoff, and he was good enough to be picked for the 2000 U.S. Olympic team. But by the time the Sydney games came around, his level of play had deteriorated to the point where he was rarely used.

This year, he is averaging 5.2 points, 3.8 rebounds and 18.1 minutes. He missed a Feb. 5 game against Seattle after complaining of lightheadedness, and he reported heart palpitations following a Jan. 18 game in Milwaukee, but he was cleared by doctors.

Before Wednesday's game, Baker described his season as "somewhat of a nightmare'' but expressed hope that things would work out.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.