Vin Baker on the way out

The Celtics released Vin Baker on Wednesday after the forward cleared waivers following his suspension for violating the terms of his alcohol treatment program.

The move terminates Baker's contract, and may allow the team to avoid paying Baker the US$36 million he's owned for the remaining 2 1/2 years on his contract. It also is likely to initiate a showdown between the team and the NBA players' association.

The union has said it would file a grievance over any attempt to void the contract. That could thwart the Celtics' plan to release him, but Celtics attorney Neil Jacobs said Baker wasn't ready to play as his contract required, and the team had a right to let him go.

"He has not been performing and that is the basis of the decision," he said.

Jacobs added that there was "sadness" about releasing Baker, a Connecticut high school star whose return to New England was viewed as a homecoming.

"The team had always hoped that the issues Vin has been involved with would be worked out," he said.

The team placed Baker on waivers last Friday after he missed the 10th straight game of his latest suspension for violating the terms of his alcohol rehabilitation aftercare agreement. That triggered a clause in the agreement that gave the Celtics control over his future.

Baker missed two months and the playoffs last year after he checked into a Connecticut rehab center. He agreed at the time to a follow-up program this season that would involve frequent testing.

Baker failed to meet the terms of the agreement at least three times before being suspended indefinitely on Jan. 23. According to the agreement, only a doctor agreed to by both sides could determine when he's ready to return. The doctor didn't clear Baker to play before the suspension reached 10 games, giving the team the right to release him, said Jacobs, adding that the Celtics did all they could to help Baker.

"It's difficult to imagine the team could have done more for Vin than it's done," he said.

Baker's agent, Aaron Goodwin, could not immediately be reached for comment.