The former Celtic is free to sign with another team.

NEW YORK (AP) – Vin Baker won his arbitration case against the NBA on Thursday, freeing him to sign with the team of his choice: New York or Miami.

“He’ll make a decision in the next 24 hours, not sooner,” agent Aaron Goodwin said Thursday night. “He’s trying to figure out which one is a better fit for him.”

In Baker’s grievance against the NBA, which was argued Monday, arbitrator Roger Kaplan invalidated a league memo barring all 29 teams from signing Baker until his other grievance – against the Boston Celtics – is settled.

After being notified of Kaplan’s decision, Goodwin spent the latter part of the day speaking with the Knicks and Heat when Baker decided he did not want to play for the Toronto Raptors – the third team that was pursuing him until the NBA sent out its March 1 memo barring any team from signing Baker.

Kaplan set an initial hearing date of April 12 for Baker’s case against the Celtics, who terminated the remaining 21/2 years of Baker’s contract – worth $35 million – after he missed 10 games while on suspension for violating terms of his alcohol treatment program.

The NBA argued if Baker were to win his case against Boston, he’d have to return to the Celtics because his contract would be reinstated. The players’ union argued Baker should have a right to seek employment elsewhere while his case against the Celtics is pending.

Kaplan ruled the NBA’s memo violated articles 11 and 14 of the collective bargaining agreement, which deal with free agency and collusion, union spokesman Dan Wasserman said.

“Clearly the NBA and Boston have to be concerned about this preliminary ruling,” union director Billy Hunter said. “We’re confident that when the matter is heard we’ll get a favorable ruling in the underlying case.”

The union advised Baker that if he signs with the Knicks or Heat, it should only be for the remainder of this season. Additional hearings in Baker’s case against the Celtics were set for April 13, 26 and 27.

“We obviously disagree with the arbitrator’s decision, but have elected not to appeal and to allow Mr. Baker to sign a contract with another team,” Rick Buchanan, NBA senior vice president and general counsel, said in a statement.

Baker, a member of the 2000 U.S. Olympic team, was averaging 11.0 points and 5.7 rebounds for Boston before being suspended.

The former All-Star’s production has dropped significantly over the past several seasons, but there were at least three teams that believe he can help them reach the postseason in the tightly contested Eastern Conference.

“We were going all-out to sign him until the league told us we couldn’t,” Raptors spokesman John Lashway said.

Whether he chooses Miami or New York, Baker is expected to receive a salary equal to a prorated share of the veteran’s minimum for a player with 10 years of experience.

The Knicks (29-36) and Heat (28-37) are both in need of frontcourt depth.

“Vin’s going to spend some time with his family, talk it over and make a decision,” Goodwin said.

AP-ES-03-11-04 2140EST