Knicks · Knicks Sign Ron Baker (page 1)

New York Knickerbockers President Phil Jackson announced today that the team has signed guard Ron Baker. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Baker, 6-4, 220-pounds, played four seasons at Wichita State University, averaging 13.2 points, on 43.3-percent shooting, with 4.2 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 1.31 steals over 30.6 minutes in 124 games. He was a part of three Missouri Valley Conference championships (2013, 2014, 2015), nine NCAA Tournament wins, two trips to the Sweet 16 (2013, 2015) and a trip to the 2013 Final Four. As a senior (2015-16), he averaged 14.0 points, 4.8 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 1.51 steals over 31.6 minutes in 35 games. His postseason honors included: John R. Wooden Second Team All-American; USA Today Second Team All-American and 2015 finalist for Jerry West Award.

The Hays, KS-native, appeared in five games for the Knicks entry in the 2016 Orlando Pro Summer League to average 14.0 points, 5.6 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 2.80 steals over 29.6 minutes.

Likely a min deal and a way to get him to training camp.

Is this one of those non guraunteed (tony wronten) like contracts?

I wonder if it is a partially guaranteed deal so he can get some money and play in westchester or if they see him as a guy that will make the roster.

Nice. I like this kid, just not as a guaranteed 15-man at this point, definitely not as the 3rd PG behind Rose and Jennings. I think like Crush said--this might be a way of getting him more money then have him play at Westchester. Anything happens to Lee, Holiday or Vujacic, then Baker gets the call-up. I actually would've been OK with Baker occupying Sasha's roster spot fully guaranteed if they chose to go that route. To me that's where he fits--as a SG. Just can't tell me he's the 3rd PG now and we're done looking--not behind two sizable risks in Rose and Jennings. I hope that's not the case. We still need more there. The 3rd PG, whoever that may be, WILL wind up playing at some point this year. You can feel it.

Isn't Early from the same school?

knicks1248 wrote:Isn't Early from the same school?

He is... I didn't see much from this kid, but time will tell. I was higher on Chason Randle (sp?). Maybe he signed elsewhere?

Finestrg wrote:Nice. I like this kid, just not as a guaranteed 15-man at this point, definitely not as the 3rd PG behind Rose and Jennings. I think like Crush said--this might be a way of getting him more money then have him play at Westchester. Anything happens to Lee, Holiday or Vujacic, then Baker gets the call-up. I actually would've been OK with Baker occupying Sasha's roster spot fully guaranteed if they chose to go that route. To me that's where he fits--as a SG. Just can't tell me he's the 3rd PG now and we're done looking--not behind two sizable risks in Rose and Jennings. I hope that's not the case. We still need more there. The 3rd PG, whoever that may be, WILL wind up playing at some point this year. You can feel it.

I think Baker would be adequate as a 3rd PG/SG. He did have some early issues adjusting but I think like any guard making a transition he needs and will get plenty of time to work on his PG skills. He's a tweener. I think he's capable of filling in for short durations.

Whether he makes the team or is sent to Westchester I like his game and hope he can develop into a useful reserve.

CrushAlot wrote:I wonder if it is a partially guaranteed deal so he can get some money and play in westchester or if they see him as a guy that will make the roster.

Thought I heard that it was a 3 or 4 year on Hahn show...probably with a couple of team options. Could have misheard, but it would have to be at least as good as Plumlee's...probably better.

I've been a big supporter of Baker- figure he gets some DL time, but think he will get minutes on the Knicks at some point.

One thing is he's no finesse player. He's pretty physical out there. Some of those clips you see he really looks to body guys up on the boards and take fighting of screens personally.

I hope they bring Chasson Randle to camp, too.

But curious to see if Baker can stick. It's hard to tell if his skills will translate or if he'll just be totally overwhelmed. In theory, I like the move though.

crzymdups wrote:I hope they bring Chasson Randle to camp, too.

But curious to see if Baker can stick. It's hard to tell if his skills will translate or if he'll just be totally overwhelmed. In theory, I like the move though.

Knicks want Chasson, but it's up to him and his Agent to make it happen.

nixluva wrote:

crzymdups wrote:I hope they bring Chasson Randle to camp, too.

But curious to see if Baker can stick. It's hard to tell if his skills will translate or if he'll just be totally overwhelmed. In theory, I like the move though.

Knicks want Chasson, but it's up to him and his Agent to make it happen.

Well, the Knicks don't technically have a roster spot at the moment... I wonder if that'll hurt their chances. Last I heard there were as many as three teams interested in Randle.

fishmike wrote:One thing is he's no finesse player. He's pretty physical out there. Some of those clips you see he really looks to body guys up on the boards and take fighting of screens personally.

More finesse than you think...especially as a passer, and I don't mean those terrible Triangle entry passes. He made some really quick thinking passes in SL.

Moves well without the ball...I watched him a lot in SL moving on the perimeter to be free for a 3.

Big thing is that he has to hit the J from deep on a consistent basis, but he does a lot of little things to endear himself to a coach.

nixluva wrote:

Finestrg wrote:Nice. I like this kid, just not as a guaranteed 15-man at this point, definitely not as the 3rd PG behind Rose and Jennings. I think like Crush said--this might be a way of getting him more money then have him play at Westchester. Anything happens to Lee, Holiday or Vujacic, then Baker gets the call-up. I actually would've been OK with Baker occupying Sasha's roster spot fully guaranteed if they chose to go that route. To me that's where he fits--as a SG. Just can't tell me he's the 3rd PG now and we're done looking--not behind two sizable risks in Rose and Jennings. I hope that's not the case. We still need more there. The 3rd PG, whoever that may be, WILL wind up playing at some point this year. You can feel it.

I think Baker would be adequate as a 3rd PG/SG. He did have some early issues adjusting but I think like any guard making a transition he needs and will get plenty of time to work on his PG skills. He's a tweener. I think he's capable of filling in for short durations.

Whether he makes the team or is sent to Westchester I like his game and hope he can develop into a useful reserve.

I watched a lot of tape on him this morning after commenting here, including the two summer league clips he went for 20+ -- he does have a decent handle and looks to be a capable passer. I like him, just don't think after spending a lot of money retooling the way we did and bringing in Rose and Jennings, two guys with a lot of questions--not only injury, that we don't have a legit fill-in lined up to plug in (ask yourself--what if Rose continues to play subpar? Better yet--what if Jennings stinks up the joint? If this guy comes out playing selfish, taking awful shots and firing blanks shooting sub 40% like he always has, believe me, I could see the Garden crowd souring on him immediately. And once that happens, it'll be hard to overcome...Now do I hope that happens? Of course not. I'm a die hard fan of this team, man. I see the upside with both guys and I'm excited..Just trying to keep perspective like I always do. I mean you gotta think to yourself, "what if this doesn't go right"? I'm approaching both Rose and Jennings with extreme caution. I think you have to -- approaching either guy with too much optimism could lead to big disappointment. I think a 3rd legit PG is a must. Doesn't even have to be a vet--it could be a fellow youngster--just one with a little more natural ability to run the show. I see a pretty good prospect with Baker, but if we encounter problems with Rose and/or Jennings, I don't see Baker as a guy we're all like, "it's OK, we have Baker ready to go to drive the bus." Definitely don't see that or feel that, even with some of the success he had in college and in SL handling the ball. Maybe he becomes that eventually but I can't tell at this point--we're gonna need to see much more. It's not even fair to this kid if that's what they're thinking and then he does eventually get thrust into duty like that. I like him--I'd just like to see him get worked in as a SG. Again, a lot of work went into this retooling and I like a lot of what was done -- just cover yourself here at this spot, Phil. You know what I mean? All I'm saying.. Glad Baker's in the mix, though. He seems like he could be a good role player eventually (as a Vujacic replacement/someone who earns PT over Sasha or Holiday, etc.). Similarities to Jeff Hornacek as a player are pretty uncanny.

Most teams don't go 3 Starting quality PG's deep. Part of the reason is that there are so few at that level. It's hard to have one just sitting on your bench not playing. Baker is no different from Galloway or Grant. His plus over them is his shooting ability.

crzymdups wrote:

nixluva wrote:

crzymdups wrote:I hope they bring Chasson Randle to camp, too.

But curious to see if Baker can stick. It's hard to tell if his skills will translate or if he'll just be totally overwhelmed. In theory, I like the move though.

Knicks want Chasson, but it's up to him and his Agent to make it happen.

Well, the Knicks don't technically have a roster spot at the moment... I wonder if that'll hurt their chances. Last I heard there were as many as three teams interested in Randle.

Don't we have the 15th spot open still but that is probably for a backup pg (vet)? We might also just cut Plumlee as we signed him to also open up some slots or some crap like that. (Read that in a news article at the time of the signing. Forget the wording but it was important to sign him to open other things up for us.)

And I am damn near sure after the draft that we signed Baker to a partially guaranteed deal. Is this deal just longer?

WaltLongmire wrote:

fishmike wrote:One thing is he's no finesse player. He's pretty physical out there. Some of those clips you see he really looks to body guys up on the boards and take fighting of screens personally.

More finesse than you think...especially as a passer, and I don't mean those terrible Triangle entry passes. He made some really quick thinking passes in SL.

Moves well without the ball...I watched him a lot in SL moving on the perimeter to be free for a 3.

Big thing is that he has to hit the J from deep on a consistent basis, but he does a lot of little things to endear himself to a coach.

yea AND he plays physical... I guess I think of the finesse guys as skilled only not really willing to bang and get dirty or it just isn't part of his game... but yea man. He could look really good around talent. Just play a role.

Dont be shocked if Baker is one of the bigger surprises. He is a sound fundamental player with a high basketball IQ. He can flat out shoot and I think Hornacek likes his game. Can see him getting a lot of the back up SG minutes, specially if he shoots the 3 at a high percentage early on.

HofstraBBall wrote:Dont be shocked if Baker is one of the bigger surprises. He is a sound fundamental player with a high basketball IQ. He can flat out shoot and I think Hornacek likes his game. Can see him getting a lot of the back up SG minutes, specially if he shoots the 3 at a high percentage early on.

I agree. He looks like Hornacek 2.0

Whoa!
True apologies

I thought Ron Baker was records producer,
Famed Member of Great group Trammps (Disco inferno)

Guess the DJ coming out
..of me
Lol

So W.state kid ? With shooters prowess eh. Ny can use
Replace Sasha with this Guard, fine with me!