Knicks guard Ron Baker has won over coach Jeff Hornacek — and reportedly team president Phil Jackson as well — as he prepares for restricted free agency, writes Marc Berman of The New York Post.
The 24-year-old rookie filled in for Derrick Rose Friday night in Miami and put up 10 points and six assists in a Knicks victory. He also ran the triangle well and stood out with his effort on defense.
A four-year player at Wichita State, Baker came to the NBA with several similarities to Hornacek. They bonded quickly, with Baker saying, “Yeah, we have a pretty good friendship. We’ll try to be on the same team.’’
Sources say Jackson likes the way Baker defends against point guards, an area where Rose has been lacking. At 6’4″, Baker has the size to play shooting guard, but his 3-point range is a concern, as he is hitting just 29% from long distance.
“Guys like that [combo guards] are valuable in the league,’’ Hornacek said. “You’re not just strictly just relying on him at the 2. You can play him off the ball, you can play him on the ball. If he’s playing the point, he can get us into the offense. He’s smart about calling out the plays. And he’s a tough defender. Early on, playing against point guards, he was keeping guys in front of him.’’
Baker worked out for 16 teams last year, but still went undrafted. He signed with the Knicks in August and earned a roster spot. The early part of his season was filled with D-League trips, but he hasn’t been there since New Year’s Eve.
Berman adds that no matter what kind of offer Baker gets this summer, Hornacek will be a strong advocate for matching it.
Randle is better than Baker why isn’t he playing?He made Baker and the summer league better. He should have been playing because he is doing better than Baker in every category playing less time.
Baker plays better defense
yeah but not actually great defense, he still lacks the lateral quickness to stay with point guards in the nba. He is better than randle in that regard but his shooting is awful, just look at his last ten games its like sasha vujacic numbers
Baker knows the triangle because he played it 4 years in college. Did I miss anything?
Coldie, what planet are you from? Baker didn’t run any triangle offense in college. How is he leading Baker in every category if he isn’t playing.
This kid is legit, he can pass, play defense and do alot of Delladova does, the Knicks can likely throw him a decent contract and incorporate him into their triangle offense next season. Clean house, Melo and Rose have to go, draft Fox he can run an offense and knock down shots at the point guard position and I guess Lee can stay since he can shoot the ball and defend at the 2, maybe getting Nick Young would not be a bad idea also he can play 2-3 and space the floor for Porzingis and Hernan-Gomez.
i dont think so it was the other way around. Randle had his up and down game in the summer but Baker had the advantage on the +/- stats overall during summer league than randle did. I agree that randle is better shooter than baker by a slight margin but baker is the overall better player stats wise. Randle cant guard as well as baker.
He’s probably on some good stuff lol
I like ron his effort and his heart but that can’t be enough to make up for his abysmal shooting.He’s scrappy and if he can improve his shooting he can be a good rotational guard. But the stats don’t lie when looking at baker. Randle is clearly the better player even from his small stints in philly to now. Its so bad the favoritism hornacek shows to him. To think that the knicks kept N’dour over randle. The knicks shouldn’t worry about losing baker, they should be worrying about developing a good culture and stick to one direction.
Baker is a much much better shooter than his numbers indicate; remember, even KP reminds that all he knew about Baker, was that he was a shooter…. he also has a better plus/minus than Randle, whom I like a lot…DUMB AF Hornacek should be playing them BOTH, while sitting Sasha’s ass down….no need to pit one against the other Fam, they’re BOTH here to stay… at least I hope so, but one never knows when it comes to Knicks.
You see it, the Ron MISTER Baker to have it the chance to return to the Knick ball club the NEXT year. Maybe can be the good idea for the Carmelos and the Derek MISTER Rose to no play the rest of season to give the Baker and MISTER Randle the try for the next season?
Ron Baker.is a superb arhlete!!
Baker fills in the gaps I’m a very weak Knicks defense,he also does all the little things that make the rest of the team click