AUGUST 7, 6:20pm: The signing is official, according to a team press release.
JULY 11, 1:52pm: Baker’s new deal with the Knicks will be worth $8.9MM over two years, with a second-year player option, tweets Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN. That means New York will use its room exception – worth $8,872,400 over two years – to complete the signing, which explains why it wasn’t finalized earlier, and why the Knicks were comfortable renouncing Baker’s rights.
JULY 1, 2:03pm: Baker said today that his new contract will be a two-year deal, per Stefan Bondy of The New York Daily News (Twitter link).
JUNE 30, 11:35pm: The Knicks have reached an agreement on a new deal with restricted free agent Ron Baker, per Ian Begley of ESPN.com (Twitter link). The details of the pact (length and amount) have not been relayed at this time.
It is doubtful that the Knicks intend for Baker or 2017 first round pick, Frank Ntilikina, to begin the season as the starter at the one, but retaining Baker was a solid move for a New York team desperately in need of talent and hustle moving forward.
In his rookie season, Baker appeared in 52 games (13 starts), averaging 4.1 PPG and 2.1 APG in 16.5 minutes per contest. The Wichita State product was one of the Knicks’ few positives this past season, showing energy, tenacity, and ability on both sides of the ball.
He is the second best player on the team behind Porzingus
So he’s better than one of Kristaps or Carmelo? Stupid comment.
I think kristaps is porzingus….
They just got rid of one Muppet who called the shots – you won’t be getting a shot anytime soon, thankfully.
Clearly you’ve never heard of sarcasm
Baker and Zingus are the two guys worth working around besides French Frank, I think that’s what was meant.
No sarcasm, also at least he knows the first and last names of Kristaps Porzingis . #gawdlashondadonebesosupid
And he doesn’t because he said Porzingus lol
It wasn’t sarcasm that guy is just an idiot
He is the second best defender on the team
The second skinniest kid at fat camp??
Pay big dollars for those tickets to see Baker play. Ugh…
Baker isn’t a sexy signing at all, but he’s the type of player whose contributions don’t always show up in box scores. While the Knicks aren’t close to contending, he’s the type of bench player contending teams want/need.
Does the word “hustle” mean he’s a white guy?! Lol just joking don’t go crazy.
Yes he’s a good back up for the guard spots. He can shoot it and defend. A lot of team r looking for a quality back up and of course Knicks fans r complaining they’ve signed a quality one that they developed because he’s not a big name. Well done Knicks. That might b the only time that’s said all offseason (besides firing Phil)
Get a haircut Burgundy!
WTF are they doing? No way he was worth more than $1.5M per…now they are giving him $4.5M?? We don’t have the exception to use on a real veteran pg now.
What veteran point guard do you think would have signed a room exception with the Knicks? No one is taking a pay cut to go to New York
Ty Lawson is still around. Brandon Jennings is out there too (although I doubt he wants to return to NY). No one is beating down Rondo’s door either…although, I doubt he would have came for that. Either way, it’s stupid to pay a guy like Ron Burgundy the same salary as Porzingis when he’s worth only the minimum.
I’m not trying to defend Mills, but there’s no way Jennings is an option after the way things ended. Lawson basically needs to have a babysitter because he is an alcoholic and Rondo is a locker room killer, just ask Dallas. I’d rather overpay for Baker than sign any of those players
U will be asking WTF repeatedly as long as Dolan is owner. Knicks were bidding against who….no one. Baker would play for minimum…must have a good agent.
I disagree. It doesn’t mean he has a good agent: He could have an average agent, Steve Mills is proving to be Bad GM. Baker is a fan favorite, really is the second/third best defender on the team, ( I wasn’t kidding about his defense) but still feels like he’s a minimum player. I think you could’ve used *part* of the MLE to re-sign baker but not burn ALL of it like Mills did and adding second year player option too? Lol
I like Baker! Plays with an all out playing style on the defensive end of the floor.
Baker’s defensive intensity is what makes him such a fan favorite here in NY.. Stop HATING!!
Saying Baker is the second/third best defender on the Knicks isn’t saying much, especially when the team doesn’t play defense. Plus he’s 3rd in line at PG and not on the floor enough to make an impact. So really, what good is he aside from being a fan favorite and eating garbage minutes?
Mills is incompetent. THJ is a good, if one dimensional, backup 2G. Baker is a good 3rd string PG. Neither is very important for a rebuilding team. Wonder if Baker got a trade kicker as well. It would be funny if it weren’t so sad and hopeless.
Great move for tanking purposes. Maybe that’s what their moves this offseason have been geared towards. Only explanation that makes any sense…
This is an insane overpay.
And he isn’t Burgandy.
He’s Monix from Semi-Pro
JACKIE MOON IN DA HOUSE.
Another NYK overpay.
Some things never change.
#Noah #Lee #HardawayJr #Baker