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Knicks Appear Determined To Keep Ron Baker

April 1st, 2017 at 6:51pm CST by Arthur Hill

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.

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Knicks Notes: Rose, Jennings, Randle, Ndour

February 27th, 2017 at 6:39pm CST by Milo Taibi

The Knicks appear to be done with buyouts after parting ways with Brandon Jennings today. While there was some speculation about Derrick Rose being cut by the club, Ramona Shelburne of ESPN suggests the Knicks probably won’t complete any more buyouts unless “a player they like becomes available.” (Twitter link)

Despite Jeff Hornacek‘s words to the contrary, the Knicks appear to be in full-on tank mode at this point. Sporting a 24-35 record, the Knicks are four games behind Detroit for the eighth seed of the Eastern Conference.

More from The Garden…

  • Hornacek has been a fan of Chasson Randle‘s game, Mike Vorkunov of the New York Times writes. The Knicks always viewed Jennings as a stopgap, Vorkunov writes, whose absence will now allow Randle to receive NBA minutes over the next several weeks. “We loved Chasson, his ability, how he can play,” Hornacek said. “He’s a smart player, knows how to play the game, shoot the ball. Chasson can play.”
  • Frank Isola of the Daily News commended the team for cutting Jennings, as Brandon “was never going to be a part of the Knicks future.” Jennings wasn’t happy with the Knicks, as he’d begun to lose minutes to rookie Ron Baker. Isola speculates the reason Jennings was released before Sasha Vujacic was Vujacic’s willingness to run the triangle offense. Additionally, the Knicks attempted to trade Jennings prior to the deadline, Steve Kyler of Basketball Insiders writes, but no team was interested in giving up an asset for him.
  • Isola is skeptical that the Knicks will cut Rose (link above). The Knicks still view themselves as a playoff-caliber team, and waiving Rose would be an admission of a “colossal mistake” from Phil Jackson. Had the Knicks dealt Rose for Ricky Rubio, Isola observes, Jackson essentially would have traded Rose, Jerian Grant, and Robin Lopez for Rubio. Isola suggested the team look to the future; “acquiring as many lottery balls as possible” rather than playing for the eighth seed. Carmelo Anthony and Kristaps Porzingis‘ minutes should be limited, and Ndour appears to be a release candidate.
  • In trade deadline negotiations, the Timberwolves wanted Mindaugas Kuzminskas in addition to Rose, according to David Aldridge of NBA.com. The Knicks and Wolves couldn’t get on the same page for a deadline swap, as we’d previously heard the Knicks insist Minnesota include Nemanja Bjelica alongside Rubio.
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NBA D-League Assignments/Recalls: 2/27/17

February 27th, 2017 at 3:59pm CST by Milo Taibi

Here are the D-League transactions for Monday:

  • The Knicks have recalled Ron Baker, Marshall Plumlee, and Maurice Ndour from Westchester, the team announced via Twitter (link). Including the recently signed Chasson Randle, Jeff Hornacek will have four fresh bodies available for tonight’s match-up against the Raptors.
  • The Thunder assigned Josh Huestis to the Oklahoma City Blue, the team announced on its official website (link). Huestis has made just one NBA appearance this season.
  • The Cavs recalled Kay Felder from the Canton Charge, the team announced on its official website (link). Felder impressed in his most recent D-League assignment, scoring 30 points on 11-of-22 shooting against the Maine Red Claws.
  • The Raptors assigned Bruno Caboclo to Raptors 905, the team announced via Twitter (link). Caboclo has averaged 9.9 points through 26 games with Raptors 905 this season.
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NBA D-League Assignments/Recalls: 2/26/17

February 26th, 2017 at 6:57pm CST by Austin Kent

Here are the D-League transactions for Sunday:

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Atlantic Notes: Anthony, Bradley, Okafor, Noel

January 16th, 2017 at 4:59pm CST by Milo Taibi

Carmelo Anthony followed up today on recent remarks about his situation in New York, telling reporters, including Mike Vorkunov, that he hasn’t spoken to management and hopes to remain with the Knicks. It’s been a slog for Jeff Hornacek‘s squad, as a myriad of on-and-off the court issues have resulted in a 2-11 record since December 25. Following a matinee loss to the Hawks at MSG, the Knicks slipped to 11th-place in the Eastern Conference; a far cry from expectations entering the season.

Here’s more from around the Atlantic:

  • The Knicks aren’t guaranteeing court time for veterans during their swoon, recently replacing Courtney Lee in the lineup with undrafted rookie Ron Baker. Lee, who signed a $50MM deal during the offseason, has shot just 17.6% on 3-pointers over his last five games. “You’re looking for little things. Who is going to do the little things on this team? Who is going to take charges? Who is going to make the extra pass?” Hornacek told Stefan Bondy of the Daily News. The first-year Knicks coach also requested his team take more charges.
  • The Celtics are being careful not to rush Avery Bradley in his return from an Achilles strain, writes A. Sherrod Blakely of CSNNE.com. As coach Brad Stevens pointed out, several Celtics have excelled in Bradley’s place, including Terry Rozier and Marcus Smart. Having participated in a full practice Sunday, Bradley is listed as questionable to participate in tonight’s game against Charlotte.
  • Jahlil Okafor‘s 26-point game against the Wizards functioned as a showcase, Keith Pompey of Philly.com writes. Filling in for the resting Joel Embiid, Okafor connected on 10-of-16 shots from the field with nine rebounds. The trade deadline is just over a month away, Pompey noted, and the time is now to recruit possible trade partners. The Sixers‘ logjam of centers has been a well-publicized issue this season.
  • Sixers center Nerlens Noel won’t participate in Monday’s game against the Bucks due to a sprained ankle, the team announced today (via Twitter). A left ankle sprain cut into Noel’s minutes in mid-December, limiting the former Kentucky Wildcat to 7.6 MPG over a five-game span. While Noel is sidelined, Joel Embiid and Jahlil Okafor will split time at the five.
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Knicks Notes: Jennings, Baker, Anthony

January 8th, 2017 at 2:16pm CST by Will Joseph

Brandon Jennings, whom the Knicks signed to a one-year deal in July, ripped himself and the team for New York’s poor play this season and especially as of late, Marc Berman of The New York Post relays. Jennings is the floor-leader for the Knicks’ second unit, and after a hot start, the veteran has fizzled out, which coincides with the way the team has played; they’ve gone from 14-10 to a season-worst three games under .500, as Berman points out.

“Honestly, I don’t think we’ve played well at all this year,” Jennings said. “I don’t know if you’re watching it. We’re winning games because of our talent. Basketball-wise, I don’t think we’re playing basketball like we should.”

Here is more on the Knicks:

  • Carmelo Anthony‘s right shoulder is bothering him, but the Knicks star plans to play through it and has not missed a game since December 13th, Al Iannazzone of Newsday writes. Anthony said he will tolerate the pain, and added he has not missed any practices, per Iannazzone.
  • Ron Baker’s contract becomes fully guaranteed for the season on Tuesday, and Jeff Hornacek  said the Knicks plan on keeping the undrafted rookie guard on the roster, Iannazzone passes along in the same story.
  • It is clear the Knicks have relied too much on their individual talent and have yet to jell together as a team, as evidenced by the team’s latest losses, Berman writes in a separate piece.
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Chasson Randle To Work Out For Sixers

January 8th, 2017 at 10:45am CST by Arthur Hill

10:45am: Randle’s workout will be held Monday and he will be part of a group, tweets Keith Pompey of The Philadelphia Inquirer. Joining him will be point guards Briante Weber, Yogi Ferrell and Cat Barber.

8:52am: Point guard Chasson Randle, who nearly won a roster spot with the Knicks in the preseason, will work out for the Sixers today, reports Marc Berman of The New York Post.

The decision comes a day after Ron Baker solidified the third point guard spot in New York when his contract became guaranteed for the remainder of the season.

Randle appeared headed toward a roster spot in October, but was waived after suffering an orbital bone fracture. He joined the Westchester Knicks in the D-League as an affiliate player and has averaged 20.7 points through 19 games.

The Knicks told Randle he might be re-signed this month now that teams are permitted to begin issuing 10-day contracts, according to Berman, who speculates that Marshall Plumlee or Maurice Ndour would be waived if that happens.

But before the Knicks get a chance, Randle might wind up with the Sixers, who are short on point guards after Jerryd Bayless was lost for the season with torn ligaments in his left wrist. They have been relying on T.J. McConnell, who had 17 assists Friday, and Sergio Rodriguez to handle the position. Philadelphia has an open roster spot after waiving Hollis Thompson on Wednesday.

Randle’s options in New York appear limited as Baker keeps impressing Knicks officials. Coach Jeff Hornacek compared Baker to himself as a guard who’s not flashy but knows how to get the ball to the right player.

“At the beginning of the year, I had a meeting with Jeff and he had mentioned something about January,’’ Baker said. “If I stayed on the right path as I did in preseason, I’ll be fine. I wasn’t concerned after that meeting, but I’m trying to keep improving obviously.’’

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NBA D-League Assignments/Recalls: 12/31/16

December 31st, 2016 at 12:48pm CST by Dana Gauruder

Here are Saturday’s D-League assignments and recalls from around the NBA:

  • The Magic assigned center Stephen Zimmerman to the Erie BayHawks, the team tweets. The 7’0” center has appeared in eight games this season with the Magic, averaging 1.3 points and 1.8 rebounds in 4.0 minutes. This is his third assignment to the BayHawks. He’s averaged 17.3 points, 13.5 rebounds 1.5 blocks in 34.2 minutes over six games with them.
  • The Suns recalled forward Derrick Jones Jr. from the Northern Arizona Suns, eight days after he was assigned to the D-League for the third time, the team tweets (Twitter link). He has averaged 14.0 points and 6.1 rebounds in 32.1 minutes over 14 games with Northern Arizona.
  • The Knicks recalled guard Ron Baker and center Marshall Plumlee and they will rejoin the team in Houston, according to their Twitter feed. They were assigned to the Westchester Knicks on Friday and started their game against Fort Wayne. Baker had nine points, four assists and four steals in 30 minutes, while Plumlee posted 16 points and six rebounds in the same amount of action.
  • The Hornets recalled guard Aaron Harrison and forward Christian Wood from the Greensboro Swarm, they announced in a press release.  Harrison has appeared in 13 Swarm games over three assignments, recording averages of 20.6 points, 5.2 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 1.4 steals in 36.5 minutes per game. Wood has appeared in 11 Swarm games during two D-League stints, averaging 17.2 points, 9.3 boards and 2.1 blocks in 29.3 minutes.
  • The Lakers recalled Ivica Zubac from the D-Fenders, one day after assigning him to the D-League, Harrison Faigen of SB Nation tweets. The 7’1” center had 17 points and 10 rebounds in 31 minutes against Northern Arizona on Friday.
  • The Jazz recalled forward Joel Bolomboy after he appeared in one game with the Salt Lake City Stars during his latest assignment. the team announced in a press release. He recorded 18 points, 12 rebounds and four assists in 38 minutes against Sioux Falls on Friday.
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NBA D-League Assignments/Recalls: 12/30/16

December 30th, 2016 at 4:12pm CST by Luke Adams

Here are Friday’s D-League assignments and recalls from around the NBA:

  • After being sent down to the D-League on Thursday, Patrick McCaw and Damian Jones were recalled by the Warriors today, the team announced in a press release. The duo played in Santa Cruz’s win over Northern Arizona last night, though neither player was particularly productive — Jones had just two points and four boards in 23 minutes, while McCaw made only six of his team-high 17 shots.
  • The Jazz continue to shuttle Joel Bolomboy back and forth between the NBA and the D-League, announcing today in a press release that he has been re-assigned to Salt Lake City. The rookie forward figures to suit up for Utah’s NBADL affiliate tonight against Sioux Falls.
  • Rookie big man Ivica Zubac will rejoin the Los Angeles D-Fenders, having been re-assigned to the D-League by the Lakers, tweets Mark Medina of The Los Angeles Daily News. L.A.’s affiliate will host Northern Arizona tonight, giving Zubac a chance to see some playing time.
  • The Knicks assigned Ron Baker and Marshall Plumlee to the D-League earlier today, according to the team (via Twitter). It’s the fifth assignment of the season for Baker, and the eighth for Plumlee.
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NBA D-League Assignments/Recalls: 12/24/16

December 24th, 2016 at 7:53pm CST by Austin Kent

Here are the D-League moves from Saturday:

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