Ron Baker was a Knick, and now is a Wizard!

[AZ Shocker]

Nice! Still wish he was Phoenix Sun.

[ShockdaWorld]

Lol! I love Fred's response. Classic.

I can't see Fred's response. What was it?

[Shoxcity]

Can't wait until Melo leaves. Don't want negative energy around Ron.

[vbird53]

This calls for a new profile pic.

[1972Shocker]

I can't see Fred's response. What was it?

• fredvanvleet Is this a good thing🤔

[im4wsu]

looks like three years qualifies for much more paid health insurance, 60k pension, 140% 401k match

I believe the three years for health insurance applies to retired players, effective 2016. I can't believe that the Union doesn't require health insurance for all active players.

[Spaulding]

Nice! Still wish he was Phoenix Sun.

Well the owners wife is from KC and his father in law lives in Pratt and is a Shocker season ticket holder so you never know...

[ICT2CLT]

Interesting Article on Baker's Contract: http://www.kansas.com/sports/college...162842838.html. Hopefully he earns the contract next year and proves them wrong.

[shockmonster]

Interesting Article on Baker's Contract: http://www.kansas.com/sports/college...162842838.html. Hopefully he earns the contract next year and proves them wrong.

They weren't really that critical of Ron's contract. In fact, they were quite positive about Ron. They just echoed what was said on here immediately following the signing. They thought the Knicks were afraid of other teams being interested in Ron (they conjectured that his agent manufactured some of the interest), and they were critical that the Knicks didn't allow other teams to actually offer Ron and then the Knicks could match it if they wanted. In other words, the Knicks may or may not have overpaid, but until the other teams offer, they weren't sure. Knowing Ron, and how he is, the Knicks may found out they got a great deal. They were also more critical on the Hardaway signing than Ron.

The positive on Ron was that he was a very good defensive player on a very bad defensive Knicks team, whose value may have been greater because of how bad the Knicks have been on defense for years.
One thing you are correct about is that Ron still is young and has to prove he belongs in the NBA this year. His main weakness was his 3 point perimeter shot. That, he needs to improve.

[Aargh]

Interesting Article on Baker's Contract: http://www.kansas.com/sports/college...162842838.html. Hopefully he earns the contract next year and proves them wrong.

They're not paying him that money for his 4 points and 2 assists. They're paying him because he subtracts more than that from the stats of anyone he's guarding. A player who can shut Curry down is worth some $$.

VanVleet is also a tenacious defender. As Marshall gets more and more players getting NBA looks, the NBA will figure out that players coming out of Marshall's system aren't prima donnas, like the lottery picks, but play both ends of the court and can defensively disrupt good NBA scorers.

Observers of the NBA who are critical of Baker's contract are the guys who only watch the offensive end of the court. They need to learn the game is played on both ends of the court. Oh, wait...this is the NBA. Evidently players are only expected to play on one end of the court.

[ICT2CLT]

They weren't really that critical of Ron's contract. In fact, they were quite positive about Ron. They just echoed what was said on here immediately following the signing. They thought the Knicks were afraid of other teams being interested in Ron (they conjectured that his agent manufactured some of the interest), and they were critical that the Knicks didn't allow other teams to actually offer Ron and then the Knicks could match it if they wanted. In other words, the Knicks may or may not have overpaid, but until the other teams offer, they weren't sure. Knowing Ron, and how he is, the Knicks may found out they got a great deal. They were also more critical on the Hardaway signing than Ron.

The positive on Ron was that he was a very good defensive player on a very bad defensive Knicks team, whose value may have been greater because of how bad the Knicks have been on defense for years.
One thing you are correct about is that Ron still is young and has to prove he belongs in the NBA this year. His main weakness was his 3 point perimeter shot. That, he needs to improve.

Oh I absolutely agree. They weren't critical of Ron, just the decision to give him that contract. The Knicks definitely overpaid; he might be making more than DRose next year. The PG position was stacked in free agency this year and there are several good point guards still on the market that may not find a landing spot. Good for Ron though. I think articles like this and a few loud Knicks fans upset about his contract will fuel him to keep playing angry.

[ICT2CLT]

They're not paying him that money for his 4 points and 2 assists. They're paying him because he subtracts more than that from the stats of anyone he's guarding. A player who can shut Curry down is worth some $$.

Observers of the NBA who are critical of Baker's contract are the guys who only watch the offensive end of the court. They need to learn the game is played on both ends of the court. Oh, wait...this is the NBA. Evidently players are only expected to play on one end of the court.

That's not completely true. In the NBA you can't just play great D. You also have to score/create in order to keep the other team's defense honest. There are very few defense-only players that last past a year or two. The NBA definitely has a role for the 3&D player but not defense only. That's probably why Phil, of whom I am no fan, quite correctly told him he needed to pick it up from 3 point range. Players have made that transition (look at Jimmy Butler) and I am confident he can too. However, with his current performance and the depth in the PG market this contract is hard to explain.

[shockmonster]

Oh I absolutely agree. They weren't critical of Ron, just the decision to give him that contract. The Knicks definitely overpaid.

I take issue with your word definitely. We don't know what the market would have brought and that was the point of the conversation. They thought that the Knicks should have waited to see what the market would actually bear than deciding in advance. Ron might prove to be worth every penny. You think overpay and if multiple people are willing to pay that amount (there may have been multiple teams interested in Ron), then the market has set itself. There may be a lot of people who believe that his 3 point shooting will improve. He is already a very good passer on offense, makes good decisions with the ball, and makes others around him better (D Rose doesn't do any of those other things on offense-Rose shoots the ball better than Ron and nothing else better on offense). If Ron's perimeter shooting improves, he could be around for a long time.

[Sam Axe]

The Knicks didn't overpay, they paid for potential. Essentially they are paying to get the Ron Baker they had the last part of the season that was getting minutes and filling a stat sheet.

[rrshock]

The Knicks didn't overpay, they paid for potential. Essentially they are paying to get the Ron Baker they had the last part of the season that was getting minutes and filling a stat sheet.

The NBA is always doing things based on potential. I agree with you.

It might even show that they got a steal in another year. Why would someone that is now projected to be the starting point guard not take what the organization was offering.