National Basketball Association

New York Knicks: Ron Baker Should Make The Main Roster

Updated Mar. 4, 2020 2:23 p.m. ET

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New York Knicks combo guard Ron Baker was one of the standout performers during the 2016 NBA preseason. He’s earned a main roster spot.

Oct 15, 2016; New York, NY, USA; New York Knicks guard Ron Baker (31) defends against Boston Celtics guard Avery Bradley (0) as he plays the ball during the first half at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Andy Marlin-USA TODAY Sports

Entering the 2016 NBA preseason, New York Knicks rookie Ron Baker was arguably the most overlooked player on the roster. In just six preseason games, however, Baker has become one of the most promising players in New York.

Though roster decisions have yet to be made, it’s becoming increasingly more difficult to deny the fact that Baker deserves a main roster spot.

Baker wasn’t selected at the 2016 NBA Draft, but he was immediately signed by the Knicks following the conclusion of the annual selection process. He agreed to a one-year non-guaranteed contract.

Since that contract was signed, the 23-year-old hasn’t relented in his pursuit of a main roster spot—a spot that can only be won if another Knicks player is cut.

New York has crowded its interior with offseason additions, which has thus left the backcourt relatively thin. Head coach Jeff Hornacek outright stated that the front office isn’t afraid to cut a player on a guaranteed deal in order to sign a better fit.

Though it’s only the preseason, Baker has shown enough to establish himself as one of the players who deserves a main roster spot.

Oct 10, 2016; New York, NY, USA; New York Knicks guard Ron Baker (31) shoots the ball over Washington Wizards guard Daniel House (4) during the third quarter at Madison Square Garden. The Knicks won 90-88. Mandatory Credit: Anthony Gruppuso-USA TODAY Sports

5. 3-Point Shooting

If only one skill is going to keep Ron Baker employed in the NBA, it’ll likely be his 3-point shooting. He’s not Stephen Curry or Klay Thompson, but he’s a rhythm shooter who steps into his shots, excels off the catch, and capably shoots off the bounce.

The New York Knicks need to do a better job of spacing the floor in 2016-17 and Baker has the type of range that can help them do so.

Baker made an average of 2.0 3-point field goals per game on 36.9 percent shooting from beyond the arc during his four years at Wichita State. He also converted 80.1 percent of his free throws and hit 50.9 percent of his 2-point field goals.

Baker may not be in the running to become the Knicks’ go-to scorer, but he has the proficiency as a shooter to enable the go-to scorers to thrive.

Baker shot well during the 2016 NBA preseason, which offered a limited look into what he’s capable of providing. He’d get more catch-and-shot opportunities as a young player than chances to drive, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing.

With Baker on the roster, the Knicks would have a capable shooter who can attack closeouts and keep the floor stretched and spaced.

Oct 19, 2016; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Celtics forward Gerald Green (30) and New York Knicks guard Ron Baker (31) battle for a loose ball during the first half at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports

4. Defensive Intensity

The fact that Ron Baker can shoot is valuable, but the fact that he can also defend is what makes him deserving of a main roster spot. He’s still developing his fundamentals on defense, but Baker clearly has the desire to be a high-quality defender.

It’s harder than it may seem to find players who want to play defense, and that alone is reason to give Baker a serious look.

Baker isn’t afraid to get physical on the defensive end of the floor. He’s capable of defending in the finesse manner that the modern NBA often requires, but he’s also willing to get his hands dirty if that’s what his team needs.

Players cut from that cloth tend to fare well in the NBA. They often make a significant impact during the NBA Playoffs.

Whether he’s a Matthew Dellavedova or a guard Shane Battier, Baker plays a defensive style that gets under players’ skin. Steals and blocks are nice, but actually throwing someone off of their game is a much more difficult task.

Having a young and developing guard who’s already willing to do a job that so few perimeter players are willing to do in the modern NBA would be invaluable.

Oct 10, 2016; New York, NY, USA; New York Knicks guard Ron Baker (31) is fouled by Washington Wizards guard Casper Ware (17) during the fourth quarter at Madison Square Garden. The Knicks won 90-88. Mandatory Credit: Anthony Gruppuso-USA TODAY Sports

3. Positional Versatility

The New York Knicks currently have three centers signed to guaranteed contracts: Willy Hernangomez, Joakim Noah, and Marshall Plumlee. New York also has three power forwards: Lou Amundson, Kyle O’Quinn, and Kristaps Porzingis.

That seems structurally wise, but it’s redundant when one considers the fact that Carmelo Anthony, Mindaugas Kuzminskas, and Lance Thomas can all play the 4 with consistency.

In other words, New York essentially has six power forwards and three centers on the roster.

The Knicks have Brandon Jennings and Derrick Rose at point guard, and Justin Holiday, Courtney Lee, and Sasha Vujacic at shooting guard. Holiday is unproven and both Jennings and Rose have suffered a season-ending injury within the past three years.

Between the injury concerns and the lack of established backcourt depth, adding a positionally versatile guard like Baker would be a wise decision.

Baker can fill in at shooting guard if Holiday underwhelms or Vujacic’s age catches up to him. He could also play point guard if either Jennings or Rose were to suffer an injury at any point in 2016-17.

At the very least, this is reason to keep Baker nearby with the Westchester Knicks in the NBA D-League.

Oct 19, 2016; Boston, MA, USA; New York Knicks guard Sasha Vujacic (18) drives to the basket past Boston Celtics guard Terry Rozier (12) during the first half at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports

2. Alternatives and Comparisons

The New York Knicks aren’t getting a star in the form of former Wichita State Shockers guard Ron Baker. What New York may be getting, however, is a high-quality NBA player who could play big minutes as a reserve and develop into a starter somewhere down the line.

The best way to describe the value that Baker provides is by comparing to the players whom he’d either be replacing or emulating.

Baker plays a similar style to Sasha Vujacic, who has embraced his role as a sharpshooting combo guard this preseason. Vujacic has never before thrived as a facilitator, however, which presents the reality of this situation.

Vujacic, 32, could be a solid mentor for Baker, 23, but the long-term decision should be easy to make.

Baker’s NBA upside is somewhere along the lines of 13-year NBA veteran Kirk Hinrich. He can defend multiple positions, play on or off-ball, facilitate in a pinch, and space the floor with consistency and efficiency.

Thus, that brings us to the final reason the Knicks should name Baker to the main roster for the 2016-17 NBA regular season: the future.

Oct 8, 2016; New York, NY, USA; New York Knicks guard Ron Baker (31) defended by Brooklyn Nets forward Chris McCullough (1) during the second half at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Adam Hunger-USA TODAY Sports

1. Building For The Future

The New York Knicks have done a respectable job of blending promising young players with established veterans. For instance, Willy Hernangomez is 22 years of age, Mindaugas Kuzminskas is 26, Marshall Plumlee is 24, and Kristaps Porzingis is 21.

Here’s the issue with that list: of those young players who are expected to make the 2016-17 main roster, all play a frontcourt position.

The Knicks have two point guards—Derrick Rose, 28, and Brandon Jennings, 27—who project to be costly free agents in 2017. Shooting guard Justin Holiday, 27, will join them in free agency.

Even Courtney Lee, who signed a four-year deal, is 31 years of age, while Sasha Vujacic is 32.

The Knicks need youth and long-term value in the backcourt, which is exactly where Ron Baker comes into play.

Baker is a 23-year-old combo guard who can do a bit of everything on both ends of the floor. Whether or not he has an immediate impact on the Knicks, his presence would show that New York is thinking bigger than just a two or three-year plan.

After years of short-sighted desperation moves, the Knicks can commit to a sustainable future by giving a promising young player a chance to gain experience on the main roster.

If nothing else, Baker making the cut would signal a change of principles in New York.