Ron Baker to Phoenix?

[AZ Shocker]

I want Ron Baker here with the Suns. He was just released by the Knicks. Tough defensive minded player who can pass the ball to Ayton. He's only 2 years in the league but more savvy than anybody we have now. We seem to be a really immature team playing street ball and perhaps a heady strong minded player would help and lead by example. Not the greatest shooter yet...but me thinks he could become one with more court time. Kinda reminds me of Dan Majerle. Thoughts???

 

[1Sun]

Another G-Leaguer masquerading as an NBA player. No thanks.

 

[Proximo]

Another G-Leaguer masquerading as an NBA player. No thanks.

You know I have a feeling you would describe Rachaun Holmes as a G-leaguer before the season began.

There are players from the G-League who become productive NBA players, and it's not like the back of the Suns bench currently is not G-League quality.

 

[1Sun]

You know I have a feeling you would describe Rachaun Holmes as a G-leaguer before the season began.

There are players from the G-League who become productive NBA players, and it's not like the back of the Suns bench currently is not G-League quality.

Holmes is a fringe NBA player, but at least he is potentially an NBA player. While he hasn't been a star, or even a major producer at the NBA level, Holmes has also not failed at the NBA level.

As for your other statement, you have made my point for me. Much of our bench is already G-League quality, and you have seen the atrocious results that has yielded. Why in the world would we want to bring in more of that garbage?

 

[Hoop Head]

You know I have a feeling you would describe Rachaun Holmes as a G-leaguer before the season began.

There are players from the G-League who become productive NBA players, and it's not like the back of the Suns bench currently is not G-League quality.

He's the same person who threw a fit and bashed the front office for not using our 2nd Two-Way contract while we had it available and now he's mad that we've brought in G-Leaguers. It's best to ignore. All he does is complain, regardless of the topic, and he will find a way to complain about it even if it directly contradicts another argument he's trying to make in another thread.

 

[AZ Shocker]

Cause I believe Ron is a smarter player than what we have. He wouldn't be a superstar of course...but rather a steady-freddy type that plays d and knows how to get his whole team involved.

 

[AzStevenCal]

Cause I believe Ron is a smarter player than what we have. He wouldn't be a superstar of course...but rather a steady-freddy type that plays d and knows how to get his whole team involved.

I don't follow the Knicks very much but he seems to me to be an end of the bench, Fizdale kind of scrub so I wonder why he's letting him go? And then I look at his stats and I'm wondering why we'd consider him? He's averaging just over a point a game in his 10 minutes on the court? Smart or not, I don't see much value in a shooting guard that hits 11% of his 3's and has an EFG below 30%. Granted, they are career lows but last year's career high EFG of .432 is still non-viable for a guard.

 

[Superbone]

Cause I believe Ron is a smarter player than what we have. He wouldn't be a superstar of course...but rather a steady-freddy type that plays d and knows how to get his whole team involved.

Ron, is that you?

 

[AzStevenCal]

Ron, is that you?

Joking aside, Ron was an effective college player at Wichita. They are known as the Shockers. So, I'd guess AZ Shocker indicates a Suns fan that is also a WSU alum/fan.

 

[Raindog]

Joking aside, Ron was an effective college player at Wichita. They are known as the Shockers. So, I'd guess AZ Shocker indicates a Suns fan that is also a WSU alum/fan.

Hah! Good catch... I am guessing you are correct... or it's an awfully odd coincidence.

 

[AZ Shocker]

Joking aside, Ron was an effective college player at Wichita. They are known as the Shockers. So, I'd guess AZ Shocker indicates a Suns fan that is also a WSU alum/fan.

This is true. Followed his college career closely with the Shockers from Wichita. Vetting a player is harder than it seems it would be. Especially these days with all the analytical data available. We should know everything about a particular player. But as evident in so many "misses" from professional franchises...you truly have to get that player in house and learn about them more and see what he/she can become.

Both his coach Jeff Hornacek (before he was let go by the Knicks) and Phil Jackson loved Ron Baker. But the new regime there in NYC sees differently. I'm certainly not saying Baker would save the Suns...I'm just saying he has value on a team needing toughness and hustle. He's scoring will improve giving 18-20 minutes a game. But the other intangibles he could bring to a team could net positive. And my team is the Phoenix Suns!!! If your old enough to remember Dan Majerle..then Suns fans would love Ron Baker!

 

[AzStevenCal]

This is true. Followed his college career closely with the Shockers from Wichita. Vetting a player is harder than it seems it would be. Especially these days with all the analytical data available. We should know everything about a particular player. But as evident in so many "misses" from professional franchises...you truly have to get that player in house and learn about them more and see what he/she can become.

Both his coach Jeff Hornacek (before he was let go by the Knicks) and Phil Jackson loved Ron Baker. But the new regime there in NYC sees differently. I'm certainly not saying Baker would save the Suns...I'm just saying he has value on a team needing toughness and hustle. He's scoring will improve giving 18-20 minutes a game. But the other intangibles he could bring to a team could net positive. And my team is the Phoenix Suns!!! If your old enough to remember Dan Majerle..then Suns fans would love Ron Baker!

This all sounds very reasonable but we are already guard heavy. We need help on the starter side but we have a plethora of role player guards. Even if he was a slight upgrade over any of the Daniels, Crawford, Okobo, Melton group, I can't see us jettisoning either of the kids. So I wouldn't expect us to pick up another guard until after Crawford or Daniels are gone.

And most of us here remember Majerle, I think we skew a little older than your typical NBA forum.

 

[AZ Shocker]

Agree with you there AzStevenCal. We are already guard heavy. Ron is somewhat of a throwback type player who is relentless and works his tail off on every possession that could light a fire by example for our other players. Smart. Heady. Sometimes those type of winning plays set the tone and can help get our better players to play even better. Anyways...probably won't happen...but man...every team needs someone like that. We just look so immature out there and need some toughness. Go Suns!!!

 

[Hoop Head]

I was looking for info on G-League rights, to see if we could sign Baker to the NAZ Suns to give him a look rather than signing him to the Suns directly. We don't have a Two-Way contract available any longer and only have 1 open roster spot after the Moreland signing. Anyway, saw this information on the G-League site...

To open the 2018-19 season, an all-time high 40 percent players on start-of-season NBA rosters had NBA G League experience.

Source - https://gleague.nba.com/faq/

Also during the 2017-18 season there were 101 players assigned to the G-League by their parent teams.

That's much higher than I thought it would be. I think that also says that a player shouldn't be written off simply because they've been in the G-League.

Apparently the Knicks will have his G-League rights still since he played for their G-League team last. So if the NAZ Suns wanted to give him a look they would need to wait to see if the Knicks G-League team will resign him or trade him. If they don't sign him then the NAZ Suns could make him an offer. A G-League team owns a players rights for 2 years after they last play in the G-League unless they're waived by that G-League team specifically, not their main roster NBA team.

 

[AZ Shocker]

Interesting. On the surface that's actually kinda cool the NBA set that 2 year rights thing up in the G League.