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Ron Baker, New York Knicks Reportedly Agree to 2-Year Contract

Tyler Conway@jtylerconwayX.com LogoFeatured ColumnistJuly 11, 2017

New York Knicks' Ron Baker reacts after not drawing a foul during the second half of the NBA basketball game against the Toronto Raptors, Sunday, April 9, 2017, in New York. The Raptors defeated the Knicks 110-97. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
Seth Wenig/Associated Press

The New York Knicks and guard Ron Baker reportedly agreed to a two-year, $8.9 million contract Tuesday.

Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN reported the deal will carry a player option for the second season.

Baker had already confirmed he would be returning to the Knicks slightly after midnight July 1. The former undrafted free agent averaged 4.1 points and 2.1 assists per game as a rookie. He shot just 26.7 percent from three-point range and said that was among the main goals heading into this summer.

“Nothing complex," Baker said, per Marc Berman of the New York Post. “Working on my shot, trying to be more efficient from 3-point land. Trying to simplify things as for my fundamentals when I shoot the ball."

The Knicks are still without an obvious starter at the point guard position with Derrick Rose seemingly heading elsewhere in free agency. There have been reports of mutual interest between the Knicks and Rajon Rondo, per ESPN's Ian Begley, but no deal has yet come to fruition. New York drafted French point guard Frank Ntilikina with the eighth overall pick in June's draft.

Baker will probably wind up slotting in as the third point guard on the roster and may wind up sliding over to the 2 spot. His ascent in the rotation last season was due in part to his ability to play within the triangle system, which may be taking a backseat with Phil Jackson out as team president.

The Knicks have every reason to give Ntilikina as much playing time as possible, and they're going to bring in a vet to start early in the season. But Baker landing more than $4 million a season after just one year in the league has to make him feel confident about his place in the team.