Isn’t it great to be back at work?!?! Ahhhh, the smell of the grindstone on my delicate nose skin! I wish every day was the Tuesday after a three-day weekend.
If you’re one of those ne’er-do-wells who didn’t spend the July 4 recess in front of one or more information rectangles, I will now inform you that Maryland alum Steve Blake agreed to terms with the Los Angeles Lakers Friday for a crisp $16 million over four years. This is good for Blake because the Lakers have gained something of a reputation for doing good at basketball. It’s good for the Lakers because he’ll be a rock-solid backup for Derek Fisher and probably spells the end of significant PT for Jordan Farmar and Sasha Vujacic. And if that wasn’t enough, Blake has the Ron Artest Seal of Approval. We all win here.
It’s interesting to look back on how the 2002 Terps have fared at the highest level of hoops. Juan Dixon had his moments in the NBA, but currently is playing overseas — or at least he was until he tested positive for performance enhancers (he’s now awaiting an eligibility ruling). Lonny Baxter played sparingly over four seasons and was out of the league by mid-decade — perhaps the biggest pro disappointment of the group. Byron Mouton, Ryan Randle, Tahj Holden, and Drew Nicholas never broke in. Chris Wilcox, who cut the most tantalizing NBA profile, just exercised a $3 million option to remain with the Detroit Pistons for another season. It’s been a solid run for Wilcox, but his 4.5 points and 3.4 rebounds in 34 games last season didn’t exactly light up the phones in Joe Dumars’ office, and represent his lowest and second-lowest averages in those respective categories since his rookie campaign.
For comparison’s sake, here are the career stats of the four players who spent time in the NBA after the Terps’ 2002 championship:
Steve Blake: 499 games, 25.7 mpg, 7.5 ppg, 2.1 rpg, 4.3 apg, 1.46 TOs
Chris Wilcox: 482 games, 21.1 mpg, 9 ppg, 5.2 rpg, 0.8 apg, 1.24 TOs
Juan Dixon: 436 games, 19.5 mpg, 8.4 ppg, 1.9 rpg, 1.8 apg, 1.27 TOs
Lonny Baxter: 162 games, 11.6 mpg, 3.9 ppg, 2.9 rpg, 0.2 apg, 0.67 TOs
Where Wilcox never quite converted his potential, Blake has developed his niche as a steady floor general who garners respect through good old-fashioned sweat and guts (an image underscored by his penchant for working out with UFC fighters). He had a clean 4:1 assist-to-turnover ratio last year and hits 40 percent from three. If that’s not a championship-caliber backup point guard, then…well, whatever, he’s a championship-caliber backup point guard. Here’s hoping he gets a ring in L.A. He’s earned it.
