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3 thoughts on Joey Baker’s transfer to Michigan Basketball

By Chris Peterson

Jan 25, 2022; Durham, North Carolina, USA; Duke Blue Devils forward Joey Baker (13) reacts after a three-point basket during the first half against the Clemson Tigers at Cameron Indoor Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rob Kinnan-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 25, 2022; Durham, North Carolina, USA; Duke Blue Devils forward Joey Baker (13) reacts after a three-point basket during the first half against the Clemson Tigers at Cameron Indoor Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rob Kinnan-USA TODAY Sports /
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Michigan basketball added its second transfer this offseason as Joey Baker announced his commitment to the Wolverines. Here are three thoughts. 

When Caleb Houstan announced that he wouldn’t be returning to Michigan basketball, the Wolverines had one main objective in the transfer portal: add shooting.

On Friday, that mission was accomplished as Michigan basketball added the commitment of former Duke player Joey Baker, who was a top-40 recruit in high school and a career 38-percent 3-point shooter with the Blue Devils.

He’s a graduate transfer so he shouldn’t have any issues with admissions. It appears as though he entered the portal after May 1, so he would need a waiver to play next season but there doesn’t seem to be any concern about that.

At any rate, it’s a key addition for Michigan basketball and we offer three thoughts.

Wolverines fill a huge need

This team lacked shooting last season and that’s even with Houstan shooting 39 percent from beyond the arc in Big Ten play. Houstan had his moments but he was also inconsistent. His home/road splits were dramatic and that shouldn’t be an issue with Baker.

The upside with Baker is a bit limited. He’s probably not going to start and is best suited for the Duncan Robinson role of sharpshooter off the bench. Yet, he’s going to play more than the 12 minutes he averaged in his career at Duke, and even in those limited minutes, he basically averaged a 3-point field goal per game.

Baker can provide some depth on the wing at 6-foot-6 and could probably play guard or forward, although his defense is a question mark.

Still, if the Wolverines can get about 20 minutes a night out of Baker, it seems like he could make 1.5 3-pointers per game. When you add that to the mix with Jett Howard, Terrance Williams, Jaelin Llewellyn, and Kobe Bufkin, the Wolverines suddenly have shooting.

Baker isn’t a Pete Nance or someone like that, but he can play a key role on this team, and a proven 3-point shooter was exactly what Michigan needed.

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