{"id":714648,"date":"2017-07-10T10:32:11","date_gmt":"2017-07-10T14:32:11","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/thesportsdaily.com\/?p=714648"},"modified":"2017-07-10T10:32:11","modified_gmt":"2017-07-10T14:32:11","slug":"your-morning-dump-where-aron-baynes-is-exactly-what-the-celtics-need","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thesportsdaily.com\/news\/your-morning-dump-where-aron-baynes-is-exactly-what-the-celtics-need\/","title":{"rendered":"Your Morning Dump… Where Aron Baynes is Exactly What the Celtics Need"},"content":{"rendered":"

Every morning, we compile the links of the day and dump them here\u2026 highlighting the big story line. Because there\u2019s nothing quite as satisfying as a good morning dump.<\/i><\/p>\n

As first reported by The Vertical’s Shams Charania, Aron Baynes agreed to a one-year, $4.3 million contract with the Celtics.<\/p>\n

With only the room mid-level exception to offer, the Celtics weren’t going to to lure an All-Star talent in the middle. But in Baynes, they found a solid big man to rebound, throw his body around and soak up minutes. The additional frontcourt depth is critical. Boston will likely unleash a lot of small lineups, but needed a bigger, reliable dude. At 6-foot-10, 260 pounds, Baynes fits the bill.<\/p>\n

He should immediately walk into Boston as the team’s best rebounder. According to Basketball-Reference.com, Kelly Olynyk led the Celtics with a 13.1-percent rebound rate last season. Baynes checked in at 15.6 percent — and that was actually his lowest mark since his rookie season. He’ll grab a lot of boards.<\/p>\n

MassLive<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Quite simply, this was the perfect signing for Danny Ainge. Aron Baynes is a hyper-physical player who crashes the glass, hits mid-range jumpers, has touch around the rim, and holds his own in the post.<\/p>\n

Some background on Baynes: he was born in New Zealand but grew up in Australia. The 30 year-old is entering his sixth season after playing three years with San Antonio (winning a championship in 2014) and two with Detroit. He averaged just over 15 minutes per game for the past three seasons and never missed significant time due to injury.<\/p>\n

Baynes is an outstanding free throw shooter (81 percent for his career) and a capable mid-range shooter (hit 52 percent of shots from 10-16 feet last season). Last season, he rebounded 21 percent of available defensive rebounds and 10 percent of available offensive rebounds — both above-average marks for a center. He joins a Celtics team desperate for rebounding help.<\/p>\n

He emerged on the scene during the 2013 playoffs when the Spurs swept the Lakers in the first round. In game four, he started in place of Tiago Splitter, and limited Dwight Howard — considered the NBA’s best center at the time — to seven points over three quarters. Howard was eventually ejected<\/a> from the game, and was never again seen in a Laker uniform. His physical post-defense bothered Howard throughout that game and series.<\/p>\n

Baynes signed a three year deal with Detroit after winning a ring with the Spurs. He was expected to be the primary back up to Andre Drummond, but Detroit would later sign Boban\u00a0Marjanovic and Jon Leuer, while drafting Henry Ellenson, creating a crowded big-man rotation in the motor city.<\/p>\n

He turned down a $6.5 million player option to sign a one year $4.3 million deal with Boston. It’s rare for a fringe rotation player to turn down that type of bread, but it makes more sense when considering the situation of his agent, Marc Fleisher. According to RealGM.com<\/a>, Baynes is the only active player who Fleisher represents. They saw an opportunity in Boston for more playing time, and thought they could make up the $2.2 million loss during next summer’s free agency, given Baynes has a bigger role in Boston.<\/p>\n

In a strange subplot, Josh Horford — brother of Al — was not a fan of the signing:<\/p>\n

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Nothing against Baynes. Just think a veteran who has proven himself or has playoff experience would benefit the team greatly.<\/p>\n

— Big Bad \ud83d\udd7a\ud83c\udfff (@JoshHorford) July 9, 2017<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n