Aron Baynes

Aron Baynes
PF/C - 6’10, 260lbs - 31 years old - 6 years of experience

Right when we are supposed to be eschewing the value of post players, in comes Baynes to play a key role on a contending team. Apart from the random three-point shooting stretch he went on in the postseason (a logical development from the elbow/foul line jumpers he has incorporated more and more of as a pro), Baynes is a burly big with a pure post game on either end. It turns out the very thing we are supposed to be steering away from can actually be quite valuable.

It works for Baynes on account of his ability to defend the perimeter quite well for a man who looks as though he shouldn’t be able. Baynes’s decent perimeter footwork combine with his interior willingness to hit everybody and a commitment to boxing out to make for a very effective defensive role player who intangibly makes the entire defensive unit function better when he is in. He can play straight up or he can switch, a versatile weapon in a league demanding defensive versatility. And if the foul rates are a bit too high, that’s fine anyway from a limited minute spot-starter.

Offensively, Baynes is still limited. His non-dunk finishes at the rim are below par, his hooks do not bring you back, he tends to get stripped, and he still does not create anything. The jumper helps and he is not a non-factor offensively, but he is someone to help off of. So be it, though.

If Baynes were to re-sign to back up Horford next season, I don’t think anyone would have a bad thing to say about that.

Player Plan: Expiring $4.328 million contract. It would be good to get him back if payroll permitted, yet the priorities are elsewhere, and he may get more elsewhere. Daniel Theis could in theory take over the role, and Guerschon Yabusele has to get minutes eventually. Nevertheless, using the non-Bird rights, ask the question.

Aron Baynes
C, 6’10, 260lbs, 30 years old, 5 years of experience

Rebounding and usage rates went down, but still effective in his role - physical, aggressive, screener, fouler, occasional finisher. Baynes is annoying, which is a virtue, and while his inabilities to shoot, dribble or catch will keep him at the backup level, he is plenty solid in it. An important counter-punch to Drummond.

Player Plan: Has declined a player option for $6.5 million. If he were to re-sign at that price, having him and Marjanovic means spending a combined $13.5 million spent on back-up centre. Baynes fulfils an important role for a good price, but money is tight, so ought both stay?

San Antonio­ - Aron Baynes: All of one month older than N'Diaye, Baynes showed in his two games on assignment with the Austin Toros how much he has improved as a professional. He averaged 28 points, 9 rebounds, 5.5 assists, 2 steals and 2 blocks per game, a defensive presence despite not having the ideal physical tools for the job, and an inside/outside offensive player. However, it has yet to translate to the NBA. Without the speed, maybe he is destined to be a cusper.

- Aron Baynes

Washington State graduate Baynes had a God awful summer league with the L.A. Lakers. In 57 minutes of 5 games, Baynes totalled 10 points, 14 rebounds, 22 fouls and 7 turnovers, while shooting 5-22 from the field and 0-2 from the foul line. Something went well, though, as he went on to join Lithuanian team Lietuvos Rytas. There's absolutely no money in Lithuanian basketball right now, and Lietuvos are no exception even after winning the Eurocup last season, but they're a Euroleague team this year so the exposure is self-evident.

However, the exposure is not helping; Baynes continues to struggle in his first professional season. In the Baltic league, he's averaging 11.1 points, 5.9 rebounds and 1.3 blocks in 17 mpg; in the Lithuanian league, he's averaging 10.2 points, 5.3 rebounds and 0.7 blocks in 15 mpg; in the Euroleague, he's averaging 5.6 points, 3.3 rebounds and 1.0 blocks in 13mpg. In that respect, he's doing quite well. But his foul problem from summer league has carried over; he's averaging 3.1 fouls in 15 Lithuania league minutes per game, 3.3 fouls in 17 Baltic league minutes per game, and a whopping 4.1 fouls in 13 Euroleague minutes per game. All three of those competitions have 40 minute games and only 5 fouls before a foulout, and it's not a coincidence that the league with by far the highest standard of play is the one in which he does by far the worst. Baynes has fouled out 7 times this year in a total of 28 games; his minutes played in those games were 19, 10, 20, 15, 12, 13 and 6. And he's not Bubba Wellsing it up out there; he starts many games at centre, and Lietuvos rely on him as a big part of their rotation. But because of all the fouls, he can't deliver.

That's a lot of fouls. That's too many fouls. He needs to foul less. This is my analysis.