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Boston Celtics: Is Aron Baynes Losing His Role?

By Joshua Bateman

BOSTON, MA - NOVEMBER 8: Aron Baynes #46 of the Boston Celtics goes up with the ball during the game against the Los Angeles Lakers on November 8, 2017 at the TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images)
BOSTON, MA - NOVEMBER 8: Aron Baynes #46 of the Boston Celtics goes up with the ball during the game against the Los Angeles Lakers on November 8, 2017 at the TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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Aron Baynes is starting to lose his role with the Boston Celtics

Everyone knew that the Boston Celtics were going to have an unsettled rotation this season. When Gordon Hayward went down, it became utter chaos. They had to fight through several other injuries, and it still does not feel like many players can be confident about their roles.

Aron Baynes, however, appears to be on a decline right now. He was a starter before Marcus Morris returned, and was a great interior presence and defender for the Celtics. The problem is that he clearly did not fit the offensive mold of what they are looking for, and there are other great defensive bigs.

The Celtics are realizing that their wings and guards are phenomenal at making up for size problems, and that reduces Baynes’ value tremendously. When you have undersized forwards like Daniel Theis and Semi Ojeleye playing the way they are, there is little reason to play Baynes.

The Celtics are solid at rebounding without him, and they are able to hold the defense together. When that is the case, there is not much more that Baynes can offer. The other bigs are three point shooting threats, and that is vital to a second unit offense that is struggling.

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The Celtics have embraced versatility over traditional size, and Baynes is the lone traditional big on this roster. There will be times when Stevens needs that extra size, but it just is not happening very often right now.

We are getting fewer and fewer reasons to have Baynes in the lineup, and unless some players start declining it will stay that way.

Baynes will still have a role off the bench, because he is trusted on both ends. He will have an impact on defense and can be trusted to hit his open shots. Unfortunately, the Celtics need the floor spacing and shooting of the other bigs more, and with them playing defense so well, it will take a terrible matchup for the Celtics to really need Baynes to take on a big role.

The rotation is probably going to take a long time before it settles properly, and Baynes will still be fighting for that spot. A lot of poeple think the second unit bigs are playing a bit over their head right now, and could come back down to earth, especially on defense.

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If that is the case, then Baynes will become a more prominent figure in the rotation, and get back to playing around 20 minutes per game. If nothing changes, however, then Baynes could gradually see his minutes go down even further.

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