Boston Celtics: 3 former C’s that would have been helpful this year
By Mark Nilon
Aron Baynes, C (Celtics tenure: 2017 – 2019)
Next up, we have a talent who plays a position that has been their biggest question mark all throughout the 2019-20 campaign.
Aron Baynes, now with the Phoenix Suns, was traded on draft night last June in exchange for the rights to the Milwaukee Bucks’ First-Round pick in this upcoming draft. And, while draft capital is always a valuable asset to have, the Boston Celtics hold the rights to a ton of them already.
Their future seems pretty set with the way things look. What they could use now, is an asset that could help them in the present.
Baynes could have been exactly that this year.
Playing 42 games for the Suns the Australian center is putting up 11.5 points, 5.6 rebound and a half a block per game on 48 percent shooting from the field and 35 percent shooting from beyond the arc in 22 minutes a night.
While serving primarily as the team’s backup five, during the 25 game suspension of typical starter Deandre Ayton, Baynes filled in at this slot and performed quite well as we as Celtics faithful have seen him play many a time.
At 6-10, 260 pounds the 33 year old would have easily been the starting center for Boston this season. No disrespect to current starter Daniel Theis, but with Baynes’ size coupled with his skill set he would have been the obvious choice for coach Stevens to roll out in the starting lineup.
Heck, even if he didn’t end up earning the starting gig, just having the veteran in tow would be a much needed strength at a position that many fear could hold them back from reaching their full potential come the postseason — if there ever is one.
He would serve as a big bodied presence down low who can grab boards, make a defender second guess themselves when driving and space the floor with his much improved 3-point stroke.
The worst part about this is his departure didn’t need to happen. Boston’s brass made it happen.
Despite the team getting away with the front court rotation they currently have, perhaps it would have been wise to keep the burly big around.