Boston Celtics Rumors: 3 low-cost free agents C’s could target this offseason

Aron Baynes, C

On last year’s draft night, the Boston Celtics opted to send big man Aron Baynes to the Phoenix Suns in exchange for the team’s 2020 first-round draft pick. Looking back on the deal now, it would appear that the C’s could have certainly used the 6-10, 260 pound Aussie in 2019-20.

We’ve been saying it for virtually the entire season: the Celtics’ center rotation is without a doubt their weakest area on the rotation. While Daniel Theis has, in fact, had himself a nice campaign — averaging 9.3 points, 6.6 rebounds and 1.3 blocks on 57 percent shooting from the floor — it’s quite apparent that they need more than just the German Hammer to man the middle.

Though we know he is very talented and was had at a very cost-efficient price, Enes Kanter has been relatively underwhelming during his first season in Beantown while Robert Williams still seems to be struggling with injuries and, thus, impacts his accumulation of minutes on the hardwood.

Baynes, though not a star by any sense of the word, would have continued to be a serviceable commodity at the pivot for the C’s had he stayed put and not been shipped off last offseason.

On the year, the veteran big finds himself putting up solid averages of 11.5 points and 5.6 rebounds on 48 percent shooting from the field and 35 percent shooting from deep while serving as the backup to the promising young talent Deandre Ayton. However, he also proved to be a revelation for the team during the earlier stages of the season while Ayton served his suspension for violating the league’s anti-drug policy.

Through the first eight games of the season, Baynes saw himself averaging 16.0 points, 5.6 rebounds, 3.3 assists, and 0.9 blocks in 24.9 minutes per game while shooting 58.8 percent from the field and 47.1 percent from deep.

Though things slowly started to wind down as the season progressed the 33-year-old saw himself posting career averages virtually all across the board.

Now, we get it; with his improvements this season, perhaps another team flush with cash might be able to lure Baynes in with a contract the Celtics just couldn’t match. However, with the fact that the center finds himself still praising the players — both old and new — and the organization as a whole, it does leave open the possibility of the big opting to come back to Boston this summer.

Any other offseason, I wouldn’t expect this to be a real possibility. However, this is simply not just any other offseason.

Due to the Coronavirus pandemic, a team’s salary cap in 2020-21 will be severely impacted, which will certainly impact a front office’s spending patterns. Though in recent years a team may have opted to reward Bayne’s career year with a somewhat lucrative payday, this offseason he may find out that the best deal he can receive will be a Mid-Level Exception which any team can offer… including the Boston Celtics.

Not only can offer that, but also familiarity with Stevens’ system. He may also have a shot to start, instead of playing in the shadow of Ayton.

To go the route of a “wait-and-see” one-year MLE deal until the cap spikes back up might be a smart move for Baynes. In turn, it could also end up benefiting the C’s while also having little impact on the impending extension for young star Jayson Tatum.