Boston Celtics free agency: 3 center targets Cs should prioritize for MLE

Aron Baynes

Aron Baynes is a name that has come up quite frequently when it comes to a Boston Celtics reunion. Bleacher Report’s Zach Buckley went as far as to say he is the best free agent the Cs can realistically sign: 

"Daniel Theis, Enes Kanter and Robert Williams III formed a workable center rotation for most of the season, but Boston’s inability to throw length and strength at Bam Adebayo in the Eastern Conference Finals proved a fatal flaw. The Shamrocks could see that missing muscle in a familiar face: Aron Baynes, who played the past two seasons with the franchise and remains a fan from afar. Adding a three-ball to his arsenal powered him to a career-best 18.5 points per 36 minutes, and it means he wouldn’t gunk up the offensive spacing upon a return to the Northeast. Baynes isn’t the sexiest name on the market—Jakob Poeltl and Chris Boucher might be more intriguing ways to address the interior void—but the C’s have all the sizzle they need in Kemba Walker, Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown. Supporting those stars with a blue-collar bruiser could quietly be a best-case scenario for the offseason."

Depending on what you feel about Leonard, Baynes could be the best free agent available to the Celtics. Christian Wood and Danilo Gallinari would be ideal targets for the mid-level, but other contenders like the Los Angeles Lakers and Clippers can offer the full mid-level, which is a substantial difference in this market.

Baynes having success in Boston should help the Cs’ free-agent pitch to the Australian bruiser. Danny Ainge could check off a lot of boxes bringing back Baynes.