Brian Robb on Aron Baynes: ‘It would not surprise me at all if the Boston Celtics had some representation at that workout’

The Boston Celtics are expected to have representation present during Aron Baynes’ free-agent workout in Las Vegas Friday, potentially paving the way for the Australian big man to make his return to the Cs after suffering a spinal cord injury last summer during the Tokyo Olympics when he fell in a bathroom during a game against Italy — this, according to MassLive’s Brian Robb in his latest Boston Celtics Mailbag.

Baynes was traded, along with the 24th overall pick, to the Phoenix Suns in exchange for a first-round pick in the 2020 NBA Draft in the 2019 offseason. He proved to be an ideal fill-in for Deandre Ayton, who missed the first 25 games, in Phoenix before struggling on the Toronto Raptors with a sharp drop-off in long-range shooting and efficiency in general for a struggling team playing away from home in Tampa Bay.

Along with Al Horford’s free-agent signing with the Philadelphia 76ers, Baynes’ departure opened up a gaping hole on the depth chart at the center spot that wasn’t yet filled again until this past season. It took trial and error with bigs like Enes Kanter, Tristan Thompson, and Daniel Theis (twice) before the team was able to settle on the two-man power trip of Horford and Robert Williams. Still, behind them, the only current center option is Luke Kornet.

Baynes has the chance to once again serve a need on the Cs in 2022-23, and Boston Celtics President of Basketball Operations Brad Stevens does tend to favor guys that once played for him as a head coach. Luckily, per Robb, the team is expected to have full representation at his workout:

"“I’ve heard that several members of the Celtics front office have already made the trip to Las Vegas for the start of Summer League including Brad Stevens so it would not surprise me at all if they had some representation at that workout.”"

Aron Baynes would be the perfect low-risk addition for the Boston Celtics

Kelly Olynyk has been floated out as a potential trade addition via the Evan Fournier TPE this offseason in case Thomas Bryant chose the Los Angeles Lakers as his free agent destination. As it turns out, the Washington Wizards’ free agent big man and the Lakers couldn’t pass up the chance to print more jerseys with the name ‘Bryant’ on the back, putting the Olynyk possibility back on the table.

While bringing Olynyk back would make for both another great Stevens redemption arc, signing Baynes for the same purpose would save the team money and avoid an even greater luxury tax bill. Plus, it’d give the team an emotional lift after Baynes’ career was called into question following his scary spinal cord injury.