Celtics Trade Rumors: Aron Baynes Being Shopped Ahead of 2019 NBA Draft
June 20, 2019
The Boston Celtics are reportedly shopping center Aron Baynes around ahead of Thursday's 2019 NBA draft.
According to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski, moving the $5.4 million remaining on Baynes' contract without taking back any salary would give the Celtics $23 million in salary-cap space to work with when also taking Kyrie Irving and Al Horford off the books.
Both Irving and Horford are expected to decline their player options for 2019-20 in favor of testing the free-agent market.
SNY's Ian Begley recently reported that teams pursuing Irving believe the Brooklyn Nets are his preferred destination. On Tuesday, Wojnarowski reported Horford will seek a contract with a team other than the Celtics, meaning Boston could lose two of its top players.
The 32-year-old Baynes isn't in the same neighborhood as Irving and Horford in terms of his importance to the Celtics, but he has been productive within his role over the past two seasons.
Injuries limited the Kiwi to 51 games last season, but he made 18 starts and averaged 5.6 points and 4.7 rebounds in 16.1 minutes per contest. When extrapolating Baynes' numbers over 36 minutes, his averages were 12.5 points and 10.5 rebounds.
CJ McCollum and the Blazers Snapped Postseason Losing Streak for "Jennifer"
Jordan, Irving & Paul Invest in Plant-Based Food as Vegetarianism Sweeps NBA
Boogie, Luka and the Rest of the NBA Got Some Wild Techs This Season
Jarrett Allen Is One of the NBA’s Hottest Rim Protectors
Dwyane Wade's Jersey Swaps Created Epic Moments This NBA Season
OKC’s Russell Westbrook Makes NBA History While Honoring Nipsey Hussle
Phoenix Suns' Devin Booker Makes History with Scoring Tear
29 Years Ago Today, Michael Jordan Dropped Career-High 69 Points
Chris Bosh Is Getting His No. 1 Jersey Raised to the Rafters in Miami
Steph Curry Returns to Houston for the First Time Since His Moon Landing Troll
Lou Williams Is Coming for a Repeat of Sixth Man of the Year
Step Aside Lakers, Pat Beverley Has the Clippers Stealing the LA Shine
LeBron Passes Jordan on All-Time Scoring List, Keeps Shredding NBA Record Books
Trae Young's Hot Streak Is Heating Up the ROY Race with Luka Doncic
LeBron James and 2 Chainz Form a Superteam to Release a New Album
Miami Heat Legend Dwyane Wade's #OneLastDance Dominated February
Warriors Fans Go Wild After Unforgettable Moments and Gifts from Steph Curry
Eight Years Ago, the Nuggets Traded Carmelo Anthony to the Knicks
Two Years Ago, the Kings Shipped Superstar DeMarcus Cousins to the Pelicans
The NBA All-Star Game Will Be Competitive Again If the League Raises the Stakes
It is highly unlikely that any team will give the 6'10", 260-pounder much playing time, but with an expiring salary of just $5.4 million, he is an affordable option for a team in need of center depth.
Baynes is the most experienced big left on Boston's roster if Horford leaves, and trading him would task general manager Danny Ainge will filling a major hole in the frontcourt.
Aside from Baynes, the Celtics have raw 2018 first-round pick Robert Williams at center and Guerschon Yabusele at power forward. Marcus Morris is an unrestricted free agent.
Boston has a core of Gordon Hayward, Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown and Marcus Smart, and it could also re-sign restricted free agent Terry Rozier. The bulk of that young core played a significant role in the Celtics reaching Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Finals two seasons ago.
Trading Baynes could open the door for Boston to sign another impact player, but it is difficult to envision the Celtics creating enough cap space to make up for the potential loss of both Irving and Horford.