Free-agent centre Aron Baynes has agreed to a two-year, $14.3 million deal with the Toronto Raptors, according to The Athletic’s Shams Charania.
After losing both Serge Ibaka (Los Angeles Clippers) and Marc Gasol (Los Angeles Lakers) in free agency, the Raptors desperately required help in their front court. Nabbing Baynes, at the time of his signing, was arguably the best free-agent move available.
In Baynes, the Raptors get a more than capable veteran defender and a stretch-five who had a career year from behind the arc last season, shooting 35.1 per cent on four attempts per game. He should slot into the team dynamic well, and will find his own game very much alleviated by the presence of a playmaker like Kyle Lowry.
The price at which Toronto signed Baynes also means that their long-term plan (keeping flexibility open for the 2021 off-season) remains solidly in place.
Reports surfaced shortly after the Baynes signing that Toronto was also bringing back big man Chris Boucher, who has spent his last two seasons with the Raptors, and figures to have a bigger role with the team going into the new campaign.
