The Toronto Raptors have signed free agent big man Aron Baynes to a two-year, $14.3M deal. It is reportedly a team option for the second year, but that aspect is still unclear. They also signed Chris Boucher to a two-year, $13.5M deal (I do not know about the second year as of this writing).
Shortly after losing Serge Ibaka to The Los Angelos Clippers and Marc Gasol to the Lakers, the Raptors shored up their frontcourt by adding Baynes, a much needed veteran presence to Toronto’s frontcourt, and bringing back Boucher.
Baynes is a big, strong centre coming off a career season in Pheonix — one he started so hot that people thought he should start ahead of Deandre Ayton. He sets hard screens, can space the floor and hit spot-up threes at a decent clip. In his previous season with the Pheonix Suns he averaged career highs of 11.5 points, 5.6 rebounds and 1.6 assists while shooting 58.8 percent from the field and 35.1 from three (4.0 attempts per game).
Baynes is nothing special, and it doesn’t appear that he was the Raptors’ first choice, either. But he brings a lot to the team, including the much-needed ability to stay on the floor. He will likely start ahead of big men Chris Boucher and Dewan Hernandez.
We will see what else the Raptors front office has in mind. They still have a portion of the mid-level exception to spend (roughly $2.5M) and could use a depth wing off the bench.
