The Raptors officially announced that they had officially cut the team's center Aaron Baines. Baines is making $7.35 million a year next season, and if the Raptors don't cut him, they'll switch to full coverage. The Raptors once wanted to send him away by trading, but they did not find the next family to take over, and finally chose to cut him.
With a height of 2.08 meters, an arm span of 2.20 meters and a weight of 260 pounds, Baines is a very powerful center. Starting with the 2018-19 season, Baynes developed three-pointers. The 2019-20 season was the peak of Baynes at the Suns, when he averaged 11.5 points, 5.6 rebounds and 1.6 assists per game, shooting 48 percent from the field and 35 percent from three-point range.
Baynes played modestly with the Raptors last season, playing in 53 games, including 31 starts, averaging 18.5 minutes per game, 6.1 points, 5.2 rebounds and 0.9 assists, shooting 44 percent from the field and 26 percent from three-point range. However, the Raptors' situation last season was a mess, and almost all the players did not play at their own level.
Players behave differently in different environments. It's as if Griffin was dead in the Pistons and played well after joining the Nets. Tucker retired from the Rockets last season and became a champion after joining the Bucks.
Now in the NBA, the most popular is Baynes, who can pull out the three-point line outside the shooting center. After Baynes was cut, it immediately attracted the attention of many teams, especially those who did not have much room for the title. Yes, I'm talking about the Lakers and nets.
The Lakers and Nets have only the veteran base salary left in the free agent market. The Lakers' current center configuration is Gasol Jr. and Howard, of course, thick eyebrows can also play 5. But let the thick eyebrow brother play 5, is the Lakers pressure box bottom of the weapon, generally will not be taken out to use. Howard's defensive and pie-eating abilities are top-notch, but on the offensive end he leaves the basket without a threat. Staying under the basket will block the space for Westbrook and James to break through.
Gasol Jr. can open up space, but due to his age, Gasol Jr. can only rely on experience to play on the defensive end. Baynes can both defend, open up space, and play the No. 4 position, which is the perfect center for the Lakers.
Nets centers include Jordan Jr. and Clarkston, and Griffin can also top the No. 5 position. Jordan Jr. has been abandoned by Nash, and has not been sent away only because of his good relationship with the Big Three. Clarkston also doesn't shoot three-pointers, and Griffin mainly plays the No. 4 position, so the Nets also need Baynes.
It is worth mentioning that Baines is currently participating in the Olympic Games with the Australian team in Japan, because he fell and sprained his neck while taking a bath, and his Olympic journey ended. Australia also lost 78-97 to the United States in the semi-finals and missed the final.
Who Baines ended up spending on is a concern. After the opening of the free agent market, the Lakers have signed 8 players such as Ariza, Ellington, Howard, Bazemore, Munch, Nunn, Anthony, and Horton Tucker, and after cutting McKinney, their first team still has 3 places.
The Lakers' backcourt can be 3V3, and the small forward position also has James, Anthony and Ariza. The inside line is only thick eyebrows, Howard and Little Gasol, 2 old, 1 crisp. Industry insiders expect that the Next step for the Lakers is to strengthen the inside line, and Baynes is likely to become their 9th pick.
With The strength of Baines, if it successfully joins the Lakers, it is likely to directly cross Howard and Gasol Jr. to become the Lakers' starting center.
Due to the many veterans in the Lakers, the outside world has different evaluations of this, and many of them are not optimistic about it. James also hit back at the question on social media: "Keep talking about our team, discuss our age, discuss whose way they play, who is often injured, we've been in this league, etc., do me a favor, I mean please, when the season starts, please keep discussing, that's all I ask, thank you." ”
Both Thick-Browed Brother and Westbrook praised James's response to skepticism. The old Ji Futuo is determined to be in a thousand miles; the martyr is in his twilight years and his heart is full of heart. Who dares to say that their group of veterans who are full of pursuits must not succeed?