Celtics Trade Veteran Big Man Aron Baynes to the Suns
By Scott Rogust
Tonight's NBA Draft saw numerous trades throughout the first round, and one of those involved the Boston Celtics, who are slowly but surely setting themselves up to look a heck of a lot different next year.
According to NBA insider Adrian Wojnarowski, the C's are trading veteran center Aron Baynes to the Phoenix Suns along with No. 24 pick Ty Jerome out of Virginia. In exchange, the Suns are sending the Milwaukee Bucks' 2020 first rounder (a top-seven protected pick) back to Boston.
The Suns are acquiring Celtics center Aron Baynes as part of the Ty Jerome trade, league source tells ESPN.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 21, 2019
Baynes has been with the Celtics for the past two seasons, starting in 82 regular season and 17 playoff games. During his tenure with Boston, Baynes has averaged 5.8 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 1.1 assists.
Ironically, Baynes had just opted into the final year of his Boston contract. However, with the uncertainty surrounding the statuses of Kyrie Irving and Al Horford, Baynes is understood to have requested a trade. Danny Ainge and Co. obliged, as it provides them the opportunity to clear up additional cap space.
Boston has offered center Aron Baynes -- $5.4M expiring contract -- into salary cap space elsewhere, league sources tell ESPN. Without Kyrie Irving and Al Horford on the books, moving Baynes without taking back salary could get the Celtics to $23M in space.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 20, 2019
Boston was rather active throughout the NBA Draft as they prepare for life without Irving and Horford, who are both increasingly expected to depart in free agency. As for Phoenix, they have a veteran big man to pair alongside their youthful corps of wing players.