So Apparently, Baynes Might Play With The Suns & Not Get Bought Out. Umm DANNY!?

[boscel33]

I can only get so upset about where multimillionaires have to play to earn their money. Phoenix is great in the winter. Hopefully, we'll all forget about this when either Vucevic, Adams, Capela, or Towns is a Celtic.

For those who have paid attention over the past four years or so, you know my feelings toward Jaylen.  That said, if we could deal him for Towns, I am all for it!

[Walker Wiggle]

We'll have to wait until this trade is finalized to hear from Ainge and company how this went down. I'm sure the local media will be eager to ask the question.

[CelticsElite]

Can't believe this petty topic has 3 pages of discussion lol

[Mahk E Mahk]

There's no way I believe Phoenix won't buy out Baynes eventually if he wants them too.

They bought out Tyson Chandler and Austin Rivers last year, both capable vets.  Bought out Greg Monroe the year before.

It was believed they signed Trevor Ariza last year with the understanding they wanted him for a vet presence, but then would trade him or buy him out in the 2nd half of the year (which they did).

If anything I think that's what they'll do with Baynes.  Keep him for the first half of the year, try to trade him to a playoff team for an asset, then waive him if they can't, freeing Baynes to sign with any team he wants before the 3/1 deadline.

Baynes is not in a bad situation.

regardless of what happens, no player in the nba is in a bad situation.

[philr13]

There's no way I believe Phoenix won't buy out Baynes eventually if he wants them too.

They bought out Tyson Chandler and Austin Rivers last year, both capable vets.  Bought out Greg Monroe the year before.

It was believed they signed Trevor Ariza last year with the understanding they wanted him for a vet presence, but then would trade him or buy him out in the 2nd half of the year (which they did).

If anything I think that's what they'll do with Baynes.  Keep him for the first half of the year, try to trade him to a playoff team for an asset, then waive him if they can't, freeing Baynes to sign with any team he wants before the 3/1 deadline.

Baynes is not in a bad situation.

regardless of what happens, no player in the nba is in a bad situation.

I agree. If Baynes was really preoccupied with playing for a contender, he could have simply asked Horford what his plans were before opting-in. That's really the only thing that changed.

It's been reported that Boston made him available to contenders but there were no takers. That's not surprising as few contenders have cap space. Baynes is an adult. He'll take care of himself.

People never hesitate to say derogatory things about Danny Ainge. Tree Rollins bit his hand and Danny got the called a "biter". Ainge trades a player and he's "cold blooded". The guy's just doing his job.

[PhoSita]

Baynes had to know when he opted in that there was no guarantee of the circumstances he'd be opting into.  There was no guarantee of Kyrie and Horford returning.

A player is not entitled to getting traded to the situation he prefers just as the team is not entitled to a player opting into the last year of a deal if the price for the deal is what the team would prefer to pay.

[mr. dee]

Sending Baynes to Phoenix isn't exactly a bad faith. I mean Baynes is hurt and Suns are renowned for their very good medical staff. He can recover there fully then sign into contender later.

[ozgod]

I think this situation just reinforces for everyone - players, fans, front office - the NBA is a business. Players are commodities that can be traded or released at any time. Players can choose to leave in free agency to find a deal that's better for them. As fans we are loyal to a team, we don't really have a financial stake per se (we have an enjoyment stake). We expect players to be loyal to our team and for our team to be loyal to players who were loyal to it or who added value to it. That's what fans do.

But it's a business. Ainge was within his rights to trade Baynes as the circumstances changed. Just as Kyrie and Al are entitled to leave to find what they think are greener pastures elsewhere. I don't hold a grudge against Kyrie and Al for rejecting us any more than I hold a grudge against Danny for trading away Baynes, or IT, or anyone else he has shipped out to try and make the team better. Players are entitled to go where they want to go, to make business decisions in their best interest, it's Danny's job to convince them to stay, and to re-shape the team as needed. Kyrie and Al decided they didn't want to be here, so be it. Danny decided Baynes was better elsewhere, even if he had opted in a few days earlier, so be it.

The perception though, that's a different thing. Perception isn't always tethered to facts. And doing this probably adds to the perception that Ainge is cold-blooded, that he would trade his mother if he could get AD in return for her. Does that factor into the thinking of free agents who we try and attract here? Maybe, maybe not. I doubt Ainge is losing any sleep over it though.

[chambers]

Baynes opted into his deal believing he could be on a contender and have a role on this team. Obviously things changed after that, and I'm sure there was mutual agreement that Baynes could get traded later since it didn't look like we'd be a true title threat ourselves, and he preferred it to be with a contender.

And yet, they essentially salary dump him to the Suns??

Yikes. That just adds another dimension to the idea that Ainge is cold-blooded and that future FA's will become even more wary of coming to Boston. I think if Baynes opted-out, he could have gotten slightly more money elsehwere, even on a contending team.

According to a handful of local Suns reporters/sources, it doesn't look like Baynes will get bought out and he'll have a role on that Suns team. This goes against what Keith Smith had tweeted last night.

We may have 35M+ in cap space but this latest trade kind of makes recruiting a bit tougher IMO.

how do you know this?

I think the circumstances changed once Kyrie and Horford decided to leave...

[MaxAMillion]

There's no way I believe Phoenix won't buy out Baynes eventually if he wants them too.

They bought out Tyson Chandler and Austin Rivers last year, both capable vets.  Bought out Greg Monroe the year before.

It was believed they signed Trevor Ariza last year with the understanding they wanted him for a vet presence, but then would trade him or buy him out in the 2nd half of the year (which they did).

If anything I think that's what they'll do with Baynes.  Keep him for the first half of the year, try to trade him to a playoff team for an asset, then waive him if they can't, freeing Baynes to sign with any team he wants before the 3/1 deadline.

Baynes is not in a bad situation.

regardless of what happens, no player in the nba is in a bad situation.

Owners are not in a bad situation either. So players shouldn't worry about teams feelings and vice versa.

[NKY fan]

Question to the cba gurus? If this trade has already been consummated officially did the Celtics drop bellow the luxury tax line for 2018-19 season ? Was that one of the motivations behind the move?

[droopdog7]

I would expect Phoenix to explore trading him to a contender without the concern of  taking back salary.   

At least a smart team would do that.

Um, then why trade for him in the first place?

[wdleehi]

I would expect Phoenix to explore trading him to a contender without the concern of  taking back salary.   

At least a smart team would do that.

Um, then why trade for him in the first place?

They got a 1st this year vs. the Bucks pick next year.   Now they have a good backup C for a contender on a one year low price contract to sell. 

Boston wanted cap space.  The Suns don't need it yet.  Therefor they could get another building piece and take back salary.