Aron Baynes agrees to 1-year, $4.3M deal with the Celtics

[KGBirdBias]

I remember when Stevens was at Butler, his teams were always physical in the lane. I still remember saying, it's hard to get anything inside and they just wear you down physically when all the rubs, bumps and there's not room to drive.

Well it's looking like that style is back. Good signing, Baynes doesn't need the ball. I'd say we upgraded from Amir and KO to Morris and Baynes is a good trade off of bigs.

[TheSundanceKid]

60 wins is a bit much to expect from this team. I think only the Hawks have managed that since the big 3 era, Lebron teams aside.

I think we finish about where we did last year, maybe a win or two higher. 55 wins sounds about right. It could be enough for us to get the 1 seed again which I think will be particularly important for us. Washington and the Cavs meeting in the 2nd round would be good news for us.

[Eja117]

Coulda had Jahil Okafor. Instead we got this 31 year old

How does signing Baynes rule out Okafor? Unless you think Okafor is going to be waived/bought out and then sign for the room exception, they're totally unrelated

Has there been recent talk about getting Okafor that I've missed?  Not sure who on the current roster I'd want to part with for JO.

There is literally nobody on this roster that I'd part with for Okafor.

Keep him away.

Right. We have the great Aaron Baynes now. I keep forgetting

[vjcsmoke]

A bit underwhelming... but Baynes should give us size and rebounding.  I guess our FA shopping is done for now unless we can get some vet min guys later on.

Realistic win total is 55.

60 is not out of reach but feels optimistic for a team that has had quite a bit of turnover this offseason.  We might be more talented than 55W but that's around what I expect.  Players will need time to settle in to the system and get used to each other.  And you cant account for injuries although I'm hoping we keep those to a minimum.

[gouki88]

Coulda had Jahil Okafor. Instead we got this 31 year old

How does signing Baynes rule out Okafor? Unless you think Okafor is going to be waived/bought out and then sign for the room exception, they're totally unrelated

Has there been recent talk about getting Okafor that I've missed?  Not sure who on the current roster I'd want to part with for JO.

There is literally nobody on this roster that I'd part with for Okafor.

Keep him away.

Right. We have the great Aaron Baynes now. I keep forgetting

Before we got Baynes I would've said the same thing. Okafor is a pile of garbage.

[Ogaju]

saw that video of Baynes looks like nobody wants to deal with him in the paint. He is a bone crusher. Looks like hey may have grown up playing Australian rules football or rugby,

Just when I noted the need for some 'nasty' Danny goes out and gets some nasties.

[nickagneta]

Good signing. Suggested Baynes as a target several times. With these moves I think we are definitely slightly better than last year. I see 55-57 wins but a tougher team to beat in a 7 game series.

[SHAQATTACK]

Tristin Thompson ..job just got a tad more difficult .....no more KO and Zeller to intimidate ..

I d say TT might should  start wearing a mouthpiece if he doesn't already

Morris and Baynes not scared of Thompson one bit.  And they should tuffen up Zizic a bit too ....three guys to knock Lebrons teeth loose should he venture into the paint.


HI LeBron ...meet the new Celtics .....no more Mr Nice Guy Club

[KGBirdBias]

I wish we could bring Jerebko back. He doesn't mind doing dirty work.

[Roy H.]

Among guys playing 1000 minutes, Baynes was:

#3 in the NBA in "screen assists" per minute;

#4 (tied) in the NBA in charges taken per minute;

#12 in the NBA in contested 2PT shots per minute

Those are very impressive "little things" that help win games.

[Scintan]

the C's got much better.

Did they make some move nobody knows about?  Without that, the idea that they got much better seems..... overly optimistic.

Yes, adding one of the more versatile All-Stars (from the West NO LESS) in Hayward, and Morris (an upgrade from a degenerating Amir), now Baynes (one of the BEST backup centers in the entire NBA!!), and Tatum are ALL downgrades or moves that NOBODY KNOWS ABOUT:-)))))))))

And I did not even mention Nader, Yabusele, Semi, and Zizic.

Smitty77

They've added 2 mediocre "bigs", in place of other mediocre "bigs".  They've added 2nd round and previously stashed players who've shown nothing in the NBA. 

Outside of that, they've swapped Hayward for Bradley, which improves offensive consistency, but is a huge drop defensively.  So, yeah, the idea that the team is much better is overly optimistic, IMO, at this point.

[Ogaju]

He brings the same type of intensity that Deladova gave the Cavs when they beat GSW last year. Sometimes gritty play by a player is the difference on evenly matched teams.

[Ogaju]

the C's got much better.

Did they make some move nobody knows about?  Without that, the idea that they got much better seems..... overly optimistic.

Yes, adding one of the more versatile All-Stars (from the West NO LESS) in Hayward, and Morris (an upgrade from a degenerating Amir), now Baynes (one of the BEST backup centers in the entire NBA!!), and Tatum are ALL downgrades or moves that NOBODY KNOWS ABOUT:-)))))))))

And I did not even mention Nader, Yabusele, Semi, and Zizic.

Smitty77

They've added 2 mediocre "bigs", in place of other mediocre "bigs".  They've added 2nd round and previously stashed players who've shown nothing in the NBA. 

Outside of that, they've swapped Hayward for Bradley, which improves offensive consistency, but is a huge drop defensively.  So, yeah, the idea that the team is much better is overly optimistic, at this point.

the team has added size and intensity. Yes, the team is much better.

[SCeltic34]

Always liked Aron Baynes.  Physical in the paint and gives the C's a much needed presence in the middle.  He finished 4th quarters in place of Drummond in some cases due to Drummond's inability to put forth consistent effort and make free throws.

[gouki88]

the C's got much better.

Did they make some move nobody knows about?  Without that, the idea that they got much better seems..... overly optimistic.

Yes, adding one of the more versatile All-Stars (from the West NO LESS) in Hayward, and Morris (an upgrade from a degenerating Amir), now Baynes (one of the BEST backup centers in the entire NBA!!), and Tatum are ALL downgrades or moves that NOBODY KNOWS ABOUT:-)))))))))

And I did not even mention Nader, Yabusele, Semi, and Zizic.

Smitty77

They've added 2 mediocre "bigs", in place of other mediocre "bigs".  They've added 2nd round and previously stashed players who've shown nothing in the NBA. 

Outside of that, they've swapped Hayward for Bradley, which improves offensive consistency, but is a huge drop defensively.  So, yeah, the idea that the team is much better is overly optimistic, at this point.

They replaced a declining old guy who wasn't even being played at the end of the season with one of the toughest and most consistently underrated bigs in the league.

They replaced KO with a Morris twin, who is almost 1/3 of the price of KO.

And to say that adding Hayward for Bradley merely improves offensive consistency is ridiculous. GH is on the same tier of player as PG13 easily, and is also a good defender of wings.

It's absurd to say we're not much better than we were last season.