BIG MAN BAYNES BAGS RAPTORS MOVE
BOOMERS big man Aron Baynes has agreed to a twoyear, $ 19.5 million deal with the Toronto Raptors as the NBA free agency madness continues.
Baynes links with the Raptors following a season with the Phoenix Suns where he averaged 11.5 points and 5.6 rebounds in 42 games.
The proud Queenslander will provide Toronto with valuable presence in the paint after the franchise lost
key bigs Serge Ibaka and Marc Gasol to the Clippers and Lakers respectively.
Baynes is looking forward to an uninterrupted season following a frustrating year when he tested positive to the coronavirus in July.
He was eventually cleared, but he had to endure a month- long battle where he was forced to isolate away from his wife and children.
“The first few nights were the scariest for me because at that point I was also putting my family at risk,” Baynes
told The Athletic.
“Once that first test came back positive, I went into isolation from everyone. I was in the house, but I was isolated in a separate room.
“The wife would drop off food for me.”
Prior to the NBA shutdown in early March, Baynes was averaging careerbest numbers at Phoenix with 11.5 points, 5.6 rebounds and 1.6 assists.
Meanwhile, former Sydney King and NBL First Team forward Jae‘ Sean Tate
is poised to sign a three- year deal to join ex- Kings coach Will Weaver at the Rockets.
Kings swingman Brad Newley isn’t surprised that Tate has made the NBA after seeing his devotion.
“All that work ethic started here at the Kings,” said Newley, who was selected by Houston with the 54th pick in the 2007 NBA draft.
“He saw the direction we were going with the strength and conditioning and the steps we took to get it as part of our program.”