Ecstatic Baynes staying put with Celtics
ARON Baynes is staying with the Boston Celtics.
The Australian centre’s new two-year, $US11 million ($A15 million) deal with the Celtics looks cheap compared with the mega-sized contracts signed by superstars Chris Paul, Paul George and Kevin Durant early yesterday morning when the NBA’s free agency opened.
Baynes, however, couldn’t be happier.
The 31-year-old, 208cm Queenslander announced in a shamrock-laden tweet he bled “green” and was determined to help the great NBA franchise achieve its 18th championship.
“Staying where I wanted to be!!” Baynes wrote on Twitter.
“Last year added fuel to the (fire) bleed green banner 18.”
Baynes has become a key member of a Celtics squad that still made the Eastern Conference finals despite losing AllStars Gordon Hayward and Kyrie Irving to injury.
The NBA contract landscape has changed since the recent boom years when Australia’s Joe Ingles (four years, $US52 million with the Jazz), Patty Mills (four years, $US50 million, San Antonio Spurs) and Matthew Dellavedova (four years, $US38.4 million, Milwaukee Bucks) signed huge deals after an increase in the salary cap following the NBA signing a lucrative new broadcast deal. Most teams are now over their salary cap so NBA role players now struggle to secure such big paydays.
LeBron James has yet to announce if he’ll stay with Cleveland. The Los Angeles Lakers and Philadelphia 76ers are the front runners to sign James.