Pistons have struck verbal agreement w/Aron Baynes

[ducks]

Marc Stein ‏@ESPNSteinLine · 2m2 minutes ago
ESPN sources say Pistons have struck verbal agreement w/Aron Baynes to sign C away from Spurs on three-year deal (player option after YR 2)

[Holden_Caulfield]

i guess lalane is making the roster

[FromWayDowntown]

OMG! Disastrous start to free agency!

[beirmeistr]

if true, maybe they can get West

[Chinook]

Not that I really care about losing Baynes, but it's a curious decision that they didn't tender him. Maybe he threatened to sign the QO if they didn't let him walk?

[hater]

Starting Center for the San Antonio Spurs

http://i.cdn.turner.com/nba/nba/teamsites/images/legacy/spurs/bonner_sh_1_100201_350.jpg

[elemento]

I wonder how much money the Pistons gave him

Good thing for them that it's not Dumars anymore :lol

[024]

Good for Baynes. Really wanted to keep him as a back up big but the Spurs didn't have the means to re-sign him when they are rolling the die with Aldridge.

Spurs are really all in with Aldridge now. If Aldridge doesn't sign, the Spurs will be left with a pretty terrible bench.

[TheGoldStandard]

Wanted security and Spurs wanted flexibility. He will dwell in obscurity and then fade away

[gambit1990]

what up david west?

[SpurPadre]

He was a decent contributor off the bench and wish him well. Hopefully, we can hold onto the other Aussie, tbh.

[palangi]

I'd like to see Aldridge then either Robin Lopez or Bismarck Byombo

[ducks]

Marc Stein ‏@ESPNSteinLine · 38s39 seconds ago
Hearing that the Aron Baynes deal with Detroit is along the lines of Brandan Wright's new pact with Memphis and could rise as high as $20M

[MB20]

Spurs starting C.

:bobo

[crc21209]

Damn....I like Baynes, for a 4th big. Please dont bring back Ayres...

[elemento]

Marc Stein ‏@ESPNSteinLine · 38s39 seconds ago
Hearing that the Aron Baynes deal with Detroit is along the lines of Brandan Wright's new pact with Memphis and could rise as high as $20M

ROFL if that's true

[jeebus]

:lmao giving him $20 million. Pistons FO really is fucking retarded.

[palangi]

Good for Baynes. Really wanted to keep him as a back up big but the Spurs didn't have the means to re-sign him when they are rolling the die with Aldridge.

Spurs are really all in with Aldridge now. If Aldridge doesn't sign, the Spurs will be left with a pretty terrible bench.

I don't think losing Baynes makes our bench bad. Lets not overrate him.

[jyra]

I guess anybody who's considered a rotation player now gets at least $5 million per year..

[loveforthegame]

$20 million for Baynes?? :lol

[cd98]

Baynes leaving is a blow. Not much on the market to replace him at cost efficiency. I'm guessing the Spurs have a back up plan at center for losing both Splitter and Baynes. Hopefully it's better than Bonner and Ayres. We can't expect Tim to be a 35 minute a night center.

[ironman2886]

I like having his size against certain bigs and he improved offensively, but he doesn't sway this team in either direction(contender/pretender.) He's a bruiser, hard worker and is a good guy off the court. Good luck to him.

[timtonymanu]

Gonna be paid more than MVPatty :lol

[FromWayDowntown]

The price reported seems steep for him -- his value certainly seems inflated by virtue of his association with the Spurs -- but absolutely can't blame him at all for taking what he can get.

Snark aside, here's hoping the Banger does well with the Pistons. He seems like a good dude who has worked hard and made himself into an NBA player.

[Mugen]

I mean $20mil for Baynes? Congrats homie but thank god dem Spurs arent paying that :lol

[BackHome]

Well it sure as Hell doesn't make it better!

[ceperez]

I mean $20mil for Baynes? Congrats homie but thank god dem Spurs arent paying that :lol

Well, Baynes was constantly improving his game. Spurs can't afford that money, but I'm glad he got paid for his efforts.

Now Spurs are stuck without a center, if they are going the small ball route, then I want to see some 3 point shooters signed up.

[CGD]

Seems like a fair deal for Baynes. Still likely less than the full MLE this year, and certainly below once the cap rises.

[palangi]

Well it sure as Hell doesn't make it better!

Or worse?

[rjv]

what up david west?


west won't come here if LMA doesn't.

[K...]

Well, he isn't young so he needed money and years. $20 is a post cap rise value contract. I want to call it rich but it's not too far off

[024]

I don't think losing Baynes makes our bench bad. Legs not overrate him.
:lol who is left on the Spurs bench? If Aldridge doesn't sign, Diaw starts. Who will be the first big off the bench? Bonner? Re-sign Ayres? The Spurs bench has been gutted to gamble on Aldridge. All or nothing now.

[Robz4000]

So long Big Banger, you'll be missed.

[hsxvvd]

Can we get in on the Hibbert Salary dump if we miss out on LMA?

[poop]

No splitter or baynes?? Who the fuck is our center now, bonner??? Remember 2009? Our front court is gonna get killed by opposing bigs...we cant have duncan as the only guy anymore. Wtf is the plan? So far the team is weaker now.

[BackHome]

So your OK having Boner and Errors the backup center. Wow

[Mr. Body]

Signs are pointing to an LMA decision. I don't know if the Spurs would let Monroe sign w/o talking to him and Baynes take off without the call being in.

[TheGoldStandard]

Bargs put that box of Tampons down, Spurs are on line 1

http://i58.tinypic.com/34i38ld.jpg

[Aggie Hoopsfan]

:lol at everyone panicking. It's day 2 of free agency, chill out people.

[DesignatedT]

20M wow

[gambit1990]

west won't come here if LMA doesn't.
if he left 12 million to join a contender i'm sure he'd still consider signing with us even if we didn't land lma. and if we didn't it'd mean west would get more money from us. and the warriors can only sign him for the minimum if i'm not mistaken.

[spurraider21]

Signs are pointing to an LMA decision. I don't know if the Spurs would let Monroe sign w/o talking to him and Baynes take off without the call being in.
:lmao as if they have that power

[objective]

Might have to hope that West and Robin Lopez would be willing to split what the spurs have left without Aldridge signing

[MultiTroll]

Pitched in with 101 minutes in 14 games off the bench in the 2014 Playoff Champ run.
That is a sacred contribution.
STFU, do not diss this in any way shape or form.

[703 Spurz]

Now who's going to be on TMZ drunk and having Duncan drop F bombs?

[Obstructed_View]

Good for Aron. Hate to see him leave, but there's not a soul in the Spurs organization whose response to a 20 million dollar offer for Baynes would be anything other than "Good luck in Detroit".

[DJR210]

Breaking: Ayers agrees to 4 year, 20 million deal to stay w/ SA per sources

[Mr. Body]

:lmao as if they have that power

Without a meeting. Look at LMA and meeting with so many teams. There's a reason for this, even if some don't have the greatest shot at landing him: they may see/sign him down the line. If a team like the San Antonio Spurs wanted a meeting with Greg Monroe, he could very well say yes. Guaranteed? Of course not. But they had stated they were thinking about him. No meeting followed.

[baseline bum]

Congrats to Aron man, I couldn't turn down that kind of a contract, especially when the Spurs would have to renounce him to sign Aldridge.

[ceperez]

CoJo is pretty much gone. Teams are paying premium for Spurs young players.

So rotation is pretty slim now:

Parker / Mills
Green / (Ginobili)
Leonard / Anderson
Diaw
(Duncan) / (Bonner)

In (), yet to sign but likely.

Gone (likely).... Splitter, Baynes, Belinelli, Cojo, Ayres, Williams,

[palangi]

:lol who is left on the Spurs bench? If Aldridge doesn't sign, Diaw starts. Who will be the first big off the bench? Bonner? Re-sign Ayres? The Spurs bench has been gutted to gamble on Aldridge. All or nothing now.

Free agency is over?

[cjw]

CoJo is pretty much gone. Teams are paying premium for Spurs young players.

So rotation is pretty slim now:

Parker / Mills
Green / (Ginobili)
Leonard / Anderson
Diaw
(Duncan) / (Bonner)

In (), yet to sign but likely.


Without Aldridge, there's a ton of cap space ... or Bird Rights to resign guys (matching rights on CoJo) + Splitter TPE + mid-level exception.

[palangi]

:lol at everyone panicking. It's day 2 of free agency, chill out people.

It's like there is no self control.

[objective]

Bring on BOBAN ! (www.spurstalk.com/forums/showthread.php?t=248208)

[benstanfield]

If Baynes went for 20 surely Biyombo is out of our price range. What minimum salary vet bigs are out there?

Is Emeka Okafor gonna play next year?
Maybe STAT?
Kosta Koufous?
Perk?
Brandon Bass?
Lavoy Allen?
Chuck Hayes?
Maybe Jordan Hill?

[TheGoldStandard]

If Baynes went for 20 surely Biyombo is out of our price range. What minimum salary vet bigs are out there?

Is Emeka Okafor gonna play next year?
Maybe STAT?
Kosta Koufous?
Perk?
Brandon Bass?
Lavoy Allen?
Chuck Hayes?
Maybe Jordan Hill?

Koufus and Bargs will be what's left over. Pop would never want to have STAT around, not after what he does with wine in the bathtub

[look_at_g_shred]

Jordan Hill for sure.

[ceperez]

Without Aldridge, there's a ton of cap space ... or Bird Rights to resign guys (matching rights on CoJo) + Splitter TPE + mid-level exception.

I want to see some length and shooting as replacements..... West, Bargnani, Rashard Lewis, Teltovic, Caspri

[ceperez]

Jordan Hill for sure.

If he can't space the floor, he's a liability that's going to be exposed. Lakers dumped him for a reason.

[Budkin]

Jeff Errors baby!!!

[wut]

Breaking: Ayers agrees to 4 year, 20 million deal to stay w/ SA per sources
Better be a joke.

[DJR210]

Better be a joke.

It is, I'll kill myself if he signs

[Ibleedslvrnblk]

Well is West is legit to his word, maybe he waits and if LMA comes here he says f it I'll play for free. Sheesh LMA and West happening would blow this place up....

[BillMc]

If that salary is true Baynes will likely make about as much as Duncan this year.

[timvp]

Congrats to Baynes. It was fun watching him to learn to play in the NBA.

I thought he was pretty darn good in the regular season last year. Not as good as Splitter but not a whole lot worse.

But after playing so terribly in the playoffs that Pop was forced to go back to a 25% healthy Splitter, there's just no way he could have been a priority in free agency. The Spurs aren't in position to waste money on a guy who can't be trusted in the postseason.

That said, for his sake I hope he goes the Hedo route and blossoms in a lower stress situation and is able to reach his potential. Baynes has a good chance to become an above average third big with an outside shot of becoming an average starter.

[BillMc]

Congrats to Baynes. It was fun watching him to learn to play in the NBA.

I thought he was pretty darn good in the regular season last year. Not as good as Splitter but not a whole lot worse.

But after playing so terribly in the playoffs that Pop was forced to go back to a 25% healthy Splitter, there's just no way he could have been a priority in free agency. The Spurs aren't in position to waste money on a guy who can't be trusted in the postseason.

That said, for his sake I hope he goes the Hedo route and blossoms in a lower stress situation and is able to reach his potential. Baynes has a good chance to become an above average third big with an outside shot of becoming an average starter.

I remember Baynes playing pretty well in the playoffs against Howard a few years back, but he just couldn't handle the speed of Blake. I wish him well. 20 million...if he's smart with his money, his time with the Spurs allowed him to get the deal to set him up for life.

[Sean Cagney]

Jeff Errors baby!!!

OH GOD PLEAASE NO, the name you posted says it all with him.

[spurraider21]

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Dpp1NGgmI5E/U_41AQ0N7TI/AAAAAAAAAMw/lN2WSeGCDIE/s1600/Jeff%2BPendergraph%2BLas%2BVegas%2BPremiere%2BWarn er%2BbAAbTAAg1Osl.jpg

[Fireball]

Now Ginobili can retire ... nobody to play P&R with tbh

[SnakeBoy]

It is, I'll kill myself if he signs

Better decide how you want to off yourself because the Spurs will sign him for the minimum.

[Duncan2177]

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Dpp1NGgmI5E/U_41AQ0N7TI/AAAAAAAAAMw/lN2WSeGCDIE/s1600/Jeff%2BPendergraph%2BLas%2BVegas%2BPremiere%2BWarn er%2BbAAbTAAg1Osl.jpg

:vomit:

[bigfan]

Good for Baynes, sorry to lose him but that's the way it goes sometime.

[Agloco]

I wonder how much money the Pistons gave him

Good thing for them that it's not Dumars anymore :lol

3/20 I think

[Raven]

good luck to him

[Ocotillo]

While they likely are not ready, there are the stashed guys overseas. Ryan Richards anyone?

[z0sa]

Ohhh my. Sucks for the Spurs. I wasn't feeling bad about Baynes being the backup center at all.

[GSH]

Mozgov didn't look much like an NBA player for his first few years in the league. Not many C's come into the league ready-made. Baynes has the size and strength, and he works hard. He wasn't half bad, all things considered. I think he would have been worth keeping, but not for $20M.

Damn... $20M?

[tholdren]

Lmfao too much money. Jesus. He was shat on in the playoffs. What the hell

[slick'81]

I know spurs almost didn't bring him back last season and now $20 mil ?big banger getting paid

[cjw]

Mid-level exception money for a fourth big at best who will just backup Drummond. Unbelievable, though not much else to spend money on and rising cap.

[Chris]

Good for Aron. Hate to see him leave, but there's not a soul in the Spurs organization whose response to a 20 million dollar offer for Baynes would be anything other than "Good luck in Detroit".

my sentiments as well

[benfti]

To put this into perspective Aron Baynes is the second highest paid Australian in the NBA

[milkyway21]

Spurs planning to play "smallball" all season? :p:

[milkyway21]

Is there a way to get rid of Ayres & Bonner for one decent big?

Hate losing both Baynes & Splitter while seeing the two still on the roster. :(

[Uriel]

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Dpp1NGgmI5E/U_41AQ0N7TI/AAAAAAAAAMw/lN2WSeGCDIE/s1600/Jeff%2BPendergraph%2BLas%2BVegas%2BPremiere%2BWarn er%2BbAAbTAAg1Osl.jpg
That teeth-to-gum ratio. :lol

[Mouth is Bleeding]

Good for Baynes that he is getting (over)paid.

Hope he doesn't injure anyone when we face him.

[wildchild]

Jeff Errors baby!!!

Second day of free agency and he still doesn't receive offers, I wonder why...

[TheGoldStandard]

That teeth-to-gum ratio. :lol


He's got that shit eating grin.. reminds me of Alien. I bet if you cut him instead of acidic blood it'll be shit.

[therealtruth]

Not going to miss him getting posterized repeatedly by Blake Griffin. At some point if you have any pride you've got to foul him hard.

[99 Problems]

Good on ya Baynesy, good luck man.

[kobyz]

20 mil for a backup center who will play like 10mpg, why?

[therealtruth]

Spurs planning to play "smallball" all season? :p:

I think one of the Spurs most underrated lineups is the TP, MG, DG, KL, TD lineup. I saw Pop use it a little bit in the Clippers series but I don't think he used it enough.

[benfti]

20 mil for a backup center who will play like 10mpg, why?
He will probably play 25 a game there.

[21209]

Well is West is legit to his word, maybe he waits and if LMA comes here he says f it I'll play for free. Sheesh LMA and West happening would blow this place up....

Even so, there's still no true center on the roster and it sounds like LMA doesn't want to play the position.

[kobyz]

He will probably play 25 a game there.

25 behind Drummond?

[benfti]

25 behind Drummond?
I can see him being a 4/5 for them. You said it yourself, why pay those dollars for 10 minutes a game

[JamStone]

Personally, I don't like the contract either. But by the second season, a $7M salary will be less than an MLE salary (if it isn't already this upcoming season). If they pick up the 3rd year, a $7M salary will be closer to a veteran bi-annual salary than it will be the MLE. I'd have pursued other options to back up Drummond, preferably a guy who could also play some PF with Drummond. But the amount doesn't bug me. As soon as after next season, the contract will be a nothing contract under the increasing salary caps.

Van Gundy probably realized he couldn't lure any significant free agents to the team. He's made a couple of trades to acquire players. And in free agency, he's just filling holes. Even with Baynes, they still have close to $20 million in cap space this off season. They're going to spend the money somewhere.

[jag]

Personally, I don't like the contract either. But by the second season, a $7M salary will be less than an MLE salary (if it isn't already this upcoming season). If they pick up the 3rd year, a $7M salary will be closer to a veteran bi-annual salary than it will be the MLE. I'd have pursued other options to back up Drummond, preferably a guy who could also play some PF with Drummond. But the amount doesn't bug me. As soon as after next season, the contract will be a nothing contract under the increasing salary caps.

Van Gundy probably realized he couldn't lure any significant free agents to the team. He's made a couple of trades to acquire players. And in free agency, he's just filling holes. Even with Baynes, they still have close to $20 million in cap space this off season. They're going to spend the money somewhere.

Not a great contract, but guys with his qualities, who have been well-coached and have playoff/finals experience are virtually nowhere to be found.

[therealtruth]

I can see him being a 4/5 for them. You said it yourself, why pay those dollars for 10 minutes a game

I doubt it he'll play anything other than backup center. SVG likes to play small ball and only 1 big with a stretch 4. Why do you think he allowed Monroe to leave?

We'll know PATFO plan B if LA doesn't come. Where not having a true center will hurt will be in going against teams with big frontcourts like the Grizzlies.