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Summary

Despite already being 32 years old, Baynes is coming off the best season of his career. Baynes is your classic hard-nosed, athletically-challenged, limited-skill center, but has adapted his game to fit the modern NBA. Baynes is now a legitimate threat from three, and has had some big moments in the playoffs hitting shots for Boston in recent years.

 

Despite not being super long or super athletic, Baynes can provide adequate rim protection if put in the right scheme. He's an intelligent defender and passer, and having that basketball IQ allows him to contribute on both ends.

Cap Considerations

Baynes will be an unrestricted free agent with full Bird rights. As his cap hold ($10.4 million) likely exceeds the salary he will get in free agency, his cap hold is not really relevant. If the Suns re-sign Baynes, his cap hold will be replaced by his starting salary, and the Suns may still have some cap space available depending on his salary and what happens with their other free agents. If Baynes is brought back by the Suns on a multi-year contract, they could benefit from frontloading his contract, as it could give them additional flexibility in the future.

 

If Baynes demands a starting salary of more than the full $9.3 million Non-Taxpayer Mid-Level Exception, only teams with cap space will be able to sign him. However, I expect Baynes to receive somewhere between the Room MLE of $4.8 million and the full Non-Taxpayer MLE of $9.3M.

Potential Teams: Wizards, Raptors, Pelicans, Heat, Suns

Predicted Contract: 2-year, $15 million with the Wizards

Actual Contract: 2-year, $14.3 million (2nd year team option) with the Raptors

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Baynes got similar money to what I expected, and knowing Toronto's aspirations for next summer, it wasn't surprising his contract has a team option for '21-'22.

Last updated: 12/31/2020

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