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Portland Trail Blazers: 5 valuable veteran free agents to target in 2020

By Stevie Cozens

LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLORIDA - AUGUST 29: Jared Dudley #10 of the Los Angeles Lakers uses the Hyperice Hypervolt during the third quarter in Game Five of the Western Conference First Round against the Portland Trail Blazers during the 2020 NBA Playoffs at AdventHealth Arena at ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on August 29, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLORIDA - AUGUST 29: Jared Dudley #10 of the Los Angeles Lakers uses the Hyperice Hypervolt during the third quarter in Game Five of the Western Conference First Round against the Portland Trail Blazers during the 2020 NBA Playoffs at AdventHealth Arena at ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on August 29, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Alika Jenner/Getty Images) /

Portland Trail Blazers veteran target two – Aron Baynes

We have touched on Aron Baynes previously in the off-season, and as a backup center, who can stretch the floor well and play great defense, he is one of the best options on the market.

Baynes missed part of the 2019/20 season with an injury, but he still played enough to have a career-best year. He had career highs in almost every statistical category, almost doubling his best points per game – getting to 11.5 per contest.

The 33-year-old Baynes did all this playing for the Phoenix Suns, he was traded there by the Boston Celtics in the 2018/19 season.

Baynes is an Australian National and a traditional big man at six-foot-ten and a stout 260 pounds.

He has played for 4 different teams and has significant playoff experience in the way of a championship with the San Antonio Spurs and a role player with the Boston Celtics.

Baynes is universally known as one of the toughest players in the league. His no-nonsense attitude, combined with great defensive instincts, makes him an excellent backup at the five.

He doesn’t protect the rim as a shot-blocker, but he has great positioning and a seven-foot-two wingspan to deter opponents. Baynes is also great at drawing charges. As an offensive player, he has a developing three-ball, that although it doesn’t look great from a form perspective, it goes in at the rate of 35 percent, on great volume.

You only need to cast your mind back to a game played before the COVID hiatus, where Baynes hit nine three-pointers against the Blazers.

With the likelihood of Hassan Whiteside walking in free agency, the Blazers have no true backup center. If they want a tough big who can shoot it a bit, and has finals experience, then Baynes is their man.

I feel like his market is around $4 – $5 million a year; this is a price I’d be willing to pay for a backup of his stature.