Former Boston Celtic big man Aron Baynes is heading back to the Eastern Conference, but Celtics fans may be saddened to learn that it will be to join their Atlantic Division Rival Toronto Raptors, per The Athletic’s Shams Charania.
The fan favorite center signed a two-year, $14.3 million deal with the Raptors, who will play the coming season in Tampa, Florida due to COVID-19 concerns in the Canadian government.
Baynes averaged a career-high 11.5 points and 5.6 rebounds per game with his former team, the Phoenix Suns, last season while connecting on an also- career-high 35.1% of his shots from beyond the arc.
Free agent center Aron Baynes has agreed to a two-year, $14.3M deal with the Toronto Raptors, sources tell @TheAthleticNBA @Stadium.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) November 23, 2020
After the departure of Raptors big men Marc Gasol to the Los Angeles Lakers and Serge Ibaka to the Los Angeles Clippers, a spot with Toronto made plenty of sense for both sides.
Boston fans will have to get used to seeing All of Australia suiting up for Canada — though for at least one of those seasons, he’ll be doing it in Florida, just to make for some confusing geography.
