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Boston Celtics: 3 reasons Aron Baynes return is huge for C’s

By Tarringo Basile-vaughan

BOSTON, MA - MAY 3: Aron Baynes #46 of the Boston Celtics looks on during Game Two of the Eastern Conference Second Round of the 2018 NBA Playoffs against the Philadelphia 76ers at TD Garden on May 3, 2018 in Boston, Massachusetts. The Celtics defeat the 76ers 108-103. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
BOSTON, MA - MAY 3: Aron Baynes #46 of the Boston Celtics looks on during Game Two of the Eastern Conference Second Round of the 2018 NBA Playoffs against the Philadelphia 76ers at TD Garden on May 3, 2018 in Boston, Massachusetts. The Celtics defeat the 76ers 108-103. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images)
(Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) /

The Boston Celtics began NBA free agency on July 1 with the re-signing of one of their own unrestricted free agents, Aron Baynes.

Tommy Heinsohn rejoice! All of Australia is returning to the Boston Celtics.  As first reported by Shams Charania of Yahoo Sports at the start of NBA Free Agency Sunday morning, the team has agreed to a two-year, $11 million deal with free-agent center Aron Baynes.

There is not much of a surprise here.  Baynes, who averaged 6.0 points and 5.4 rebounds with the Celtics in 2017, expressed his desire to return to the team.  The team also expressed the importance of re-signing the big man.

Wasting no time at the start of free agency, both sides got it done which led to a very pumped up Aron Baynes.

He tweeted after the announcement of the signing:

"“Staying where I wanted to be!! Last year added fuel to the (fire emoji) bleed green banner 18.”"

As part of a team that advanced to Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Finals, Baynes could smell the blood of an NBA championship.  He showed it by the enthusiasm expressed in the tweet above just as much as he showed it on the court last season with his gritty and tough defensive play, particularly in the playoffs.

With the return of Gordon Hayward and Kyrie Irving, re-signing a player who averages just under 6.0 per game in his career may not seem that big of a deal, but on a team with championship aspirations, Aron Baynes is a huge piece for the Celtics for the following three reasons.

Valuable post defender 

Despite the many times he was posterized last season, Baynes gave the Celtics the toughness below the rim they were desperately in search of.  With his 5.4 rebounds in 18.3 minutes of play, he proved to be a big banging body doing all the dirty work below.

With a high defensive rating and an ability to protect the rim, the 31-year-old big man proved his value going up against Philadelphia 76ers big man Joel Embiid in the playoffs.  He didn’t completely stop the talented center, but he put enough body on him to slow him down at times.

Baynes’ value also showed against the Cleveland Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference Finals.  With the way Tristian Thompson and the Cavs bullied the Celtics down low the year prior, a player like Baynes was needed to provide some presence.

He showed that presence with some tough interior defense and hustle that quickly showed Cleveland the Boston Celtics weren’t going to be physically dominated this time around.

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