Detroit Pistons: What Aron Baynes Brings

According to Mark Stein of ESPN, the Detroit Pistons are expected to sign New Zealand native Aron Baynes to three-year, $20 million contract. Baynes’ deal includes a player option after two seasons. Baynes, who played last season with the San Antonio Spurs, figures to be the backup center for the Pistons.

Last season, his third in the NBA, the 28-year-old Baynes took advantage of an injury to Tiago Splitter and, with the increased playing time, he improved his averages in points, rebounds and assists. But what can the Pistons expect he will bring to their team?

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Depth

Last season the Pistons did not have much depth behind starting center Andre Drummond. Joel Anthony was the only backup big man remaining on the roster at the end of the regular season. Head coach Stan Van Gundy acknowledged that the lack of depth behind Drummond was a need that the team needed to address in the offseason.

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In an interview with Detroit News, Van Gundy established that he wants to re-sign Anthony along with bringing in another back up big.

“I’m really hoping we can keep Joel here. We can’t negotiate with him yet but I talked to him yesterday and we’ve told him consistently we would like to have him back,” Van Gundy also said in the same interview. “We’re going to sign another guy and we’ll go from there; part of that is competition.”

Baynes is also able stand in as a starter for a few games if Drummond is injured, as he started 17 games for the Spurs last season and during his starts he averaged 9.7 points and 6.5 rebounds. Following Greg Monroe‘s departure to the Bucks, adding depth behind Drummond became a more pressing need and Pistons filled it by signing Baynes.

Finishing Ability

Last season Baynes was a consistent finisher at the rim. When Baynes shot the ball with in 10 feet of the rim, he connected on 59 percent of his shots. Drummond shot just 53 percent on his chances within 10 feet so there will not be as much an offensive drop off when Baynes takes the floor as one might expect.

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Baynes can also finish at the rim with a defender in close proximity. Baynes shot 53 percent on contested shots within two feet of the rim. The previous incumbent in the backup center position, Anthony, shot a putrid 26.3 percent on this type of chance.

Mid-Range Touch

Last season the Pistons had no big man consistently in the rotation who could effectively spread the floor. Baynes adds that dimension to the Pistons offense. While Baynes is not a 3-point shooter, he is one of the best mid-range jump shooters in the game.

Baynes can successfully run pick and pop with Reggie Jackson and Brandon Jennings as he can hit mid-range jumpers off the catch at very respectable 46.3 percent clip. This shooting percentage looks even better when compared with Monroe’s 33 percent or Drummond’s 27 percent on the same type of play.

Also Baynes can hit free throws at 86 percent clip. This percentage would have been first among power forwards and centers on the Pistons last season.

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