Pistons’ Aron Baynes declines player option, becomes unrestricted free agent
By Ryan Love
Detroit Pistons center Aron Baynes has declined his player option for the 2017-18 season. Baynes is opting out of what would have been a $6.5 million deal to stay with the Pistons.
To no one’s surprise, the Detroit Pistons will have a new backup center next season.
According to Shams Charania of The Vertical, Aron Baynes will enter free agency this summer.
Sources: Detroit center Aron Baynes has declined his $6.5 million player option to become an unrestricted free agent.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 20, 2017
Baynes averaged just under six points plus four rebounds per game in two seasons in Detroit. He averaged about 15 minutes per game, but served an important role in games in which Andre Drummond struggled.
Baynes should make well over the $6.5 million he his turning down by becoming an unrestricted free agent. According to Rod Beard of the Detroit News, Baynes will be looking at a pay-day of around $11 million.
It is possible for Detroit to make a new offer to Baynes this offseason, but it is unlikely they would push too hard to bring him back. They don’t have his full Bird rights, meaning they could only offer him 175% of the $6.5 million he made last season, totaling $11.375 maximum first year salary.
As of now, the Pistons still have fan favorite, Boban Marjanovic to backup Drummond next season.
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Marjanovic received considerably more minutes toward the end of last season once the Pistons were all but eliminated from playoff contention. He averaged only eight minutes per game last season, but that number, as well as his other averages more than doubled the last few games of the season.