Detroit Pistons center Aron Baynes has declined his $6.5 million player-option to become an unrestricted free agent, according to Shams Charania of The Vertical.
The move was one head coach and president Stan Van Gundy had expected long ago, given the praise he's given the Australian international for his level of play, saying he has a starter in his bench unit on a daily basis.
Baynes signed a three-year, $19.5 million deal with the Pistons in July of 2015, with a player option for the third year. By declining this option, Baynes can seek a heftier sum around the league..
Given the big man market for reserve centers, the 6-foot-10 rim defender could get an offer in the neighborhood of $11 million per year, or even more due to the rising salaries with the new collective bargaining agreement.
General manager Jeff Bower said in April the Pistons had prepared for Baynes’ imminent departure by signing another former San Antonio Spurs former player — Boban Marjanovic.
“He has the option to opt out and he’ll have to make that decision. We have the ability to work with that up to a certain point if he does opt out,” Bower told Rod Beard of the Detroit News. “All indications that that could be a challenge for us.
“We’ll have to see when Aron makes the decision. There’s every reason to think that he’s very challenged with being here, but the economic side could kick in very reasonably.”
Baynes' departure could signify a vast amount of minutes for the 7-foot-3 Marjanovic, who was a third-string center last season, but showed his upside during limited minutes on the court.
More than likely, the gentle giant will be the Pistons' backup center this upcoming season, just as they planned when they signed him to a three-year, $21 million contract.
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