The Phoenix Suns have been a surprisingly decent team in the Western Conference this season, and a big reason for their success has been the play of big man Aron Baynes.
But the Los Angeles Lakers didn't expect Baynes to actually play for the Suns at all.
Phoenix acquired Baynes in a trade with the Boston Celtics on draft night, and according to Shams Charania of The Athletic, the Lakers expected the Suns to buy him out and planned on signing him in free agency if it occurred.
Baynes, who has missed the last couple of games due to a hip injury, has been terrific thus far in 2019-20, averaging 14.5 points, 5.6 rebounds and 3.1 assists over 24 minutes per game while shooting 56.1 percent from the floor, 44.2 percent from three-point range and 71.9 percent from the free-throw line.
The 32-year-old, who played his collegiate basketball at Washington State, went undrafted but eventually landed with the San Antonio Spurs in January 2013.
He spent the first three years of his career with the Spurs but did not begin receiving significant playing time until his third season, when he played in 70 games and registered 6.6 points and 4.5 boards per game.
Following his stint in San Antonio, Baynes linked up with the Detroit Pistons, where he resided for two years and developed a reputation as a terrific defender.
The Aussie then signed with the Celtics as a free agent during the summer of 2017 and went on to actually develop a three-point shot, making him far more useful offensively while remaining a brilliant interior defender.
Baynes owns career averages of 5.7 points and 4.4 rebounds per game.
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