Aussie big man Aron Baynes is on the move after a draft-day trade between the Boston Celtics and Phoenix Suns.
MORE: Complete list of 2019 NBA draft picks
According to Adrian Wojnarowski, the Celtics will send pick #24 Ty Jerome along with Baynes to the Suns in exchange for a 2020 first-round pick (via the Bucks).
The Suns are sending the Celtics a 2020 first-round pick via the Bucks in Ty Jerome trade, league sources tells @TimBontemps and me. https://t.co/9bD2Q2gnQ5
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 21, 2019
The Suns are acquiring Celtics center Aron Baynes as part of the Ty Jerome trade, league source tells ESPN.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 21, 2019
Last week Baynes exercised his $5.9 million player option for next season with the Celtics, but with the growing doubts around the return of Kyrie Irving and Al Horford, who are both unrestricted free agents, Boston will look to go younger and build around Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown.
The pick acquired in the deal is top-seven-protected in 2020 and unprotected in 2021.
Following the deal, Boston can open up around $26 million in cap space if they renounce everyone not named Terry Rozier. Renouncing Rozier can lift that number to $34 million.
Boston is now sitting at $25.8M in room (factoring in the Terry Rozier hold) after trade with Phoenix. Could increase to $34M without Rozier.
— Bobby Marks (@BobbyMarks42) June 21, 2019
Baynes, 32, appeared in 51 regular-season games (18 starts), averaging 5.6 points and 4.7 rebounds while playing just over 16 minutes per game.
He started in five of Boston's nine playoff contests, averaging 13 minutes per game.
2019 NBA Draft Picks
