In a seemingly rapid-fire sequence of events, word spread Sunday night that the Toronto Raptors were losing free agent centre Marc Gasol and signing Aron Baynes.
With Gasol’s departure and Serge Ibaka leaving for the Clippers late Saturday night, Baynes will now step in as the heir apparent to what has been a bedrock spot for the club over the past two seasons.
Joining Baynes in this lofty endeavour will be the slim-but-talented Chris Boucher — who reportedly re-signed with the team Sunday night as well — and while the prospect of a Baynes and Boucher centre rotation may not sound like the most formidable on paper, the acquisition of Baynes, in particular, will offer certain advantages that not even Ibaka nor Gasol would be able to provide.
Here’s a little more on the new Raptor.
Age: 33 Nationality: Australian Position: Centre Height: Six-foot-10 | Weight: 262 lbs Former team:Phoenix Suns 2019-20 stats: PPG: 11.5 | RPG: 5.6 | 3P%: 35.1
His contract is better than it looks
First thing’s first, cold as this may be to say, the most important thing to point out with Baynes is his contract.
Baynes is reportedly signing a two-year deal worth $14.3 million, which may sound like a lot of money at first when you consider he’s never put up great-looking numbers.
However, his on-court value exceeds what counting stats can tell (more on this in the next section), and more importantly, with word that the Raptors are only spending part of their mid-level exception to sign him and that the second year is a club option, this deal is, essentially, just a one-year contract for Baynes at a reasonable rate.
This is a good piece of business for the Raptors as it keeps maximum flexibility for the team’s ambitious goals during the 2021 off-season.
Plus, if Baynes performs to expectations, and there’s room next season, picking up his option then wouldn’t be the worst thing in the world if, for nothing else, as a possible trade piece as he will be a player on an expiring deal.
His game is precisely what the Raptors need
Another added bonus is the fact Baynes can really play.
No, his game doesn’t feature the gorgeous playmaking Raptors fans may have grown accustomed to with Gasol, nor is he anywhere near the kind of athlete Ibaka is, but that doesn’t matter because Baynes will check off boxes as just one player that only Ibaka and Gasol could do together for the Raptors.
Though he’s getting up in age, Baynes has continued to grow as a player and last season he added a pretty reliable three-point shot to his offensive repertoire, shooting 35.1 per cent from deep on four attempts per game.
This is outside shooting comparable to the 38.5 per-cent mark on 3.3 attempts seen from Ibaka last season, and, better yet, Baynes probably plays better defence than Ibaka.
Now, whether Baynes is the same level defender as Gasol is a different question, entirely, but there’s an argument to be made that his defensive impact could be similar to that of the Spaniard.
After Phoenix played its season opener last season, DeAndre Ayton was suspended for 25 games due to diuretic usage, leading to Baynes being named the team’s starting centre and helping the team out to a 6-5 record during the first 11 games without Ayton until Baynes was forced to miss time with injury.
During that stretch of time, the Suns were a little more than five points per 100 possessions better with Baynes on the floor than off it and it’s mainly because he’s an adept defender with quick feet who can hedge out to the perimeter and recover back in time where he can protect the rim thanks to his sturdy frame and smart positioning.
The centre spot isn’t one the Raptors necessarily need a ton of contribution to be coming from. All they need out of there is guys to play good defence, rebound the ball, set strong screens and knock down the occasional three enough to stretch the floor a bit.
Baynes can do all of that, and if he’s able to stay healthy he should fit in with the Raptors rather seamlessly.
He has a lot of fan-favourite potential in him
Raptors Twitter is arguably the best, most passionate social media community in the NBA, and it’s about to get introduced to, arguably, the best, most passionate individual player account in the NBA.
This account alone is likely to make Baynes a popular guy, but given how much Toronto fans love their blue-collar, hard-working athletes, Baynes’ popularity could shoot through the roof as he’s exactly that kind of player, as well.
TORONTO – Reigning PWHL MVP and scoring champ Natalie Spooner will miss the start of the regular season for the Toronto Sceptres, general manager Gina Kingsbury announced Tuesday on the first day of training camp.
The 33-year-old Spooner had knee surgery on her left anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) after she was checked into the boards by Minnesota’s Grace Zumwinkle in Game 3 of their best-of-five semifinal series on May 13.
She had a goal and an assist in three playoff games but did not finish the series. Toronto was up 2-1 in the semifinal at that time and eventually fell 3-2 in the series.
Spooner led the PWHL with 27 points in 24 games. Her 20 goals, including five game-winners, were nine more than the closest skater.
Kingsbury said there is no timeline, as the team wants the Toronto native at 100 per cent, but added that “she is doing really well” in her recovery.
The Sceptres open the PWHL season on Nov. 30 when they host the Boston Fleet.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 12, 2024.
LAHORE, Pakistan (AP) — A top official of the Pakistan Cricket Board declined Friday to confirm media reports that India has decided against playing any games in host Pakistan during next year’s Champions Trophy.
“My view is if there’s any problems, they (India) should tell us in writing,” PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi told reporters in Lahore. “I’ll share that with the media as well as with the government as soon as I get such a letter.”
Indian media reported Friday that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has communicated its concerns to all the Champions Trophy stakeholders, including the PCB, over the Feb. 19-March 9 tournament and would not play in arch-rival Pakistan.
The Times of India said that “Dubai is a strong candidate to host the fixtures involving the Men in Blue” for the 50-over tournament.
Such a solution would see Pakistan having to travel to a neutral venue to play India in a group match, with another potential meeting later in the tournament if both teams advanced from their group. The final is scheduled for March 9 in Pakistan with the specific venue not yet decided.
“Our stance is clear,” Naqvi said. “They need to give us in writing any objections they may have. Until now, no discussion of the hybrid model has happened, nor are we prepared to accept one.”
Political tensions have stopped bilateral cricket between the two nations since 2008 and they have competed in only multi-nation tournaments, including ICC World Cups.
“Cricket should be free of politics,” Naqvi said. “Any sport should not be entangled with politics. Our preparations for the Champions Trophy will continue unabated, and this will be a successful event.”
The PCB has already spent millions of dollars on the upgrade of stadiums in Karachi, Lahore and Rawalpindi which are due to host 15 Champions Trophy games. Naqvi hoped all the three stadiums will be ready over the next two months.
“Almost every country wants the Champions Trophy to be played here (in Pakistan),” Naqvi said. “I don’t think anyone should make this a political matter, and I don’t expect they will. I expect the tournament will be held at the home of the official hosts.”
Eight countries – Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, England, Australia, South Africa, New Zealand and Afghanistan – are due to compete in the tournament, the schedule of which is yet to be announced by the International Cricket Council.
“Normally the ICC announces the schedule of any major tournament 100 days before the event, and I hope they will announce it very soon,” Naqvi said.
RIYADH, Saudi Arabia – Ottawa‘s Gabriela Dabrowski and Erin Routliffe of New Zealand are through to the doubles final at the WTA Finals after a 7-6 (7), 6-1 victory over Nicole Melichar-Martinez of the United States and Australia’s Ellen Perez in semifinal action Friday.
Dabrowski and Routliffe won a hard-fought first set against serve when Routliffe’s quick reaction at the net to defend a Perez shot gave the duo set point, causing Perez to throw down her racket in frustration.
The second seeds then cruised through the second set, winning match point on serve when Melichar-Martinez couldn’t handle Routliffe’s shot.
The showdown was a rematch of last year’s semifinal, which Melichar-Martinez and Perez won in a super tiebreak.
Dabrowski and Routliffe will face the winner of a match between Katerina Siniakova and Taylor Townsend, and Hao-Ching Chan and Veronika Kudermetova in the final on Saturday.
Dabrowski is aiming to become the first Canadian to win a WTA Finals title.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 8, 2024.
