Aron Baynes next Aussie to test NBA free agency

Aron Baynes has joined Joe Ingles and Patty Mills in seeking huge new NBA contracts that could see them on new teams.

Aron Baynes in action for the Detroit Pistons

Aron Baynes has joined fellow Australians Joe Ingles and Patty Mills in seeking huge new NBA contracts that could see them on new teams.

Baynes has decided to walk away from the $US6.5 million ($8.6m) player option he has with his current team the Detroit Pistons.

He will become an unrestricted free agent and test the NBA market. The Queensland big man has been vocal about his desire to return to the Pistons as he views his time in Motor City as “unfinished business” after the team, despite a talented roster, failed to make the playoffs last season. The Pistons could attempt to re-sign Baynes, but can only offer a maximum of $US11.3 million ($A14.9m) for next season.

Baynes signed a three-year, $US20m contract with Detroit two years ago, with the final year the player option he decided not to take up.

NBA salaries skyrocketed a year ago following the league’s new $US24 billion ($32bn) media rights deal, with another Boomer, Matthew Dellavedova, cashing in with a four-year $US48.43 million deal with the Milwaukee Bucks.

Mills’ time at the San Antonio Spurs could be over with the free agent guard expected to pocket substantially more than the three-year, $US13m contract he just concluded with the team.

It is a similar situation for Ingles who proved in the Utah Jazz’s recent playoff run he can play point guard, shooting guard or forward and transformed himself into one of the NBA’s best three point shooters.

AAP