Aron Baynes has been one of the breakout players of the early part of the NBA season in his new home of Phoenix.
The Aussie centre is averaging 15 points, six rebounds and four assists per game, starting for the Suns in the absence of the suspended Deandre Ayton.
NBA analyst for The Ringer Chris Vernon believes Baynes has been a huge part of Phoenix’s 5-2 start to the season.
“I absolutely love Baynes on that team and in the role that he is in,” Vernon told The Ringer NBA Show.
“I went back and looked too. Baynes had like the best net rating on the Celtics of anybody that played real minutes last year.
“Just seeing him up close. I loved him and I think he blends in perfect.
“(Deandre Ayton) is a supremely talented player, but I do think Baynes is a great fit with them.
“The Baynes signing, my initial reaction is that this is the most underrated acquisition that there’s been, I know it was a trade, but that guy gets paid $5 million per year and he really impacts winning. I love Baynes.”
Phoenix ended Philadelphia’s undefeated streak earlier in the week and fellow NBA analyst Kevin O’Connor believes Ben Simmons needs to start making some rapid improvements.
“With Embiid out, Baynes just completely put the clamps on Ben Simmons,” O’Connor said.
“They needed Simmons to step up in last night’s game and he stunk on the offensive end of the floor.
“Phoenix pretty much ignored him a lot of the time when he was hovering in the dunker spot.
“It was a good example of his ongoing offensive limitations.
“He’s been tremendous defensively, he made it difficult for Booker, but on the offensive end those limitations remain, and they remain a concern if you’re looking ahead to the playoffs.
“He’s shooting 40 per cent in the half-court, 56 per cent from the free throw line, three of 14 on post ups and he still hasn’t tried a three and he’s only tried one shot outside of the paint.
“He struggles to beat smaller players on mismatches, he struggles against length like Baynes. He needs to start becoming a competent shooter.”