Go away, Clippers, the Phoenix Suns won’t trade you Aron Baynes

The Phoenix Suns’ name has come up in yet another trade rumor, but this one isn’t a blockbuster move to bring in a big name. It’s one that would see them lose Aron Baynes and they shouldn’t do it.

A few rumors have spun up around the Phoenix Suns acquiring more talent to augment their roster this season. Names such as Kevin Love and Karl-Anthony Towns have been the most high-profile names brought up as potential targets, although the latter is more than likely wishful thinking considering the Timberwolves have said they aren’t parting with their star and will instead, continue to build around him.

However, now a selling rumor has swirled around a key member of the Phoenix Suns. The Bleacher Report says the LA Clippers have their eyes set on Suns’ center, Aron Baynes.

"Baynes is believed to be a prime target for the Clippers. Zubac’s four-year, $28.5 million salary would work straight-up for the Phoenix center, but the Suns may not want to take on a long-term salary for a true center to back up Deandre Ayton.“They would need a third team,” one Eastern Conference executive said."

Get out of here, Clippers. You can’t have him. Especially not for Ivica Zubac. This anonymous Eastern Conference executive seems to at least acknowledge a straight up Baynes-for-Zubac deal isn’t happening.

Even though Zubac isn’t crazy expensive, locking in a backup center for four years at over $7 million per year is simply not a great use of resources, so a third team willing to part with something more in line with the Suns’ needs would be essential.

Is there someone out there with a quality asset (perhaps a veteran backup point guard) who needs a mediocre, $7 million center?

Maybe. Probably.

But unless there is an absolute diamond out there, the Suns shouldn’t give up Aron Baynes. In fact, they should re-sign him if at all possible. He is the perfect fit for this Phoenix Suns team, and his career-high numbers are evidence of this.

He brings the type of physicality and fierceness lacking in Deandre Ayton, and his newfound 3-point shot stretches the defense more than Ayton’s ill-advised 18-footers do.

I don’t need to go through all the reasons Baynes as served as a superhero this year, but trading him away after the impact he has made would be a colossal mistake.

And if the Phoenix Suns do feel like they could get a nice value for him, please, please, please don’t trade Baynes to the freaking Clippers.

Teams like the Clippers who just cobble together one-year runs like this should not be rewarded by intra-conference teams who are fighting for a playoff spot themselves.

So, don’t do this, James Jones. Don’t give up Baynes for Zubac or some Zubac-like player. Don’t give the Clippers the luxury of having a player like Aron Baynes to boost their championship run.

If you do, Baynes’ ghost will haunt you in your sleep for all eternity, and no one wants that.