Reports: Spurs buy out contract of Australian big man Aron Baynes

Updated 4:20 p.m.:

San Antonio is reportedly close to signing Australian big man and former Washington State Cougar Aron Baynes to a multi-year deal after buying out his contract with Olimpija Ljublijana for $400,000, according to www.talkbasket.net.

The 26-year-old, 7-foot (6-foot-10 without shoes), 260-pound center averaged 13.8 points per game and 9.8 boards with Olimpija last season. Baynes, a former teammate of Danny Green, is a big, physical center who could provide a nice complement to the Spurs' current bigs in the future. He's regarded as one of the best big men in Europe and a very good rebounder, though he's also looked at as a "project" with a limited skill-set, says Jonathan Givony of Draft Express.

Givony reports the contract is unofficially worth roughly $3.5 million over four years with Spurs options.

We haven't received official word from Spurs media relations, and the specifics aren't completely known, but we'll have more information as it comes along.

If reports are true, this signing potentially opens more trade options for the Spurs as we get closer to the February deadline.

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