The Toronto Raptors officially signed free agent centre Bismack Biyombo to a multi-year deal Saturday. Terms of the deal were not immediately available.
In signing Biyombo, Raptors general manager Masai Ujiri added another piece that will help address weaknesses on defence.
Here’s what you need to know about the Raptors’ new backup centre.
Name: Bismack Biyombo
Position: Centre
Age: 22
Height: 6-foot-9 | Weight: 245 lbs
College: None
The Sacramento Kings made Biyombo the seventh overall pick in the 2011 NBA Draft. The native of the Democratic Republic of the Congo landed in Charlotte in a three-team draft day trade that also included the Milwaukee Bucks.
With the likes of Brandon Knight, Kemba Walker, Klay Thompson, Markieff Morris, Kawhi Leonard, and Nikola Vucevic following him on the draft board, Biyombo has left a lot to be desired after four seasons with the Hornets.
Biyombo became a free agent when the Hornets declined to extend him a qualifying offer.
Rim protection
Ujiri effectively checked off several items on his off-season shopping list by adding a 3-and-D option with DeMarre Carroll and a capable perimeter defender in backup point guard Cory Joseph. The addition of Biyombo gives the Raptors a much-needed rim protector who can slot in behind Jonas Valanciunas up front.
Biyombo averaged 4.8 points, 6.4 rebounds and 1.5 blocks per game on 54 per cent shooting in 2014-15.
The big man’s strength is his defence, but with his wingspan measuring an impressive seven-foot-six, he can be explosive from under the rim.
Roster and salary cap implications
By signing Biyombo and forward Luis Scola, the Raptors have just one roster spot left to fill.
While financial terms were not immediately disclosed, previous reports indicated Biyombo would sign a two-year deal worth $6 million and would do so using the Raptors’ mini mid-level or room exception, meaning his first-year salary would not count against the cap.
With the team short on both cap space and roster spots, it’s likely Ujiri pursues a body willing to sign at the veteran’s minimum. It’s slim pickings at this point.
Don’t take offence
Biyombo certainly addresses rebounding and rim defence needs, but he doesn’t offer much on the offensive side of the ball.
He’s averaged 4.4 points and just 3.4 field goal attempts per game over the course of his four years in the NBA. Although the numbers shade slightly more favourably when looking at his per-36 minutes totals, Biyombo doesn’t possess a jump shot and rarely, and I do mean rarely, even attempts a shot from outside the paint.
The outlook
Ujiri has done well to bring in some fixes for the Raptors’ woeful defence. Biyombo will make his presence known under the rim.
He’s still just 22 years old, which is a year younger than 2015 first-round pick Delon Wright. Perhaps there’s some untapped potential there. You can hope, but don’t hold your breath.
Biyombo is a likeable signing at the reported terms. A solid rotation player with big defensive upside.
