Why Toronto Raptors Should Let Bismack Biyombo Walk

Bismack Biyombo had a breakout postseason for the Toronto Raptors. But if the team wants to continue to improve, they’ll likely need to let him walk in free agency.

One thing that was evident in the Toronto Raptors run to the Eastern Conference Finals was just how good of a roster Masai Ujiri put together.

While DeMar DeRozan and Kyle Lowry struggled to find offensive consistency, the role players shouldered the bulk of the load and were able to hold down the fort until their all stars got their act together. Perhaps no role player shone brighter than Bismack Biyombo.

Last summer the Charlotte Hornets decided to not pick up the team option on Biyombo’s contract, making him a free agent. Ujiri stepped in and acquired him for less than $3 million a year.

While it’s unlikely that Ujiri envisioned Biyombo playing as significant of a role as he ended up playing this year, his production made him one of the best bargain contracts in the league.

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It was clear that his teammates loved playing with him and his energy was often a catalyst for the Raptors. But even with all that being said, the decision to let Biyombo walk this summer barring something unforeseen is a relatively easy one.

The salary cap is rising and with so many teams going into this offseason with cap room, there’s never been a better time to be a free agent. According to Sean Deveney of The Sporting News, Biyombo’s next contract has been placed around $17 million to $20 million a season.

With Ujiri indicating that re-signing DeMar DeRozan is the No. 1 priority for the Raptors, that leaves the team with limited options for Biyombo, considering that they do not possess his Bird rights (the ability to exceed the salary cap to re-sign their own players).

While Biyombo recently indicated that he would be willing to take a “hometown discount” the realities of how dramatic that discount would need to be if the Raptors retained DeRozan are staggering:

Without his Bird rights, the most the Raptors can offer is a four-year deal for just more than $15 million, assuming they do not let DeRozan walk for nothing, while other teams are able to offer him a four-year contract for more than $93 million.

Considering Biyombo has not made a lot of money (relatively speaking) in his NBA career, no agent in his right mind would allow him to sign for less than $4 million when there’s the reported $17 million to $20 million available.

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The Toronto Raptors already have their center of the future in

, and letting DeMar DeRozan walk for nothing or cutting enough salary elsewhere to sign their backup center to a large contract just doesn’t make sense.

The Raptors have pressing needs at the power forward position and could use more depth on the perimeter. There are a few free agent centers that the Raptors could consider for considerably less money and not really lose much ground, especially if they go out and improve other positions.

Timofey Mozgov, Zaza Pachulia, a Tyler Hansbrough reunion, Henry Sims or Chris Kaman are all viable options for a backup center role. Or they could turn to Lucas Nogueira, the 7-foot Brazilian center that they have spent the last two years developing.

For all the great things Biyombo did for Toronto in his year with them, they cannot make sentimental moves if they want to elevate themselves to the level of a contender.

Paying Biyombo the amount that’s been speculated publicly would be a risk for any team in my opinion.

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While he was a productive backup center and at times filled in well as a starter, committing serious money to someone without an elite skill, that hasn’t played big minutes before and has a very limited offensive game is a risk the Raptors do not need to take.