Toronto Raptors: Is Bismack Biyombo A Long-Term Option?

By Jordan Treske | Mar 12, 2016

Mar 10, 2016; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Raptors center Bismack Biyombo (8) wags his finger after blocking a shot by Atlanta Hawks player Paul Millsap (not pictured) at Air Canada Centre. The Raptors beat the Hawks 104-96. Mandatory Credit: Tom Szczerbowski-USA TODAY Sports /

Bismack Biyombo has been a great fit for the Toronto Raptors this season, but can they afford to fit him into their long-term plans?

It’s safe to say Bismack Biyombo has found a new home in Toronto.

In his first year with the Toronto Raptors, Biyombo has emerged as a defensive anchor and has been thriving in a backup role behind the team’s starting big man, Jonas Valanciunas.

Biyombo’s growth with the Raptors this season has been a continuation of the progress that he has shown over his five-year career.

Furthermore, a lot of credit has to be given to Raptors general manager Masai Ujiri for signing Biyombo last offseason after Biyombo’s former team, the Charlotte Hornets, declined to extend him a qualifying offer before the free agency period began.

Yet even as Biyombo has grown accustomed to his new surroundings, a big question awaits for both Biyombo and the team this coming summer. It may be too early to think about his future with the Raptors, but Biyombo holds about a $3 million player option for next season, according to BasketballInsiders.com.

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Obviously nothing is guaranteed, but with an exploding salary cap coming this offseason, one would think Biyombo would decline that player option and take his chances to earn a nice payday. That potential reality leaves the Raptors in a curious position.

Demar DeRozan’s likely free agency (DeRozan also holds a player option for next season) will be the Raptors’ top priority this offseason and it’s a good possibility that the team explores an upgrade at their power forward spot as well.

Additionally, the Raptors are locked into Valanciunas until the 2019-20 season since he signed a four-year, $64 million extension with the team before this season began.

So from the Raptors’ perspective, can they afford to give Biyombo a possible eight digit, multi-year deal this summer?

As for Biyombo, not testing the waters this coming free agency period would be quite foolish for the former seventh overall pick of the 2011 NBA draft.

This year’s free agent class is certainly loaded with quality big men headlined by the likes of Dwight Howard and Hassan Whiteside, but it’s also filled with aging bigs, or bigs that have injury risks that some teams will be forced to take a chance on this summer.

Due to this set of circumstances, Biyombo’s age and talents could be a big factor in what separates him from other impending free agent big men this offseason.

At just 23 years old, Biyombo’s athletic ability and effective rim protection are qualities every NBA team is looking for in this current era of the game. Biyombo’s always been known as a strong rebounder, but he’s never been better than this year as he’s averaging a career-high 8.0 rebounds per game.

Biyombo’s offensive limitations aren’t as big of a red flag as they used to be, given his improved touch around the rim (Biyombo’s shooting 65 percent on attempts around the rim this year, per Basketball-Reference.com).

Sure, it’s easy to label Biyombo a “bust” as he hasn’t lived up to his high draft pick status since entering the league almost five years ago, but he’s shown that he’s well suited to play in a backup role and even has potential to become a starter as well.

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Biyombo was a low risk, high reward signing made by the Raptors last summer and it’s more than paid off this season. But Biyombo has a real chance to get life-changing money this offseason and it may cost the Raptors a chance to keep their productive backup big man for the foreseeable future.

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