Bismack Biyombo and his Raptors teammates had a poor showing on Wednesday night in Cleveland, but Biyombo’s performance over the course of the postseason – and particularly in the Eastern Conference Finals – has increased his value significantly as he prepares to enter free agency. Biyombo is unlikely to command a maximum contract, but at least one Eastern Conference general manager believes the big man will land a deal worth $16MM+ per year, according to Sean Deveney of The Sporting News.
“For someone like (Biyombo), I think when you look at a guy like Tyson Chandler and what he got from Phoenix last summer (four years, $52MM), that’s where you start for a contract,” the GM said. “But you factor in the cap spike and it’s probably going to be high, I’d say, $16-17 million. It’ll be a heck of a $17 million-per-year gamble.”
Another Eastern Conference exec predicted to Deveney that Biyombo will receive an even higher annual salary in free agency, suggesting that a three-year, $60MM deal is within the realm of possibility. Meanwhile, Jorge Castillo of The Washington Post tweets that he was also told yesterday that the Raptors center figures to be in line for $16MM+ per year.
Biyombo technically has a player option for 2016/17, which he could exercise to remain with the Raptors, but since that option would pay just $2.94MM, there’s no chance he won’t elect to test the market instead. And since Biyombo has been in Toronto for just one season, the team only holds his Non-Bird rights. That means that, unless the Raptors renounce DeMar DeRozan‘s rights or get creative elsewhere on the roster, there’s virtually no chance that the club will be able to retain Biyombo if his price gets anywhere close to $16MM annually.
So which teams might be fits for Biyombo? Deveney suggests a few possible suitors, including the Celtics, Lakers, Trail Blazers, and potentially the Bulls and Rockets. Whichever team lands the former seventh overall pick would likely be expecting him to start, given his projected salary, which is something Biyombo probably wouldn’t do in Toronto as long as Jonas Valanciunas is healthy.
“Tyson Chandler, Ben Wallace, someone like that, that is what you hope he becomes next year,” the aforementioned Eastern GM said of Biyombo. “He is never going to be a big-time offensive guy. But as much scoring that goes out to the perimeter, that would not matter on a lot of rosters. He can be a starter somewhere.”
He’s going to be so overpaid it’s not even funny.
Agreed. He will be like a Roy Hibbert. Once that money comes in the results will plummet lol
At least Hibbert had some sort of offense unlike Bismack or Bismax.
He’s maybe worth about half that, maybe 10/yr due to the cap increase.
And whoever pays that is going to make a massive mistake. $8M-10M it what he should get and even that is being kind.
I love Biz. I watched him for 4 years as a die hard Charlotte fan. When I saw him sign for 2 years at 6 mil I was mad because he was so young and it was so clear what he could do. Even in Charlotte, he was an elite shot blocker and rebounder. He sets great screens, plays with amazing energy. But it was so clear what he can’t do. I’ve never seen a professional athlete with hands as bad as his. He has no offensive game other than put backs and maybe a hook shot. He’ll make a 10 foot J, then miss the next 100 by a mile but the one he makes is like that looked so natural. He is the ultimate frustrating “what if” player.
This series has shown more than anything what he can do. It’s amazing that Tristan Thompson did the same thing to the Warriors in the finals last year and got way over paid because there were more eyes on him. Biz is making him look like a scrub but it’s the same situation. Someone will overpay a limited player. He has value, only if you surround him with 4 shooters. Then he is a poor man’s Dwight circa 2009 Magic.
He’d be nice fit in Dallas or Portland. I’d give him a 4 year, $55MM deal.
There’s gonna be some smart team that sits out free agency these next 2-3 years and is gonna be the only team with major cap room in a few years
Ppl so quick to hate. I’m gonna be hella weak if shows out all you haters.
What has he done outside of this postseason though? He’s a good shot blocker and rebounder…but his offensive game is basically nonexistant except for the occasional putback or wide open dunk that results from someone else driving to the rim. I mean Tyson Chandler is basically the same player, but he atleast has a long track record of being that type of guy whereas Biyombo has basically one postseason of good play. He is going to get overpaid…if it wasn’t for the rising salary cap he would probably get in the $5-$10 million range which would be fine, but $15 million or more is insane even with the rising cap. I’d rather throw a max contract at Whiteside because he’s a more dominant shotblocker than Biyombo. I’d also rather pay Howard close to the max or pay Hibbert because they come with a track record of decent interior defense while not being total liabilities on offense. While their offensive games isn’t going to win them any awards, at least Howard can post up and be the focal point of an offense for a couple of games while Hibbert can also post up and can also hit the occasional mid range jumper.
How is a joker like Biz that was an afterthought on the trash heap a year ago that hasnt had anywhere near a good season let alone a great one getting 16M?