Biyombo’s strong play has him set up for big bump in pay
Ayear ago, Bismack Biyombo was on his way to being abandoned by the Charlotte Hornets, his basketball future up in the air, the “bust” label hovering around him, sizing him up.
The Hornets drafted Biyombo seventh overall in 2011 but opted to not give him a qualifying offer on his contract, making him an unrestricted free agent.
When the Raptors season concludes, Biyombo will likely be a free agent again, this time by his own choice. He can opt out on his twoyear, $6 million (U.S.) deal with the Raptors. After a breakthrough in the playoffs that included a franchiserecord 26-rebound effort in Game 3 of the East final, the sky is the limit for the Congolese-born big man.
The Sporting News estimated this week that Biyombo’s new deal could reach $17 million per season.
That’ll leave Raptors GM Masai Ujirii, who re-signed Jonas Valanciunas to a four-year, $64 million extension last off-season and still has to try to re-sign DeMar DeRozan in freeagency this summer, hard-pressed to find salary cap room to keep Biyombo on his team.
Here’s a look at Biyombo’s season and his comparables — four big men who signed contracts last off-season in anticipation of the salary cap skyrocketing this summer with a new TV deal:
BISMACK BIYOMBO
2015-16 stats: 5.5 points, 8.0 rebounds, 1.6 blocks per game
2016-17 salary: TBD Biyombo was always known for his defensive ability and shot-blocking presence, but he has worked hard this year at developing his offensive game. He’s shooting a career-best 62.8 per cent from the free-throw line, fending off a potential hack-aBiz strategy. The basketball world has seen the spark Biyombo brings to a game, but what they didn’t see was the work he’s put in on improving his ability to catch and hang onto the ball. It’s an area he’s made huge strides in and it’s paid dividends for him this spring in the playoffs.
ENES KANTER
2015-16 stats: 12.7 points, 8.1 rebounds, 0.4 blocks per game
2016-17 salary: $17.1 million The 24-year-old Turkish big man signed a four-year, $70 million offer sheet with the Portland Trail Blazers last summer but had the deal matched by the Thunder. A doubledouble threat over the last three seasons, Kanter gradually has begun trying to add three-point range to his game while playing off of the bench for the Thunder. Kanter is a good example of what a role player will be making under the NBA’s new, larger salary cap in the years to come.
TRISTAN THOMPSON
2015-16 stats: 7.8 points, 9.0 rebounds, 0.6 blocks per game
2016-17 salary: $15.3 million Thompson missed a chunk of Cavs training camp while he sorted out his contract situation, eventually reaching a five-year, $82 million deal.
He played in all 82 regular-season games for the Cavs this year.
JONAS VALANCIUNAS
2015-16 stats: 12.8 points, 9.1 rebounds, 1.3 blocks per game
2016-17 salary: $14.3 million Valanciunas is in many ways the polar opposite of Biyombo. His offensive game is smoother and he’s a more reliable option under the basket. While not a poor defender, he has trouble when he’s pulled out to the perimeter to defend a threepoint-shooting big man. He has made strides in adding that element to his game, though.
TYSON CHANDLER
2015-16 stats: 7.2 points, 8.7 rebounds, 0.7 blocks per game.
2016-17 salary: $12.4 million Now 33, Chandler’s game was at its peak between 2011and 2012, when he was winning the defensive player of the year award and landing on allNBA defensive teams.
A solid rebounder and shot blocker (career averages of 9.3 and 1.3 respectively), Chandler signed a fouryear, $52 million dollar contract with the Suns last year. His numbers this season were similar to what Biyombo put up this year in Toronto.