In a low-cost, low-risk move, Masai-ah has plucked Biyombo off the wire for a two-year $6mil deal:
Free agent center Bismack Biyombo has agreed to a two-year, $6 million deal with the Toronto Raptors, league sources tell Yahoo Sports.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojYahooNBA) July 4, 2015
Not clear if there is an option on his second year, but you have to love this get since the team gets a low usage, defensive-minded workhorse (albeit raw) center who doesn’t need the ball to be effective. Lowry and DeRozan can continue to dominate the ball on offense, he doesn’t take any touches away from Valanciunas’, the second unit has a rim protector, and the shift to small-ball looks to be in full swing.
Playing him alongside Jonas is also an interesting proposition, giving JV the luxury of a mobile, athletic, rim protector, who wont get in his way, and who actually compliments him very well.
The offensive drawbacks are many (can’t shoot free throws, no ability to get his shot off, can’t step out and hit the mid-range, a pick-and-roll zero), but most concerning is his total lack of dunking highlights over his short career. Athletic freaks should have at least one, right?
But that’s not why we got him, his ability to defend the rim is near-elite; something we haven’t had…ever:
He's a very good rim defender. Here's his DEFENSIVE shot chart. https://t.co/1ZCVuurX9Q pic.twitter.com/nCYZbHEAov
— Shot Analytics (@ShotAnalytics) June 29, 2015
Note that he ranked 17th in blocked shots in only 20 minutes a night.
With the increasing cap, his addition costs the team next to nothing, and affords him the chance to settle into a role that doesn’t demand of him what being drafted seventh overall did with Charlotte.
Solid get by Masai. Solid
UPDATE: According to some folks in the know, Raptors signed Biyombo with their mini-mid-level exception, so there is no impact to their cap space; looking even better now.