Bismack Biyombo (Photo : Getty Images)
The Boston Celtics and the Los Angeles Lakers are reportedly interested in pursuing Toronto Raptors big man Bismack Biyombo in this summer's free agency.
Biyombo, who is set to become an unrestricted free agent in July once he finishes his two-year $5.7 million deal with the Raptors, could be bound for a huge payday, according to Sean Deveney of Sporting News.
The potential increase in Biyombo's value would probably be due to his relentless effort to help the Raptors in the postseason, averaging 6.3 points, 9.4 rebounds and 1.4 blocks in the playoffs. But despite the projected expensive price to sign Biyombo, Deveney claimed teams like the Celtics and Lakers are among those interested to include the undersized center in their bucket list.
"It also helps that some well-heeled and high-profile teams will be in need of a center who brings rim protection this summer. Boston GM Danny Ainge said that would be among the Celtics' top targets, and Boston will be a team with interest in Biyombo. So will the Lakers, as they are known to be eagerly seeking a defensive big man to put with Julius Randle in the frontcourt," Deveney wrote.
The Celtics and Lakers are evidently in need of a center who could be a defensive anchor and a beast in the glass. Boston has been without a dominant center for many years, making Biyombo an ideal target for the Celtics this summer.
Meanwhile, the Lakers will also be without a center approaching the offseason, with Roy Hibbert about to explore free agency. Bringing in Biyombo would give the Lakers the much needed upgrade at the five spot, and his defensive intensity would balance the team's offensive-type of frontcourt.
Both teams will have the money to offer Biyombo the $16-17 million-a-year contract Deveney reported. However, the caveat acquiring Biyombo on a more lucrative deal would eat-up the Celtics and Lakers' salary cap space, which could result to lesser chances of catching the bigger fishes in the market.
Biyombo has the tools to be an effective key player for teams, but there are there are many risks in signing the 6-foot-9 center to a massive contract. One of the many concerns is Biyombo's ceiling. There is no doubt Biyombo has the athleticism to score and defend, but at almost five years in the NBA, he has yet to display any potential to be a star.
The 23-year-old center has shown this season that he is ready to take on a bigger role, but it would be a different to story once he plays in the limelight of LA and Boston, two of the most storied franchises in NBA history. With the Celtics and Lakers eager to get back to contending for a title, there will certainly be a great pressure for Biyombo to somehow become one of the main cogs in achieving that goal.
If the Celtics or the Lakers are willing to take the risk, Biyombo would be a great addition. But they may have to consider whether signing him would be worth the deal close to a max contract.
