NBA: Bismack Biyombo Opts Out Of Contract With Toronto Raptors, Looking For Huge Pay Day

Bismack Biyombo has decided to opt out of his contract with the Toronto Raptors, according to ESPN. The backup center wants to be featured, and he wants to become one of the better paid players in the NBA. Considering how hard it is to find quality big men in the National Basketball Association, Biyombo will more than likely receive the pay day that he is looking for.

Last summer, Bismack Biyombo signed a two-year contract with the Toronto Raptors. He needed a change of scenery after failing to become a star with the Charlotte Hornets, the team that drafted him into the NBA. Biyombo earned $2.8 million last season, and he was going to be receiving the same amount for this upcoming season.

While the regular season in the NBA is always going to remain important, the post season is where the spotlight shines brighter. It’s where players, especially free agents, get a chance to prove to coaches and executives what they’re worth. Bismack Biyombo played a key role for the Toronto Raptors. His name value has increased tremendously.

On paper, Bismack Biyombo averaged 5.5 points, eight rebounds, and 1.6 blocks a game. However, none of that matters to those in the NBA. His next contract will be based on potential. Teams will believe that he can drastically increase those numbers by becoming a starter elsewhere. Biyombo should have plenty of options to become a starter.

There was a bit of luck involved in Bismack Biyombo increasing his potential financial windfall this summer. Jonas Valanciunas is normally the starting center for the Toronto Raptors. His injury proved to be the perfect opportunity for Biyombo to capitalize. No one in the NBA knows for sure if Biyombo can be a capable starter, but he’ll get his chance.

Though they want to keep Bismack Biyombo on the roster, the Toronto Raptors are going to have a hard time making that happen. Aside from already having a starting center in Jonas Valanciunas, the Raptors also have DeMar DeRozan as their top priority. They’re trying to keep him from leaving in free agency. While they do that, another NBA team could swoop in and snatch up Biyombo.

A potential NBA team that could try to lure away Bismack Biyombo is the Los Angeles Lakers. They’re desperately trying to rebuild now that Kobe Bryant has decided to walk away from the National Basketball Association. Adding a talented young center to a core of D’Angelo Russell, Jordan Clarkson, and Julius Randle would help to speed up that process.

In order to make that happen, the Los Angeles Lakers might need to open up the vault for Bismack Biyombo. There are talks that the 6’9? center could command at least $17 million a year in salary. Even though he is just 23-years-old, Biyombo is going to want some security. That means that the Lakers might need to offer him a minimum of three years on that contract.

Interestingly enough, the Los Angeles Lakers are also said to be highly interested in signing DeMar DeRozan in free agency. They feel that the Toronto Raptors star can help fill the void left by Kobe Bryant. DeRozan isn’t as good as Bryant, but he can give the Lakers a highly capable starting small forward. Bismack Biyombo may need to wait to speak to Los Angeles after they speak to his teammate.

There’s also the chance that the Los Angeles Lakers end up with both DeMar DeRozan and Bismack Biyombo. The team has enough salary cap space to sign two maximum contract free agents.

Either way, Bismack Biyombo is going to have a lot more money in the bank after this summer is said and done.

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