2017-18 Orlando Magic Player Evaluations: Bismack Biyombo

In his second year with the Orlando Magic, Bismack Biyombo took a step back. Biyombo’s massive contract looms large as the offseason approaches.

It is no secret, but not much went right for the Orlando Magic this past season. Injuries and overall poor play shut down a scorching start.

For Bismack Biyombo, the 2018 season was also one to forget. He saw a drop in numbers across the board, even with a chance to take over for Nikola Vucevic, who missed plenty of games due to injury.

One of the team’s highest-paid players, Biyombo has been relegated to the bench. His strong defensive play just cannot outweigh his offensive limitations. Still, Biyombo received plenty of playing time last year.

As fans clamored for Khem Birch to take over his role, Bismack Biyombo felt his role as the primary backup big slip. He still managed to garner playing time and was the only player to play in all 82 games, but Khem Birch appeared just as a effective, and at a fraction of the cost.

Without a role, and the youth creeping up behind him, his future in Central Florida will be an interesting case study. He is probably one of the best defensive big men on the roster, but with his price tag and flawed game, will he be worth keeping around for three more seasons?

Scattered throughout the season, Biyombo showed flashes of what he was signed to do. Protect the rim, snatch rebounds and be available for easy lobs at the rim. Those games just did not come around enough to stop the losses from piling up.

Despite all the issues, he was someone head coach Frank Vogel could count on. A veteran who has played in Eastern Conference Finals, as well as lottery bound squads, Biyombo has seen it all.

That contract hangs over his head, but figuring out the right role for him remains elusive.

The Good and the Bad

Provided by Basketball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 4/23/2018.

Statistically, Bismack Biyombo took a step back from last season. He saw numerous numbers drop and it seemed the Magic’s disappointing campaign affected his numbers.

Biyombo averaged 5.7 points per game and just 5.7 rebounds per game. It was his lowest rebounding total since the 2014 season. He had his lowest total rebound rate since his first two seasons in the league.

In terms of net rating, his -13.2 rating is his worst since his rookie year. According to the same stat, he had the worst defensive season of his career. Somehow, despite Biyombo’s defensive reputation, the Magic were a worse defensive team with Biyombo on the floor.

Although his individual defensive numbers took a hit, he also was on one of the worst defensive units in the NBA with Orlando allowing more than 108 points per game.

Offensively, Biyombo was a train wreck. The Magic’s 97.2 offensive rating with him on the floor was the second-worst mark of his career and his offensive box plus-minus sat at -3.7, well below league average.

It was hard to pinpoint what Biyombo was good at — even with his supposed strong defense and rim protection. Defense is seemingly more than just going for blocks.

Orlando Magic

When Biyombo was on the floor, the Magic’s offense performed at its worst. Only Jonathan Isaac and Rashad Vaughn (who played in only five games) had worse offensive ratings when on the floor.

Frankly, the only positives on offense for Biyombo are his ability to catch lobs, and setting screens. Biyombo recorded 2.6 screen assists per contest according to NBA.com, the second highest mark on the team.

Oddly enough, Orlando’s rebounding percentage was at its peak when Biyombo was on the bench. The team struggled all year to keep opponents off of the glass and Biyombo did not help the cause.

His ability to protect the rim is his strongest asset. Despite not having the height of his counterparts, Biyombo can stifle opponents when they take it to the cup. Although he is put on an island more often than not, he still showed why the Magic backed up the moving trucks to sign him.

If Orlando can improve on the defensive end, Biyombo should be able to bring a more consistent effort on the interior. Despite his offensive inefficiencies, he has at least some sort of a role with the Magic.

Best Game of 2018

Jan. 16 vs. Minnesota: 10 points, 16 rebounds, 5 blocks

During one of his best stretches of the season, Bismack Biyombo played up to his competition. Matched up against Karl-Anthony Towns, Bismack Biyombo scored 10 points, snagged 16 rebounds and added five blocks in a win over the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Biyombo was the difference maker in one of the team’s three victories in January. On both the offensive and defensive end, Biyombo provided the Magic with a spark.

He emphatically swatted away attempts near the rack and shut down Towns’ second-chance points.

This game was part of a strong 11-game run for Biyombo. Although the team did not see much success during this run, Biyombo was far from the problem.

He averaged 11.3 rebounds per game, 2.0 blocks per game and 8.5 points per game. Those 11 games are exactly what Orlando pictured when they signed Biyombo. He may not be a fancy option down low, but he gets the job does and puts his body on the line for the team.

2019 Outlook

There is no getting around the albatross around Bismack Biyombo’s neck. The thing that weighs down expectations and ties up the Orlando Magic’s future.

Biyombo will be entering the third year of a four-year deal that pays him $17 million per year. About the only saving grace is that final year is a player option. So there remains the possibility Biyombo could opt out before 2020.

But do not hold your breath.

The reality is Orlando is going to find it very hard to trade Biyombo and get much value. No one wants to pay $17 million per year for a guy with dubious defensive impact and about five points per game. The Magic are paying for their mistakes still and no one is going to bail them out. Not for a favorable situation.

There were those rumors in February that the New York Knicks had some interest in bringing in Biyombo. It would only require the Magic to take on Joakim Noah‘s contract — the guy owed $37.8 million the next two seasons, fully guaranteed. And Noah is not even playing right now.

It does not seem like trading Biyombo is much of an option. Some have suggested possibly using the stretch provision on Biyombo. That would cost the Magic a $6.8 million cap hit over the next five years.

That option does not seem palatable either. And so the Magic may just be riding things out with Biyombo for another year, at least. They just have to hope a new coach will be able to get more out of Biyombo than the previous coaches.

With change likely coming elsewhere in the roster, Orlando may use Biyombo more as a starter and hope that will unlock the potential Rob Hennigan saw when he signed him to that gargantuan contract.

That is probably the optimist’s view. The realistic view is Biyombo may fight for starter’s minutes, but really be relegated to the bench and continue to be the hit or miss player who cannot possibly live up to that contract.

Final Grade

Bismack Biyombo may never live up to the contract he signed back in 2016, but he needs to play better in 2019. His numbers dropped across the board and clearly played at a lower level in his second year with the team.

Bismack Biyombo had the chance to prove his worth in 2018 with Nikola Vucevic on the mend for a long stretch of the season. But Biyombo failed to cement his status and was again relegated to the bench unit. That was where his impact was further dulled and it was harder and harder to justify playing him.

As Orlando continued to struggle on defense, Frank Vogel and the rest of the coaching staff needed Bismack Biyombo to play like he did during the 2016 playoff run. Sadly, he has never played close to that caliber in Orlando and undrafted players like Khem Birch have sneaked into the lineup.

Magic fans know what to expect from the six-year veteran. Solid defensive performance and next to nothing offensively.

But his defensive impact needs to be more consistent. If Orlando is seeing similar success with Birch or another option on the floor, there is no reason to play Biyombo because of how little he brings on the other side of the floor.

Frankly, the Magic do not help Biyombo’s situation either.

The team has been clogged at center and do not have the perimeter defenders to take the pressure of off him defensively. Nor do they have the shooters to spread the floor and use his screening to get free. Instead he congests the space.

There is no way he can mold a role for himself as the roster is currently situated.

Offensively, his struggles are highlighted as well. The Magic do not have a true number one option and do not have the perimeter shooting they need.

Next: 2017-18 Orlando Magic Player Evaluations: Nikola Vucevic

And that leaves Biyombo at a disadvantage. The contract dominates the storyline with him. He cannot escape it. Now he and the Magic just have to make the most of what remains.