The Orlando Magic agreed to a four-year deal with free-agent center Bismack Biyombo on Saturday, giving the team another rim protector but leaving many observers scratching their heads.
Biyombo becomes the second shot blocker the Magic have added this offseason, joining Serge Ibaka, whom the team acquired in a draft-night trade.
The Associated Press first reported the Magic's agreement with Biyombo. According to The Vertical, the deal will be worth a total of $72 million.
The impending addition of Biyombo, 23, raises questions about the future of center Nikola Vucevic, the team's leading scorer from a year ago.
On one hand, the Magic envision a big-man rotation of Biyombo, Ibaka and Vucevic, with minimal dropoff defensively when Ibaka is off the floor.
On the other hand, it also could free the Magic potentially to trade Vucevic, a double-double specialist who predicates his game on finesse and mid-range jumpers.
Vucevic, who averaged 18.2 points and 8.9 rebounds per game this past season, could be a valuable trade piece, especially since he has three seasons remaining on a team-friendly contract that pays him an average of $12.25 million per year.
The Magic don't have a go-to scorer, especially at the ends of games.
Biyombo started 22 games last season for the Toronto Raptors. In 22.0 minutes per game, he averaged 5.5 points, 8.0 rebounds and 1.6 blocks.
He starred in the postseason, playing an integral role as the Raptors reached the Eastern Conference finals. With Jonas Valanciunas injured in the second round, Biyombo started 10 of Toronto's playoff games. In 25.3 minutes per postseason game, Biyombo averaged 6.2 points, 9.4 rebounds and 1.4 blocks.
No free-agent deals may be signed until the NBA lifts its moratorium period on July 7.
