Should we have signed Biyombo?

[LarBrd33]

Obviously I was a fan of signing rich man's Willie Cauley Stein for cheap this summer.   A lot of folks here would have rather we traded upwards of 4 first round picks to trade up and take Willie Cauley stein in the top 8.   I didn't see the point when biyombo was sitting there in free agency.  We could have added him for nothing.

Biyombo over his last 6 games is averaging 15 rebounds and 3 blocks.  He's temporarily starting in place of Jonas valanciunas.  Raptors have continued to win at a decent rate with him manning the middle as a defensive rim protector.   I get why we ended up giving Amir Johnson 12 million per year, but Biyombo is 23 years old and could still improve.  The raptors got biyombo for $3 mil per year.  Should we have signed biyombo ? 

[pearljammer10]

I've always been a big Biyombo fan. He fits in on the defensive end perfectly with our defensive schemes...However, he can't stretch the floor on offense which is a big part of Brad's offensive system...Still would have approved a signing to see him in green.

[LarBrd33]

I've always been a big Biyombo fan. He fits in on the defensive end perfectly with our defensive schemes...However, he can't stretch the floor on offense which is a big part of Brad's offensive system...Still would have approved a signing to see him in green.

i think that's the key reason we paid Amir 4x what biyombo cost. That and because we wanted a big unguaranteed contract to trade.  He's got a decent shot whereas biyombo is useless offensively.  Still, biyombo is a nice rim protector and comically enough seems to be on the same trajectory as Ben Wallace.  Not that he will reach that level, but anytime he's been giving minutes he's proven to be a great rebounder and defender. 

[saltlover]

No.  Biyombo is a fine defender, but useless on offense.  Our defense is not lacking on this team.  Offense sometimes is.  We were short in roster spots, and Ainge was correct in trying to find players who could help in both ends of the floor, such as Amir.

[Donoghus]

No.  Biyombo is a fine defender, but useless on offense.  Our defense is not lacking on this team.  Offense sometimes is.  We were short in roster spots, and Ainge was correct in trying to find players who could help in both ends of the floor, such as Amir.

This. 

This Celtics team needed (& still needs) more offensive firepower.  Not another defender and certainly not someone who basically has zero offensive game. 

[BudweiserCeltic]

No.  Biyombo is a fine defender, but useless on offense.  Our defense is not lacking on this team.  Offense sometimes is.  We were short in roster spots, and Ainge was correct in trying to find players who could help in both ends of the floor, such as Amir.

I agree and disagree. I wouldn't have minded having Biyombo, but my issue is with the contract. Many are seeing it as a "what a bargain", while I'm seeing it as a "one-year experiment" with limited trade value. Amir's contract is much more valuable to us.

[hwangjini_1]

Obviously I was a fan of signing rich man's Willie Cauley Stein for cheap this summer.   A lot of folks here would have rather we traded upwards of 4 first round picks to trade up and take Willie Cauley stein in the top 8.   I didn't see the point when biyombo was sitting there in free agency.  We could have added him for nothing.

Biyombo over his last 6 games is averaging 15 rebounds and 3 blocks.  He's temporarily starting in place of Jonas valanciunas.  Raptors have continued to win at a decent rate with him manning the middle as a defensive rim protector.   I get why we ended up giving Amir Johnson 12 million per year, but Biyombo is 23 years old and could still improve.  The raptors got biyombo for $3 mil per year.  Should we have signed biyombo ?

you forgot to add that he is averaging only 5.6 points a game and his ft% is 66%. i am not saying he is not worth signing, only that you need to provide a fuller picture of a player when asking for the opinions of others.

we might ask why so many other teams were not clamoring for biyombo? what was it about his game that made so many teams hesitate to sign him?

well, one thing might be his stunningly limited shooting range. using 2014-15 (which would have been the most recent basis for signing him for this season) biyombo took a total of 169 shots in the entire season. of those 169 shots, SIX were from outside 5 feet of the basket. (and he was 2 for 6 on those.)

this means that biyombo took 94% of his shots from 5 feet or less. he shot for about 60% on these shots.

see for yourself: http://vorped.com/1-nba/2014-2015/player/1330/bismack-biyombo/shotchart/

now then, let's engage in this conversation in light of this new info.

yes, biyombo this year has shown the ability to rebound (9/g) and block shots (1.5/g). but both his scoring (5.6/g) and his incredibly limited shooting range (he basically cant do anything but dunk or lay ups) would give any GM a least a moment of pause.

would like him on the celtics? maybe, as a role player. CBS can work miracles with most players it seems.

[Jvalin]

He is pretty much worthless on the offensive side of the ball, but at the same time he is an elite pick n roll defender, elite rebounder and elite shot blocker due to his extraordinary length and athleticism. All the guy wants is to play big minutes for a team that actually knows how to use him. Trade for him Danny! Give him a chance to play 30 minutes per game alongside Kelly/Sully and see what happens. We have a huge problem defending the pick n roll and protecting the paint. Biz is exactly what we need in our frontcourt.

I wouldn't have minded having Biyombo, but my issue is with the contract. Many are seeing it as a "what a bargain", while I'm seeing it as a "one-year experiment" with limited trade value. Amir's contract is much more valuable to us.

He is on a $2,814,000 contract with a player option of $2,940,630 for next year. Even if he opts out I can’t see him resigning for big money because he is still very raw offensively and many people consider him to be a bust.

Only real worry for me is his actual age. Officially he is 23, but there are legitimate concerns that he may actually be a little bit older than that.

[ssspence]

No.  Biyombo is a fine defender, but useless on offense.  Our defense is not lacking on this team.  Offense sometimes is.  We were short in roster spots, and Ainge was correct in trying to find players who could help in both ends of the floor, such as Amir.

This. 

This Celtics team needed (& still needs) more offensive firepower.  Not another defender and certainly not someone who basically has zero offensive game.

These things don't exist in a vacuum. Example: I'd be very happy to have Biyombo playing Sullinger's minutes -- essentially adding defensive length, while removing the worthless jumpers Sully takes -- for the cheap price BB comes at, then trading Sully for somethig so we don't waste money on his this summer.

[wdleehi]

A defensive player that has shown to be effective in small spurts.  Little value in terms of trade.  Small potential. 


Not a big miss. 

[celticsclay]

He has up a few nice rebounding numbers. Obviously the best of stauskas him and bennett. In general we just have to run away from players you like. It's like the madden curse!

[SHAQATTACK]

Meh.....rather have Amir anyday

[saltlover]

No.  Biyombo is a fine defender, but useless on offense.  Our defense is not lacking on this team.  Offense sometimes is.  We were short in roster spots, and Ainge was correct in trying to find players who could help in both ends of the floor, such as Amir.

This. 

This Celtics team needed (& still needs) more offensive firepower.  Not another defender and certainly not someone who basically has zero offensive game.

These things don't exist in a vacuum. Example: I'd be very happy to have Biyombo playing Sullinger's minutes -- essentially adding defensive length, while removing the worthless jumpers Sully takes -- for the cheap price BB comes at, then trading Sully for somethig so we don't waste money on his this summer.

If Sully is that worthless, a) he's not tradeable and b) he's just taking the qualifying offer this summer.  So no major lost opportunity.

[ssspence]

No.  Biyombo is a fine defender, but useless on offense.  Our defense is not lacking on this team.  Offense sometimes is.  We were short in roster spots, and Ainge was correct in trying to find players who could help in both ends of the floor, such as Amir.

This. 

This Celtics team needed (& still needs) more offensive firepower.  Not another defender and certainly not someone who basically has zero offensive game.

These things don't exist in a vacuum. Example: I'd be very happy to have Biyombo playing Sullinger's minutes -- essentially adding defensive length, while removing the worthless jumpers Sully takes -- for the cheap price BB comes at, then trading Sully for somethig so we don't waste money on his this summer.

If Sully is that worthless, a) he's not tradeable and b) he's just taking the qualifying offer this summer.  So no major lost opportunity.

I imagine Ainge could convince an inferior GM that Sullinger has upside (by comparison to the pure defensive role of Biyombo), at least beyond what he currently is.

But that may be getting more difficult.... he's already looking tired after <2 months of the season.

[Smitty77]

Obviously I was a fan of signing rich man's Willie Cauley Stein for cheap this summer.   A lot of folks here would have rather we traded upwards of 4 first round picks to trade up and take Willie Cauley stein in the top 8.   I didn't see the point when biyombo was sitting there in free agency.  We could have added him for nothing.

Biyombo over his last 6 games is averaging 15 rebounds and 3 blocks.  He's temporarily starting in place of Jonas valanciunas.  Raptors have continued to win at a decent rate with him manning the middle as a defensive rim protector.   I get why we ended up giving Amir Johnson 12 million per year, but Biyombo is 23 years old and could still improve.  The raptors got biyombo for $3 mil per year.  Should we have signed biyombo ?

you forgot to add that he is averaging only 5.6 points a game and his ft% is 66%. i am not saying he is not worth signing, only that you need to provide a fuller picture of a player when asking for the opinions of others.

we might ask why so many other teams were not clamoring for biyombo? what was it about his game that made so many teams hesitate to sign him?

well, one thing might be his stunningly limited shooting range. using 2014-15 (which would have been the most recent basis for signing him for this season) biyombo took a total of 169 shots in the entire season. of those 169 shots, SIX were from outside 5 feet of the basket. (and he was 2 for 6 on those.)

this means that biyombo took 94% of his shots from 5 feet or less. he shot for about 60% on these shots.

see for yourself: http://vorped.com/1-nba/2014-2015/player/1330/bismack-biyombo/shotchart/

now then, let's engage in this conversation in light of this new info.

yes, biyombo this year has shown the ability to rebound (9/g) and block shots (1.5/g). but both his scoring (5.6/g) and his incredibly limited shooting range (he basically cant do anything but dunk or lay ups) would give any GM a least a moment of pause.

would like him on the celtics? maybe, as a role player. CBS can work miracles with most players it seems.

Please do not forget to mention the FACT that Amir is shooting 56% at the line and Sully is shooting 59%!!:-)))))  Both WORSE than Biz.  I personally would LOVE to sign him next year as he will DEFINITELY opt out and pursue a more fair contract with the cap exploding.

Smitty77

Smitty77