Your guess for who will be our starting center next year

This is after the dust settles of the draft, free agency and pre-season, and maybe the first 10 or so games of the regular season.

I know there's a ridiculous amount of recency bias in saying this, but Biyombo became a lot more attractive to me after last night's 26 reb/4 block performance.

He's 23, and although only 6'9 he's got a 7'6 wingspan and a 9'3 standing reach (would have had the second highest standing reach in 2016 draft). He's buried behind more featured Valancunias. He's got a player option this summer. Kind of a low-profile type of target compared to the big names (Horford, Whiteside, Howard), but young and hungry and still developing. Seems like an Enis Kanter-type of situation where the Blazers could offer a poisonous contract to make the Raptors flinch.

You look at Aminu and Ed Davis and this guy seems like exactly the MO of Neil Olshey.

Anyway, he's my best guess. Yours?

 

Whiteside. At least thats who I see as the main target.

I think they'd go after ezeli before biyombo imo

 

Who I was going to guess.

 

Actually biyombo wouldn't be bad either, but when whiteside is available you have to prioritize him.

 

He will be an UFA. Biyombo can sign with anyone he wants, and there isn't a thing Toronto can do about it.

 

Is Biyombo a better starter than Plumlee though. Biyombo is a better defender but has just as little shooting range as Plumlee. Plus Plums can pass and handle the ball much better. Biyombo would be a nice player to have, but the grass isn't always greener. Convince me.

 

Here's an interesting comparison between Biyombo and similar types of under-the-radar defensive big men at the same age. (Dennis Rodman entered the league at 25.) At his age, he's the best rebounder among Rodman, Ben Wallace and DeAndre Jordan, and is second to Rodman in DRTG% and second to Jordan in Blocks. I added Ed Davis and Dale Davis in there so you can compare him to more journeymen types.

 

I modified it to add Plumlee of this season (age 25). In this case, yes, the grass does indeed seem to be greener.

 

No seriously, I have no idea. I'll go with Plumlee for now.

 

Mahimni from the pacer can hit 15 foot shot and above average pnr player. It wouldn't cost us arm and leg to get him.

 

One thing I don't know--is Biyombo a legit 23, or a Mutombo 23? The guy is from the Congo....

 

You could make a case for either with those stats. Biyombo is better at defense and rebounding. Mason is better at passing and playmaking. They are about equal in other areas. Apples and oranges.

 

Defense and rebounding are so much more important for a center than passing.

 

Really hoping for Whiteside to sign.

 

So he's a slightly better and stronger Ed Davis. Like I said, I like the guy, just not sure we need him for the money we would spend. Ed and and Plumlee still end up with better PERs than him somehow.

 

A better and stronger Davis? Where do I sign up?

 

Whiteside. If CJ is this active in watching and commenting, we ar going to be pushing hard for him. This is a great organization and NO has already said they sit down their players and ask them things. I have no doubt in my mind, Dame and CJ have already had conversations with NO about the best ways to improve and Whiteside has probably been the center of that conversation when it comes to bigs.

 

Haven't we seen enough of a center who can rebound but who can't shoot this year?