Big man Bismack Biyombo, who last played for the Phoenix Suns in the 2022–2023 season, is the ideal low-risk, high-reward free agent choice for the Boston Celtics second unit. The Memphis Grizzlies recently signed him.
After the fifth game of Ja Morant’s current 25-game suspension, Biyombo is expected to sign an exemption. According to Shams Charania of The Athletic, Biyombo “brings rim protection (1.4 blocks per game last season) with Steven Adams out for the season.”
With the Cs gutting their frontcourt depth in the Jrue Holiday trade, sending out Robert Williams III, and leaving the center position in the hands of Kristaps Porzingis, Al Horford, and Luke Kornet, Biyombo would’ve given them an insurance body who doesn’t do the spectacular; but rather the necessary grunt work in the paint that goes unnoticed.
Now, Biyombo will be joining former Celtics fan favorite Marcus Smart on a struggling Grizzlies team that looks set to struggle until Morant comes back — or beyond that, considering Memphis was able to win games in 2022-23 without Morant. Adams’ absence is being felt profoundly, but Biyombo is essentially a tourniquet for the Grizz this season.
Boston Celtics have unforeseen second-unit frontcourt worry
Since being benched, it doesn’t seem like Horford looks as motivated; making sloppy errors on both ends and carelessly turning the ball over at times. It could just be early-season struggles for a veteran who knows games are more important in April, May, and June than October, but it could also be a sign of someone unwilling to accept a bench role after never being anything but a starter in Boston.
Does that imply a trade for Horford? It ought not to. However, it doesn’t seem like he’ll be the same regular-season player in 2023–24 as he has been the previous two years, thus Brad Stevens and company would be better suited finding another big man for the Cs bench in order to improve their playoff positioning.
