Bismack Biyombo is exactly who the Spurs need now, and in the future

The veteran has shown what San Antonio needs from it’s big men not named Victor Wembanyama.

The NBA trade deadline feels like ages ago at this point. At the time, many called for the San Antonio Spurs to pursue another big man to back up Victor Wembanyama. Ultimately, nothing came to fruition. The Spurs were stuck with a backup big man rotation that had struggled all season. San Antonio was forced to find an upgrade when Charles Bassey and Wembanyama went down with injuries,

Enter the 32-year-old veteran, Bismack Biyombo, who has been a key contributor to a still feisty Spurs squad. Biyombo has been thrust into a starting role and has provided a jolt of energy and interior defense. He’s been exactly what San Antonio needed to finish out the year and may be the exact type of player they need to back up Wembanyama moving forward.

Biyombo’s numbers don’t jump off the page. He’s averaging 6.1 points, 5.7 rebounds, and a block in 17.7 minutes. It’s the little things that Biyombo does that make him valuable. He’s a solid screener and roller. He and Chris Paul are reclaiming some of the synergy they had when they played together in Phoenix. He’s a physical defender with the ability to protect the rim, and he’s willing to do the work on the defensive glass. You’re not asking him to do too much outside of that. He’s your traditional rim-running, dirty work big man – and that’s exactly what the Spurs need.

No one in the league can replicate what Wembanyama does. That’s why the drop-off to the backup center is so stark. San Antonio hasn’t been able to find consistent play from its backup bigs during the Wemby era. Zach Collins was too inconsistent as a floor spacer to be effective offensively, Bassey experiences ups and downs when he can play. They need to find a consistent center that doesn’t hurt them. An energetic rim runner who can clean up the glass is a great fit.

When Wembanyama sits, the Spurs can rely on a backup five who still provides some sort of rim protection, doesn’t get crushed on the boards, and simply finishes plays offensively, whether it be on dump-offs or in the pick-and-roll.

Is Biyombo the long-term answer? Maybe not. He’s 32 years old but has clearly shown he still belongs in the NBA. He’s probably not the best option three to four years from now, but if he’s still playing at this level next season, he’d be one of the best bargain options the Spurs could find at the position.

There will be other, more expensive options in free agency that San Antonio can consider. Myles Turner, Brook Lopez, and Naz Reid would be excellent options that can provide what Biyombo does with floor spacing and more. But with limited cap space, the Spurs would need to get one of them on a discount or conduct a sign-and-trade. Chris Boucher, Precious Achiuwa, and Larry Nance Jr. would be other intriguing free-agent names. The hope with those players is that they could play alongside Wembanyama in short-stints using their versatility in ways that Biyombo probably cannot.

They could upgrade the position in the draft. Georgia big man Asa Newell is an intriguing prospect averaging 15.1 points and 6.6 rebounds. He should be available in the late-lottery range where the Spurs may be selecting. Thomas Sorber from Georgetown is another freshman to keep an eye on, averaging 14.5 points and 8.5 rebounds. If San Antonio decides to wait until the second round to scoop up a big man, keep your eyes on Florida’s Alex Condon or Creighton’s Ryan Kalkbrenner. But those players won’t be nearly as ready to contribute as Biyombo or another veteran will be.

What the Spurs do ultimately comes down to how much they value the position. If Wembanyama is your center of the future, and the way forward is playing rangy wings and forwards around him (as all signs point to,) then is it the best idea to dedicate valued assets to his backup? In that case, is it better to find cheaper but effective options like Biyombo as the backup center?

Biyombo’s presence has shown that he, or a big man like him, can add a lot of value to the Spurs. The question for this summer becomes whether his play earns him another contract as their backup big man next season, or is the example of what kind of center they want to invest in moving forward.