Center Bismack Biyombo is zeroing in on a four-year, $72 million deal with the Orlando Magic, a person familiar with negotiations told USA TODAY Sports.
The person requested anonymity because he was not authorized to speak publicly about the deal.
Biyombo was a backup for the Raptors last season and averaged 5.5 points, eight rebounds and 1.6 blocks. During the playoffs, Biyombo was pressed into the starter’s role when Jonas Valanciunas sustained a sprained ankle. He had 17 points and 16 rebounds in Toronto’s Game 7 victory against the Miami Heat in the Eastern Conference semifinals and seven points, 26 rebounds and four blocks in the Raptors’ Game 3 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers in the conference finals.
Those performances raised Biyombo’s value on the market, and while the Raptors liked what Biyombo provided, they weren’t going to pay him $18 million per season backing up Valanciunas, who will make $14.3 million in 2016-17.
Now, the Raptors are in the market for another big man and don’t be surprised if they make a serious run at forward-center Pau Gasol.
Orlando continues to revamp its roster. The Magic acquired forward Serge Ibaka in a draft-day trade, reached a five-year, $85 deal with guard-forward Evan Fournier, a one-year, $15 million deal with Jeff Green, traded for Jodie Meeks and reached a four-year, $29 deal with D.J. Augustin.
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