91. Bismack Biyombo, C, Magic
Biyombo might be a specialist, but he picked the right thing to specialize in. One year after generating limited interest as a free agent, the 2011 lottery pick parlayed a strong postseason run with the Raptors into a four-year, $70 million contract with the Magic. Orlando is paying for elite interior defense: The impossibly long-armed Biyombo (5.5 PPG, 8 RPG, 1.6 BPG) aces the major advanced stats when it comes to protecting the rim, he grades out well as a pick-and-roll defender, and he plays with intensity. As a result, Toronto’s defensive efficiency improved nearly four points when he took the court last season, jumping from No. 23 in 2014-15 to No. 11 last year. Unfortunately, Biyombo, 24, is still a one-way guy: he usually looks uncomfortable with the ball in his hands, he struggles to get his shot in traffic, he’s not a viable option from outside three feet, and he can’t be deployed as a playmaker in pick-and-roll scenarios, meaning his team’s offensive efficiency tends to take a major hit when he’s on the court. As Toronto found out last season though, when he was pressed into a greater role when Jonas Valanciunas was sidelined with injury, BIyombo is just good enough at what he does to make up for what he doesn’t do. (Last year: Not ranked)
+ He ranked No. 8 in the NBA in FG% allowed at the rim last year (via NylonCalculus.com)
+ He grabbed a Raptors franchise-record 26 rebounds in Game 3 of the East finals
– According to Real Plus Minus, his offensive impact ranked 63rd among 71 centers
– He has registered more than twice as many turnovers as assists in each of his five seasons
