The Toronto Raptors number one priority this offseason will be to re-sign DeMar DeRozan. The Raptors All-Star and Team USA member will be getting a significant pay raise this summer, expecting a max deal and with no one else but the Raptors. DeRozan has essentially refused to meet with any other team other than Toronto and most reports are indicating that DeMar will re-sign. With that almost set in stone, the Raptors will have to soon focus on yet another key free agent of theirs, back up Center Bismack Byombo.
Biyombo became an essential part of the team’s defense, which led them to the Eastern Conference, even when Jonas Valanciunas was injured throughout their semi-finals series against the Miami Heat. Now, Biyombo is looking to get rewarded. Biyombo is expected to get something along the lines of $17-19 million and the Raptors will have to clear some room in their salary cap if they want to get keep Biyombo and DeRozan. That won’t stop Biyombo from wanting to return to the Raptors, according to Sam Amick of USA Today, Biyombo is more then willing to figure things out with Toronto:
The good news, for DeRozan and the Raptors, is that Biyombo wants to come back. According to a person with knowledge of his situation, he will be patient as Toronto works things out with DeRozan as its top priority. Biyombo will have no shortage of suitors should the Raptors blink long enough to lose DeRozan, but there will be no immediate rush to seize the speediest deal.
Should DeRozan be willing to shave some off the top of his salary as a way to help Biyombo stay on board, as it seems he possibly will, then there is a very real interest on Biyombo’s part of making it all work. The person spoke to USA TODAY Sports on the condition of anonymity because of the private nature of the situation.
For the Raptors to be able to sign DeRozan and Biyombo, they would have to let go of a contract like Terrence Ross’ who commands a whopping $10 million next season. Even then, the Raptors would only have enough to sign Biyombo to a $16 million deal and cap them out at the new $94 million salary cap. The Raptors will literally have no room for improving the roster that went to the Eastern Conference Finals this year.
