It goes with out saying that shedding Victor Wembanyama for the remainder of the season was (a) sudden, and (b) an enormous blow to how Spurs noticed the season ending.
The Silver & Black weren’t going to win a title, however they have been making developments as a workforce and their chief gave the impression to be a shoo-in for the Defensive Participant of the Yr.
If sidelining Wemby wasn’t sufficient to disrupt the workforce’s stream, Charles Bassey has been out and in of the rotation with a nagging knee damage. And the Spurs traded away Zach Collins as a part of the deal that introduced De’Aaron Fox to city.
This leaves Sandro Mamukelashvili because the lone huge man. And Appearing Head Coach Mitch Johnson has utilized Mamu in small stints, however has typically opted for a small ball configuration with Jeremy Sochan because the defensive anchor.
Earlier than the All-Star Break, the Spurs signed Bismack Biyambo to a ten-day contract. The Congolese huge man was drafted seventh general in 2011. He’s beforehand performed for six different NBA franchises however was on the surface wanting on this season till the Spurs got here calling.
With the primary ten-day contract, Biyombo didn’t play, however because the announcement of Wemby’s deep vein thrombosis, the thirty-two yr previous signed a second ten-day contract and has been beginning. That contract expires on March 2nd because the Spurs return dwelling from the Rodeo Highway Journey.
The NBA limits groups to 2 ten-day contracts to guage a participant. After that, they need to signal Biyombo or launch him.
Because the All-Star Break, Biyombo has began in 5 video games. He tallied double-doubles in each video games in New Orleans. He’s proven he can defend, and his pick-and-roll capabilities match proper in with the veteran guards.
He had restricted minutes within the blow out loss towards the Houston Rockets, which begs the query — might Biyombo make a better affect?
If he have been to signal on with the Spurs for the rest of the season, might his veteran presence paired with dimension and power give the Spurs a lift of their improvement and retooling?
Mitch Johnson stated, “It’s good how shortly he’s built-in into this offense,” and praised his physicality as a defender.
We’ll know in a matter of days.
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