Toronto Raptors: Jonas Valanciunas or Bismack Biyombo?
By Paul Taylor
4) Conclusion
It seems we’re nowhere closer to knowing who is the better option of the two, especially after the review of their rebounding prowess. Of course, you could ask why this even matters – surely having two excellent centres can only be a good thing for the Raptors moving forward?
Unfortunately, there are other factors to consider, such as the aforementioned money aspect. Biyombo is friends with Masai Ujiri, but there are no guarantees that relationship will help if and when it comes to negotiating any contract extension.
If Ujiri and the front office do have to end up choosing between them, and we’re being objective, it could well end up being Valanciunas who leaves. While believing he is the slightly better overall player, he isn’t necessarily the better fit for the team.
In that respect, it may come down to if the Raptors need more help on offence, or at the defensive end of the court? Toronto has made great strides on defence this season, but still aren’t as far along as the team’s abilities on the offensive side.
Overall, there are so many aspects to consider, that we could discuss this all day. So we’ll just close by saying it’s a nice problem for the Raptors to have, considering the majority of the 20-year history of this franchise.
Next: Raptors all-time All-Star starting five
If you had to choose one to build around long-term for the Raptors, would you pick Valanciunas or Biyombo, and why? Let us know in the comments section below.