Oklahoma City accomplished everything it set out to do at the trade deadline. Sam Presti made a splash move acquiring Gordon Hayward for end of the bench players and gave the Thunder another scoring option in the lineup. The trade filled a lot of holes for the team, but didn't address the rebounding issue.
Then, he went out and snatched Bismack Biyombo off the buy-out market, giving the Thunder a bruiser down low and someone who can step in when needed. Adding another scorer and rebounder is what the team needed to accomplish at the deadline, and management did just that. They gave this Thunder team a chance to go far, although the fate of the team still rests in the young core's continued progression.
If Hayward is healthy, he's obviously an impact player for the Thunder, even if it's just in spurts. You know what you're getting with a player of his caliber. What can fans expect of Biyombo, though?
Signing anyone off of the less-than-impressive buyout market list was always going to be a low risk addition. There's a reason those players were available, and the Thunder didn't have a ton of options to choose from. Other big men on the list included Robin Lopez and Thaddeus Young amongst others, but Presti made the right choice. Biyombo fits the Thunder, whether or not he contributes meaningful minutes.
He's undersized at 6-foot-8 but has a massive wingspan and plays a true center position. At 31 years old, he still has some game left in the tank and proved it this season. In 30 games with the Grizzlies, Biyombo averaged 5.2 points, 6.4 rebounds and 1.7 assists. He's a solid rim protector, too, averaging 1.1 blocks per game.
Biyombo brings valuable playoff experience to this young team as well. He played eight playoff games for Phoenix a season ago and nine the season before that. His role in Phoenix could look much like his role in Oklahoma City. An energizing big off the bench that rebounds and dunks while running the floor.
He's not going to be an every night guy, and he probably won't be in the regular rotation. But he gives the Thunder an option off the bench if the team is getting mauled on the boards or Chet Holmgren finds his way into foul trouble. He's a serviceable backup that's more than just a locker room guy.
It was the right move for the Thunder, and a move that could win them a game or two down the stretch.
More must-reads: