Terrence Ross and Bismack Biyombo are two interesting ex-Raptors that are currently on the Orlando Magic.

Terrence Ross

“If only the Raptors still had Terrence Ross.”

I don’t know how many times I heard this last year, but it was a lot. When the Raptors were laying bricks from three-point range I guess it was easy to imagine the Terrence Ross that was red hot for a few weeks last year before he cooled off and the Raptors traded him. Since playing in Orlando, Terrence has become a bricklayer. People are quick to point out he’s playing defense. They are not wrong. Ross is playing defense for the first time since his second year in the NBA. Back then T-Ross was referred to as a 3 and D player. Unfortunately, that wasn’t sustainable for him. Terrence Ross failing to hit shots has forced him to play defense for the Magic. He probably wouldn’t see the floor if he wasn’t doing anything defensively. In fact, Terrence Ross recently injured himself trying to make a defensive play. I take no joy seeing him injured because I get a great deal of joy watching him miss shots. If he’s not playing I’m deprived of this entertainment.

^{Terrence Ross's Stats with the Magic}

Terrence Ross had the potential to be a special player. As a member of the Toronto Raptors, he dropped 51 points in a game against the Clippers. Ross also won a dunk contest. However, we never really saw consistency and effort from Terrence. Morris Peterson was a consistent 3 & D player as a member of the Toronto Raptors.

Ross shares a lot of similarities with Peterson’s game, but was never reliable especially in the playoffs. Ross has this great athleticism, but never really use it in games. There is evidence he can be a good defender, but we rarely saw it when Ross was a member of the Raptors. Possessions died with Terrence Ross. He would either hit a shot or he would miss. The way the Raptors are constructed now they would have needed Terrence to be a competent playmaker. That just wasn’t him. For awhile this was this glimmer of hope that Ross would put everything together can become a star. The tools are there, but maybe he’s content being a role player. Terrence Ross will be 27 in February, so he still has time to improve his game if that’s something he is interested in. Get well soon Terrence. I’ll be looking forward to you coming back healthy if only it’s to lay some more bricks.

^{Terrence Ross's Career Playoff Average}

Bismack Biyombo

  Photo taken by Keith Allison

It is probably impossible to slander Bismack. Raptors fans bought in quickly when the Raptors signed him. Thrown to the curb by the Hornets the Raptors were able to sign him for super cheap. Sixty percent of the time Biyombo was great every time. At least in his career year with the Raptors. He wasn’t fantastic every game that season with the Raptors, but over the course of the season he was good in the majority of games. We see now how Bebe is trying to emulate Bismack to replicate that success. People forget Biyombo is pretty short for a center. Coming in at 6’9” that’s 3 inches shorter than Bebe.

Yes, Bismack is the far superior rebounder. On the flip side, Bebe does have better hands. Biyombo really fit the Raptors system well because Dwane Casey doesn’t run a lot of offense through the center position. So Biyombo rarely needed to catch the basketball other than rebounds. The energy he brought was contagious. Biyombo has struggled to find his role in Orlando, but at the same time, they haven’t really done him any favors. It was long rumored that the Magic wanted to move Nikola Vucevic. That never happened. Terrence Ross was supposed to provide the Magic with shooting. Also, hasn’t happened. So not only have the minutes not really been there for Bismack Biyombo, but they don’t have the shooters to put around him. The Raptors put him in a position to succeed and he absolutely did. Jonas Valanciunas played great against the Pacers and the Heat that year until he and Whiteside both got injured. Bismack was the next man up and he stepped up in a big way especially in the Eastern Conference Finals against the Cavs. He made a great business decision to cash in and sign with the Orlando Magic.

Biyombo is currently making roughly $17M/Year and I feel good for him. If you work hard you should be rewarded. It’s unfortunate to see that he’s not a great fit with the Orlando Magic, but I still have a special place in my heart for him. With the Raptors fantastic depth at center they haven't missed a beat without Bismack Biyombo.

Terrence Ross and Bismack Biyombo haven’t panned out with the Orlando Magic. Did the Raptors unload Ross at the right time? Was it a curse or a blessing for Bismack Biyombo to be overpaid by the Magic?