Bismack Biyombo Pays Off Spanish Buy-Out, Will Join Bobcats For 2011-12 Season

Biyombo had lost a civil suit against Fuenlabrada last week, which appeared to block the big man from beginning his rookie season in Queen City. But Biyombo decided to pay off the buy-out instead of waiting for it to expire or for Fuenlabrada to changes its mind. Under NBA rules, the Bobcats can only pay $500,000 to break an international contract, meaning Biyombo had to forfeit the rest of it himself.

Before taxes and any decrease due to the shortened season but after the NBA’s escrow pull, Biyombo was slated to make about $2 million from Charlotte this season. That means that (again, after taxes) nearly Biyombo’s entire salary will go to Fuenlabrada. He does not exactly seem the type to land a major endorsement, either. It’s quite a selfless move on his part.

Biyombo, Congolese by birth, arrived at Fuenlabrada last year and drew heavy attention for his shotblocking abilities and incredible physical stature. That hype helped him get into the Nike Hoop Summit, where he registered the first triple-double in the history of the event. He ended up going No. 9 overall to the Bobcats in the June draft.

But Fuenlabrada had maintained all along that it would not let Biyombo out of his contract without being compensated. Under NBA rules, teams can only supply $500,000 toward an international contract buy-out. Biyombo is obviously not in a position to make up the rest.

Fuenlabrada is apparently seeking a $1.4 million buyout from Biyombo. Barring that, the big man would be unavailable for two seasons.

Under the now-expired collective bargaining agreement, NBA teams can only put $500,000 toward a player’s buyout. Unless there is a major shift in the rookie scale in a new CBA, Biyombo’s first-year salary with the Bobcats would be above $2 million.