Report: Biyombo to decline option, become UFA

In a move widely expected, Toronto Raptors center Bismack Biyombo will decline next year's $2.9-million option by June 4 and become an unrestricted free-agent July 1, according to ESPN's Marc Stein, citing sources.

The report broke shortly after the Raptors were eliminated from the playoffs with a 113-87 loss to Cleveland in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Finals Friday night.

Biyombo's breakout playoff performance has prompted league executives to forecast an annual salary of at least $15 million on the open market, a huge pay increase that's expected to price the cash-strapped Raptors out of the bidding for the 23-year-old rim protector.

The Raptors' season came to an anti-climactic end Friday after an unprecedented run that included a franchise-record 56 regular-season wins and two playoff series victories. Biyombo's superb play this spring was a catalyst for the Raptors' success, particularly against the Cavaliers, who had trouble containing the active rebounder and shot-blocker during their testy six-game series.

Biyombo's 26 rebounds in Game 3 broke his own team record set earlier this season against the Pacers, and made him just the fourth player to grab 25 or more in a playoff game since 1984, joining Hakeem Olajuwon, Tim Duncan, and Dwight Howard.

His standout series against the Cavaliers saw the former first-round pick average 6.3 points, 10.3 rebounds, and 1.8 blocks on 56 percent shooting.

During the first quarter of Friday's loss, Biyombo was assessed a flagrant-1 foul for an elbow to Cavs forward Kevin Love, and now faces an automatic one-game suspension next season for exceeding the playoff flagrant foul limit.