MIAMI – When the NBA’s free-agent courting period opened last July, the Orlando Magic targeted and ultimately landed center Bismack Biyombo so that they would have a better shot at slowing down big men such as Miami’s Hassan Whiteside.
Because of a quirky and controversial NBA rule, the Magic almost certainly won’t have the shot-swatting, rebounding-grabbing Biyombo available in next week’s regular-season opener against Whiteside and the rival Heat. And that could be a huge blow to an Orlando team that saw the 7-foot, 265-pound Whiteside batter them for 16 points, 12.3 rebounds and 3.5 blocks while shooting 59 percent from the floor in four games last season.