When the Charlotte Hornets (then Bobcats) drafted big man Bismack Biyombo with the No. 7 pick in the 2011 NBA Draft, they assumed they were getting a future star. While that hasn’t exactly panned out, the Los Angeles Lakers should gamble on his potential and sign the Congo native.

Biyombo, who was a restricted free agent heading into the 2015 offseason, did not receive a qualifying offer from the Hornets, officially making him an unrestricted free agent.

Sourcs: Charlotte has informed forward Bismack Biyombo that it won’t tender a qualifying offer, making him an unrestricted free agent.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojYahooNBA) June 29, 2015

Now, the Lakers will have the opportunity to sign the 6’9’’ power forward with the hope that he can live up to the hype that surrounded him before he entered the league in 2011.

Up to this point in his four-year NBA career, Biyombo has been little more than a major disappointment. Despite his lofty standing as a Top 10 pick, he struggled as a rookie, averaging 5.2 points, 5.8 rebounds and 1.8 blocks per game in 63 games (41 starts). Biyombo’s minutes saw a bump in 2012-13, as he played in 80 games (65 starts) but couldn’t improve on his points per game or shooting percentage.

Biyombo essentially became an afterthought in 2013-14, playing only 13.9 minutes per game and seeing only nine starts. He managed only 2.9 points and 4.8 rebounds per game, but at least managed to make 61.1 percent of his shots. After another rough season in 2014-15 that saw him fall out of favor with the coaching staff, Biyombo is now headed for the open market.

The big man-needy Lakers, though, seem like an excellent fit for Biyombo. Especially after declining their team option for center Jordan Hill, Los Angeles could certainly use some added depth in the frontcourt. Biyombo would provide an interesting backup option who can play power forward or center.

There’s no denying Biyombo offered serious potential at some point, evidenced by his standing as the No. 7 overall pick in 2011. If the Lakers can bring him in and give him the proper guidance he needs (especially at the right price), there’s no denying he could develop into a quality contributor for the purple and gold.

Biyombo obviously wouldn’t be a top priority when free agency tips off on July 1, but the Lakers would be wise to keep him on their radar.