The newest Toronto Raptors signee, young center Bismack Biyombo, is just the latest in a string of extremely focused of moves from GM Masai Ujiri. The modus operandi this offseason is defense, defense and then more defense. The Raptors had the 25th-ranked defense this season, and it got worse as the season progressed, culminating in a first-round undressing at the hands of the Washington Wizards.

Ujiri’s first move was to trade the comically slow Greivis Vasquez, probably the team’s worst defender. He then replaced Vasquez by drafting Delon Wright, a lockdown perimeter guy in college. Finally, in the Raptors’ marquee offseason move, Ujiri signed three-and-D specialist DeMarre Carroll to a four-year, $60 million contract.

Now, we have Bismack Biyombo, who is basically the embodiment of an all-defense philosophy. Biyombo averaged just 8.8 points and 0.5 assists per 36 minutes this season, and has shown very few signs of improvement on that end. He did, however, block 2.9 shots per 36, and grab 11.8 rebounds.

It’ll be interesting to see how coach Dwane Casey integrates Biyombo into the rotation, should he choose to do so. Biyombo is a true center backing up another one in Jonas Valanciunas, but Casey was recently quoted as saying, “the day of the centers has gone by.” Hopefully this doesn’t mean even less playing time for Jonas, but that could well be the case if Casey likes Biyombo’s defense better. 

I don’t know if force-feeding defensive players onto the roster is the best strategy for fixing this team’s issues — and some unwelcome side effects could be in store — but it certainly is a strategy, and it’s good to see Raptors management actively engaged in turning the franchise around. Look for the 2015-16 Raptors to play a very different brand of basketball than the team we just saw get embarrassed in the playoffs.

Casey Sherman is the Toronto Raptors Beat Writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @shermham