NBA Trade Rumors: Orlando Magic To Trade Serge Ibaka Before Deadline

The Orlando Magic are halfway through the 2016-2017 season with an abysmal 20-32 record which is good for 13th in the watered down NBA Eastern Conference. They made waves in the offseason by trading away Victor Oladipo to the Oklahoma City Thunder in exchange for power forward Serge Ibaka. They also signed free agent center Bismack Biyombo to a very generous four-year, $72 million dollar contract.

The problem with those two acquisitions is that it caused a serious logjam in the Magic’s frontcourt. With starting center Nikola Vucevic already in the fold, the team had to move power forward Aaron Gordon to small forward to make room for Ibaka with Biyombo settling into a bench role as the backup center.

The addition of the two big men obviously didn’t help to produce more wins for the team so now the Magic may be looking to make some changes before the trade deadline on February 23. The most likely to go is newcomer Serge Ibaka because he will be an unrestricted free agent this summer so Orlando may want to get something for him in return before he walks away for nothing after the season.

Moving Ibaka would also allow Aaron Gordon to return to his more natural power forward position. Ibaka’s defensive capabilities and midrange game would make him a very attractive trade target for contending teams looking to add another weapon for the playoff push. Here are a few teams that may possibly try to pry Ibaka away from the Magic according to Hoops Habit.

Boston Celtics

The Celtics have been coming up in trade rumors for several weeks now mainly because of the abundance of valuable draft picks and tradeable assets they have to offer. They are currently sitting in second place in the Eastern Conference with a 32-18 record and are looking to improve on that before the postseason begins. They have a solid core of Isaiah Thomas, Avery Bradley, Jae Crowder, and Al Horford. Despite the talented roster they currently have, it may not be enough to knock off Lebron James and the defending world champion Cleveland Cavaliers.

General Manager Danny Ainge may want to add another weapon to help get them over the hump and Ibaka may be just the right piece. He would form a strong frontcourt presence with Horford and could be used as a rim protecting big that can also shoot the ball with consistency. The Celtics would probably have to give up a first-round draft pick or a player package that would include either Jae Crowder or Marcus Smart. If Ainge pulls the trigger on a deal like this it is only because he would be confident he could retain Ibaka when he becomes a free agent this summer. Otherwise, he probably wouldn’t want to give up so much for a half season rental.

GM Danny Ainge may want to add another weapon to help get them over the hump and Ibaka may be just the right piece. He would form a strong frontcourt presence with Horford and could be used as a rim protecting big that can also shoot the ball with consistency. The Celtics would probably have to give up a first-round draft pick or a player package that would include either Jae Crowder or Marcus Smart. If Ainge pulls the trigger on a deal like this it is only because he would be confident he could retain Ibaka when he becomes a free agent this summer. Otherwise, he probably wouldn’t want to give up so much for a half season rental.

If Ainge pulls the trigger on a deal like this it is only because he would be confident he could retain Serge Ibaka when he becomes a free agent this summer. Otherwise, he probably wouldn’t want to give up so much for a half season rental.

Toronto Raptors

The Raptors are another team that could come calling before the deadline passes. They are in a similar situation as the Celtics because they have a well-built roster also but may need more firepower if they want to advance past the Eastern Conference Finals. The have a dynamic backcourt with All Stars DeMar DeRozan and Kyle Lowry along with some good complimentary pieces. Right now, they don’t have a true power forward alternating between Patrick Patterson and Lucas Nogueira.

Adding a veteran presence like Serge Ibaka to the Toronto Raptors lineup would be an immediate upgrade at the position and could help them immensely in their quest for an NBA title. He and Jonas Valanciunas would be a formidable frontcourt duo and could wreak havoc on their Eastern Conference counterparts. The Raptors would have to give up a key bench player like Terrence Ross in order to make a deal happen and they might not be willing to do that just to see Ibaka leave in free agency. It would depend on how bad the Toronto front office wants to win now.

Right now, the Raptors don’t have a true power forward alternating between Patrick Patterson and Lucas Nogueira. Adding a veteran presence like Ibaka to the lineup would be an immediate upgrade at the position and could help them immensely in their quest for an NBA title. He and Jonas Valanciunas would be a formidable frontcourt duo and could wreak havoc on their Eastern Conference counterparts.

The Raptors would have to give up a key bench player like Terrence Ross in order to make a deal happen and they might not be willing to do that just to see Ibaka leave in free agency. It would depend on how bad the Toronto front office wants to win now. With Kyle Lowry looking for a massive extension and Derozan already on a max deal, it’s unlikely that Toronto would be able to also sign Ibaka to the type of

The Raptors would have to give up a key bench player like Terrence Ross in order to make a deal happen and they might not be willing to do that just to see Ibaka leave in free agency. It would depend on how bad the Toronto front office wants to win now. With Kyle Lowry looking for a massive extension and Derozan already on a max deal, it’s unlikely that Toronto would be able to also sign Ibaka to the type of long-term deal he is looking for.

Portland Trail Blazers

The Trailblazers are another franchise that could use a player like Ibaka on its roster. They currently have a 22-29 record and are in 9th place in the highly competitive Western Conference. Since they are only one spot out of the playoff picture they might be aggressive before the trade deadline so they can have a better chance at making the postseason again this year.

The Blazers have their backcourt pretty much set with Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum both having great seasons individually. The problem for Portland is its frontcourt and lack of good options at the power forward position. The Trail Blazers are one of the worst rebounding teams in the league and you can’t have success at the next level without strong interior defense, rim protection and the ability to clean the glass.

This is where Serge Ibaka comes in. He would instantly be able to fill the huge void at power forward and help improve the rebounding and shot blocking the team so desperately needs. Having a player like that on a team like this could be the difference in making the playoffs or watching the action from home. Portland could offer a package including Meyers Leonard and a draft pick to Orlando if they want to make a move for Serge Ibaka. Ibaka could also possibly consider resigning with the Trail Blazers if the team believes he could be a long-term fit.

Wherever Ibaka ends up he could change potentially change the landscape of the NBA and the playoff picture. One thing that is almost certain is he won’t be finishing the season in an Orlando Magic uniform. We should get more clarity over the next few weeks on where he will land and if it will be long term or just a half season rental.

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