Lakers: 3 Trade Deadline Targets at Power Forward
Serge Ibaka
Age: 27
Contract: Signed a four-year, $49.4 million deal in 2013. Unrestricted free agent in 2017. Average $12.4 million a year.
2016-17 Relevant Stats: 15.2 PTS, 6.9 REB, 1.1 AST, 0.6 STL, 1.6 BLK
Remember when I said none of these trades were meant to replace Julius Randle or Nance? I lied.
Serge Ibaka is one of five players averaging at least 1.5 blocks per game while shooting no less than 35 percent from behind the arc. The other guys? Joel Embiid, Myles Turner, Kristaps Porzingis, and Kevin Durant. Where’s Ibaka’s unicorn horn?
However, for all he can do, he can only do so much. The Orlando Magic traded for Ibaka not even a year ago hoping he would lead Orlando to their first playoff berth in four years. With more than half of the regular season in the rearview, the Magic have the fifth worst record (20-35) in the NBA. In other words, not what they were hoping for.
Now with playoffs reasonably out of reach, the Magic are looking to deal Ibaka, according to Sporting News:
"It has not taken long for buyers’ remorse to kick in. League sources told Sporting News that the Magic have picked up their attempts to move Ibaka ahead of next month’s trade deadline, eager to ensure that they come away with some return for a player who does not figure to be in Orlando long."
Moving Ibaka would clear up playing time in the frontcourt for Aaron Gordon, who has had to play small forward this season because the Orlando Magic don’t have a wing. They did have a talented young wing in Tobias Harris, but they traded him for Brandon Jennings, Ersan Illyasova and a bag of peanuts. Hilarious.
Perhaps Orlando would be interested in Luol Deng? As bad as Deng has been in Los Angeles, there’s still reason to believe he can contribute somehwere else. He can score from virtually anywhere on the floor and he is still an above average defender.
Would the Magic do a straight up Deng for Ibaka swap? Despite their history of incompetence with trades, probably not, but if the Lakers were to throw in a few pieces they could get the deal done.
Like this story? Read another one like it: 3 Targets at Small Forward
A package of Deng, Lou Williams, Jose Calderon, Nick Young and a second-rounder for Ibaka, Jeff Green, D.J. Augustine and Mario Hezonja could do it.
Like Ibaka, Nick Young is a flight risk in free agency. Any value the Lakers can get out of him at the deadline is a win and Orlando could use a premier perimiter threat. Oh, and cap space.
If Youg decided to walk in free agency, I don’t imagine Magic General Manager Rob Hennigan weeping in the fetal position. Assuming Young and Calderon walk in free agency, the Magic would have around $16 million they wouldn’t have had otherwise. Financial flexibility is a must for Orlando after they committed big money to Bismack Biyombo (four-years $72 million) and Evan Fournier (five-years $85 million).
However, the Magic would be the obvious losers in this deal, which is a reoccuring theme for them. The Lakers would get Ibaka, a former top-five pick, a servicable backup point guard and an expiring contract for a few expendable pieces.
If Ibaka pans out, the Lakers could always look to move a few pieces of their own for another All-Star caliber player. What could a package of Julius Randle, Jordan Clarkson and top-three pick in the upcoming draft get them? Jimmy Butler? C.J. McCollum? Robert Sacre? I don’t know, but it would be interesting to find out.
Next: Highs and Lows vs Miluwakee
But what do you guys think? Are there better options on the table? Do the Lakers need shooting up front? Let us know in the comments below!