We take a look back at the biggest trade before today’s news of Boogie going down to NOLA.
Orlando trade F/C Serge Ibaka (1Yr $12,250,000) to Toronto for F Terrence Ross (3Yr $31,000,000) and a 2017 first round draft pick. (2017 1st-Rd pick will be less favorable of TOR & LAC picks).
Carl Says:
ORLANDO MAGIC: B- TORONTO RAPTORS: A
The Magic ship Ibaka to the Raptors from their frontcourt logjam and get back something from a guy who was heavily favoured to walk at the end of the season. So on this trade alone they get back a good roleplayer (but not great at anything) and a semi decent first round pick probably landing in the mid 20s. Ross could play a similar role that he had at the Raptors (sixth man) and will be valuable until Fournier gets healthy. This also allows Gordon to play more at Power Forward which makes sense. Ross could potentially become a piece in which the Magic move him on in another trade.
The Raptors finally get their starting Power Forward even though he will be a rental unless he re-signs at year’s end. So they need to impress Ibaka in the next couple of months. Ibaka will compliment Jonas’s game, can create space, provide athleticism on both ends of the floor and can play Center in a smaller lineup. So the Raptors can use some better combinations with Patterson and Ibaka playing together at the same time and will give their starting lineup a third 3 point scorer which they need with DeRozan’s lack thereof. The main criticism of Ibaka in this trade is that he is thought to have reached his ceiling and his numbers are down, especially where he was said to be at his athletic best, blocking, rebounding etc.. Ibaka’s numbers were down last season with the emergence of Steven Adams. This changed his role to more of an outisde game so less rebounds, also not needing to protect the rim as often with Adams doing his job inside. Now with the numbers this year in Orlando you can understand a drop by just playing with the Magic. A cluttered frontcourt, strage rotations and no star players to help. All of these factors play a part in Ibaka’s stats dropping off. I’m picking his efficiency will pick back up, maybe not the numbers from two seasons ago in OKC but a lot better than this year in Orlando.
Ayden Says:
ORLANDO MAGIC: C+ TORONTO RAPTORS: A
The Magic turned Victor Oladipo and Domantas Sabonis into Terrence Ross and a late 1st rd pick. We’ve all seen it put this way. The fact is, right now, the Magic made the best of a bad situation. Ibaka was not going to extend with Orlando and EVERYBODY knew it. To even get a first round pick back was a win. T-Ross is a decent wing player who will hit some threes and throw down some dunks. The best part for the Magic is they started to clear their logjam up front.
For Toronto, how can it be anything other than an A? The Raps glaring weakness the last three or four seasons has been the power forward spot and they finally filled it with the best available PF at the trade deadline. Ibaka is a perfect fit in Toronto. Kyle Lowry and Patrick Patterson are very efficient when they’re on the floor together and Ibaka is like Patterson except better in every single way. Moving Ross also opens up more time for Normal Powell.