NBA trade rumors about Orlando Magic forward Serge Ibaka are all over the news nowadays. For a couple of weeks, he's been the centerpiece of every trade deals that the Magic team is involved. Now, recent reports are saying that the Toronto Raptors are looking to add him before the trade deadline.
After being acquired by the Magic in a trade with the Oklahoma City Thunder during the offseason, many Magic fans expected Ibaka to lead the team and bring them to a new level. But after almost four months in the ongoing regular season, Orlando have a disappointing 20-35 win-loss record good only for the 13th spot in the Eastern Conference standing.
With the season already on its halfway period, many pundits believed that the experiment of bringing Ibaka to the Magic camp is a failure. And with him not impressive in the eyes of many Magic fans, speculation are spreading that he is already expendable to the team and must be traded. And it looks like the Toronto Raptors is one of the active suitors for Ibaka.
According to FOXSports, the Toronto Raptors are showing great interest in acquiring the 27-year old power forward from the Orlando Magic and wants to make the deal before the trade deadline. The Raptors are gunning for a spot in the playoffs and adding Ibaka might somehow make it come true.
Toronto is in dire need of a big man after Bismack Biyombo left the team in the offseason that left a big void in the middle for them. Now, there is an opportunity to fill in that void by getting the services of Ibaka who is an excellent defender and an ideal replacement for Biyombo.
Sporting News also noted that Ibaka will become an unrestricted free agent, a risk for the Toronto Raptors but it might be a risk that will eventually favor the team in the long run. The Magic might as well make a deal with him and get a valuable asset rather than lose him for nothing.
Though Jonas Valanciunas is holding the fort of their interior defense, the Toronto Raptors still need some frontcourt support for him as per stated in the report. The Raptors can also take advantage of Ibaka's decent number this season putting up 15.2 points, 6.9 rebounds and 1.6 blocks per game.
Will the Toronto Raptors be able to make a deal to the Orlando Magic before the trade deadline and get the services of Serge Ibaka?
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