The Toronto Raptors and Orlando Magic have completed a trade that will send Serge Ibaka to the Raptors and Terrence Ross to the Magic. The trade was completed on Feb. 14.
The Orlando Magic acquired Serge Ibaka via a draft-night trade that sent Victor Oladipo, Ersan Ilyasova as well as draft rights to Domantas Sabonis to the Oklahoma City Thunders. According to Orlando Sentinel, acquiring Ibaka was a part of a three-person-big man rotation experiment that the Magic tried to implement.
The three-person-big man rotation of the Magic consisted of Nikola Vucevic, Bismack Biyombo, and Ibaka. The experiment did not pay off as the Magic's win-loss record currently, stands at 21-36.
Serge Ibaka's expiring contract played a role in the decision to trade the big man before the Feb. 23 trade deadline. Ibaka has not given assurance that he will stay and re-sign with Orlando. As such, Magic was forced to trade Ibaka than risk losing him for nothing in the off-season.
Magic acquired swingman Terrence Ross and a first-round Draft pick in the Ibaka trade. Ross who is currently averaging 10.2 points per game and a 37.6 percent three-point shooter this season is said to be an excellent addition to the Magic.
According to Sports Illustrated, with Ross in the fold, Aaron Gordon will be back to playing at the four. Ross' perimeter shooting will remedy the terrible spacing that has troubled the Magic during Ibaka's tenure.
If Coach Frank Vogel decides to put Ross in the Magic's starting lineup, their starting five will feature Gordon and Vucevic at the front court, Evan Fournier and Elfrid Payton at the backcourt and Ross manning the three.
Serge Ibaka has already arrived in Toronto to start the next chapter of his career. With the Toronto Raptors Ibaka trade, the Raptors are hoping that the big man will help the team move past Cleveland.
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