There’s a growing sense around the league that Serge Ibaka could be dealt before the trade deadline, Marc Stein of ESPN.com writes. Orlando traded for Ibaka during the offseason with the thought that he could be a long-term fixture with the team. However, the Magic now feel retaining the big man in free agency could be harder to accomplish than they initially expected.
A source told Stein that the belief around the league is that Orlando will take the best offer for Ibaka at the deadline. The Magic are fielding calls from several teams and Toronto and Miami are among the Eastern Conference teams to express interest in Ibaka this month, sources tell Stein.
Here’s more from Stein’s latest piece:
- There is growing belief that the Nuggets are prepared to move Danilo Gallinari, as the team believes he will turn down the player option in his contract and become a free agent this offseason. Stein adds that Denver doesn’t plan on breaking the bank for the small forward and notes that the Raptors and Clippers are among the teams monitoring the situation.
- The Nets continue to demand two first-round picks in exchange for Brook Lopez, Stein writes.
- The Hawks remain adamant that Paul Millsap will not be traded. The team is willing to stick it out with Millsap this season even if it means losing him for nothing come summertime.
Coach Budah shouldn’t have that authority. The Hawks are a mediocre team at best. Why hold on to an aging piece when you could get multiple picks, players in return
Mediocre? They are 8 games above 500 and are probably headed to the playoffs just because a team isn’t Cleveland or Golden state doesn’t mean they’re mediocre
Let’s look at some of the losses lately…
Sac by 1 10 games under 500
Jazz by 25
Wizards by 26
Heat by 25
Clips by 10
Celts by 2
T-wolves by 14
T-wolves by 8
Hornets by 8
Magic by 11
Raptors by 44
Pistons by 36
Lakers by 15
Tell me how there not mediocre?
Maybe they don’t care by some of these scores. Why hold onto an aging star wanting more money than the 21m he makes now. Keeping him is not going to make them better.
The Sixers need to get involved for an Ibaka trade.
If they acquired him, I believe it would help.
Plus, they have all kinds of money to sign him to a big deal after the season if it works out.
Ibaka to Philly would just further cluster their frontcourt. Assuming Okafor gets dealt that would still leave them with Embiid, Noel, Holmes, Saric, and Simmons. They don’t have any room for him at the 4 or the 5
Oh hell no
I’d like to see Ibaka starting over Amir Johnson on the Celtics. He’s not Boston’s “missing piece”, but if Boston could add Butler or any star who’s not a big, pick up Ibaka and take a real run at knocking off Cleveland. GS isn’t even a given in the west. The spurs or rockets could knock them off, and we could end up with an unexpected finals this year. I’m a Celtics fan, and it’s a pipe dream, but I’m allowed to hope.
Well, as I’ve said, I hope the heat wouldn’t trade any of our young pieces for a couple of months of Ibaka+ his bird rights. If we were to trade Whiteside, we’d have about $60 million in cap room this offseason, so whatever. We could just sign Ibaka in free agency.
I hope Clipps best Gallo. He is the best fit as sf in the roster: he defend, he can shoot very well, he is a team player………
I hope Clippers fit Gallo