The Toronto Raptors became the first franchise to make a major move ahead of the trade deadline on February 23.
In a trade that should make them a serious contender in the Eastern Conference, the Raptors acquired Serge Ibaka from the Orlando Magic in exchange for Terrence Ross and a first-round pick in the upcoming 2017 NBA Draft.
It was clear the Raptors needed a spark. They’ve struggled massively during the past two months, and they went from second to fourth in the East. Their home-court advantage is in danger, and the Raptors bolstered their roster with the arrival of the Spaniard at a relatively low price.
However, this might not be what the Raptors needed if their aim was to surpass the Cleveland Cavaliers as the best team in the East. Sure, Ibaka is in the midst of the best season of his career offensively with 15.1 PPG and 38.8% from three. But he’s not the defensive force he once was. And considering he won’t have a lot of the scoring load in Toronto, he needs to excel defensively to make an impact.
That’s not all, though. If Ibaka would’ve wanted to reach the Finals and ultimately win a ring, perhaps Toronto wasn’t the best destination. Boston sounds like a better fit, at least on paper. And this is not a knock on the Raptors; it’s just that they’re not good enough to contend for a title right now.
I mean, Ibaka didn’t beat LeBron when he was with the Oklahoma City Thunder. And remember – that team had James Harden, Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook. What makes him think he’s going to top the Cavaliers now, when his co-stars are DeMar DeRozan and Kyle Lowry?
Make no mistake; the Raptors made a good move landing Ibaka. And there’s no question he’s going to improve the team on both ends of the floor.
However, Toronto fans need to temper their expectations. If they are looking for an upgrade, then they should be happy with Ibaka’s arrival. But if they’re looking for a game changer, then Ibaka won’t fit the bill.