NBA Rumors: Miami Heat interested in trading for Serge Ibaka
By mdelaney
Looking to fill a hole at power forward, the Miami Heat could try to claim Serge Ibaka before the Feb. 23 trade deadline.
An improbable 12-game win streak for the Miami Heat isn’t enough to hide their deficiencies. Specifically, their trouble in finding a good power forward to play alongside shot-blocking center Hassan Whiteside has plagued the team throughout the year. Even with serviceable efforts from starter Luke Babbit and bench player James Johnson, neither is a long-term solution at the position.
According to Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald, Heat president Pat Riley isn’t twiddling his thumbs waiting for Babbit or Johnson to surprise him later this season. He’s started to identify players who would fit the team’s current and future direction, and Orlando Magic power forward Serge Ibaka could be just the guy.
Ibaka’s averaging roughly 15 points and seven rebounds per game to go with nearly two blocks and shooting a tantalizing 38.6-percent from downtown. At 27 years old, Ibaka’s in his prime athletically and has more than a few good years left in the tank to make a trade worthwhile for the Heat.
Ibaka would be a tremendous asset for the Heat frontcourt. He can space the floor for Whiteside to work his interior game while also opening up lanes for point guard Goran Dragic to exploit to get to the bucket or to the foul line. On the defensive side, Ibaka and Whiteside’s shot-blocking potential would present a formidable presence for opponents to try to attack the rim for high-percentage shots.
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Riley hasn’t declared he’s quite ready to pounce, but he’ll have some competition if he does. The Houston Rockets are looking to make a run at Ibaka after losing starting center Clint Capela to a fractured fibula for the season in December.
Though the Rockets have also been shy about sacrificing too much in a trade since they’re core is meshing extremely well right now in head coach Mike D’Antoni’s first year. If anything, they’re looking to add depth. Ibaka’s a few steps above being a rotational player so he won’t come cheap.