The Toronto Raptors have traded swingman Terrence Ross and a 2017 first-round pick to the Orlando Magic for Serge Ibaka.
Toronto Raptors president Masai Ujiri finally got Serge Ibaka. After attempting to trade for Ibaka at the NBA Draft, the Raptors have acquired the African-born forward in a trade with the Orlando Magic.
Orlando has agreed to trade Serge Ibaka to Toronto for Terrence Ross and a 2017 first-round pick, league sources tell @TheVertical.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) February 14, 2017
The Raptors are sending fifth-year swingman Terrence Ross and the lower of the team’s two 2017 first-round picks to Orlando for Ibaka. The Raptors have the Los Angeles Clippers’ first-round pick, along with their own in 2017.
Ibaka is in the final year of his contract, but is an immediate upgrade for the Raptors at power forward. Toronto has struggled all season trying to find a player to play next to center Jonas Valanciunas. Ibaka is averaging 15.1 points and 6.8 rebounds per game this season. The addition of Ibaka solidifies the Raptors starting five.
Ross is in the first year of a year of a three-year $31 million dollar extension he signed last season. He’s averaging 10.4 points in 22.4 minutes per game this season. However, Ross has been considered an enigma during his time in Toronto. The Washington Huskies product has never been able to be a consistent player. In Orlando, Ross could immediately become a starter for the Magic.
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The Magic should be happy with their haul for Ibaka. The pending free agent was likely to leave at the end of the season. Ujiri believes his relationship with Ibaka will help him when it comes to resigning Ibaka in the off-season. The Raptors believed that Ross had become expendable with the strong play of Norman Powell.