5 NBA players who were saved at the trade deadline

2. Serge Ibaka

Last summer the Orlando Magic made a push for the playoffs and traded Victor Oladipo and their draft night selection of Domantas Sabonis to the Oklahoma City Thunder for Serge Ibaka. The experiment resulted in a complete disaster. The frontcourt situation was overcrowded, the Magic kept losing, and it seemed clear that Ibaka was destined to leave in free agency at the end of the season.

At the trade deadline, Orlando sent out Ibaka to the Raptors for Terrence Ross and a pair of draft picks. The addition of Ibaka has helped keep the Raptors afloat and, when the playoffs roll around his shooting and defense will be hugely important. We saw hints of what could lie ahead in Ibaka’s debut over the Celtics, when he finished with 15 points, 7 rebounds, and a block, keying a 107-97 victory over another powerhouse in the Eastern Conference. Despite Toronto going 3-7 since the Kyle Lowry’s injury, Ibaka continues to impact in areas where the Raptors have lacked most for years. Ibaka provides another 3-point shooter, without sacrificing anything at the defensive end. Instead of spending the spring thinking about free agency, Ibaka gets to help Toronto chase a deep playoff run.