NBA Free Agency 2017: 5 potential destinations for Taj Gibson
By John Buhler
Toronto Raptors
East, Atlantic
Ideally, the Toronto Raptors would like to hold on to power forward Serge Ibaka if they can. They did orchestrate a trade last winter with the Orlando Magic to acquire the 3-and-D shot blocker with the hopes of re-signing him this summer in unrestricted free agency.
The only problem with bringing Ibaka back into the fold is that the Raptors also have another key player on their roster hitting free agency in starting point guard Kyle Lowry. Lowry is certainly the most important player on the Raptors roster. Bringing him back is paramount, even if that results in Toronto shamelessly losing Ibaka after only a half-season rental.
Should that prove to be the case, Gibson could be a serviceable, short-term option for the Raptors to figure out whatever they are doing in the frontcourt. The DeMarre Carroll contract has not been a good one for Toronto. The Raptors are growing weary that center Jonas Valanciunas may never reach his full potential as a franchise cornerstone.
Gibson would be able to fit right in to what the Raptors want out of their frontcourt players. He’d be a more well-rounded version of what they had two years ago in center Bismack Biyombo. Pairing him alongside small forward P.J. Tucker in the forward spots would give the Raptors the muscle they might need to remain a top-four team in the Eastern Conference.