3. Boston Celtics
The Boston Celtics currently rank 28th in rebounds per game, 26th in rebounding percentage and 22nd in blocks per game. Their 20th-ranked defense could use some help, and a player with Ibaka’s skill set would represent a significant upgrade on Amir Johnson at the 4.
In Boston, Ibaka could potentially elevate the Celtics to another level with his defense, shot-blocking and ability to spread the floor alongside Al Horford. That’d be a nightmarish frontcourt to deal with on both ends of the floor, and would only make the NBA’s seventh-ranked offense that much more potent.
There are plenty of avenues the Magic could pursue in a Serge Ibaka trade, but if they wise up and start another rebuilding process, they’ll be seeking one of the many future first round draft picks Boston could offer.
General manager Danny Ainge would be foolish to part with this year’s first-rounder from Brooklyn — currently slated to be the No. 1 overall pick — for a guy who’s heading for the biggest contract of his career this summer, and the Nets’ 2018 first-rounder might be too valuable as well.
But the Celtics also have all of their future first-rounders to work with, as well as two first-rounders in 2019: a lottery-protected first from the Clippers and a top-eight protected first from the Grizzlies. One of those should suffice for Ibaka’s expiring contract, no matter which Celtics player is thrown in to balance salaries.
If Boston can pull it off, offering Tyler Zeller along with one of those picks would be the best possible move, allowing them to keep Amir Johnson and bring him off the bench behind Ibaka.
However, if the Magic are smart, they’ll push for both Johnson and the pick, since Johnson is a useful defender who could help guide Orlando’s youngsters through their ongoing rebuild without threatening Aaron Gordon’s minutes at power forward.
If the Celtics decide Serge Ibaka is THE star they want to make a trade for, they have more assets to pry him from Orlando than anyone. But with so many blockbuster possibilities floating around, would a 27-year-old stretch-4 who’s entering free agency really be their best play?
After all, re-signing Ibaka would prevent Boston’s all-in pursuit of free agent-to-be Gordon Hayward. The Celtics might be able to land a star player by including Jae Crowder in a blockbuster deal, and then reunite Hayward with his old coach Brad Stevens in free agency — a much better path than dealing for and re-signing Ibaka.
Unless Ibaka was able to make a significant impact and push the Celtics past the Cleveland Cavaliers in the East (and spoiler alert: he probably wouldn’t), Boston would be better off looking elsewhere for their game-changing trade. Because of that medium-level interest, the Magic might get better offers elsewhere anyway.
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