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NBA Trade Grades: Toronto Raptors Snag Serge Ibaka

By Gerald Bourguet

Feb 3, 2017; Orlando, FL, USA; Orlando Magic forward Serge Ibaka (7) shoots the ball over Toronto Raptors forward Pascal Siakam (43) during the first quarter of an NBA basketball game at Amway Center. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 3, 2017; Orlando, FL, USA; Orlando Magic forward Serge Ibaka (7) shoots the ball over Toronto Raptors forward Pascal Siakam (43) during the first quarter of an NBA basketball game at Amway Center. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports /
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NBA Trade Grades
Feb 3, 2017; Orlando, FL, USA; Orlando Magic forward Serge Ibaka (7) shoots the ball over Toronto Raptors forward Pascal Siakam (43) during the first quarter of an NBA basketball game at Amway Center. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports /

The Toronto Raptors needed a power forward upgrade. The Orlando Magic needed to get rid of a free agent who was leaving. Here are NBA Trade Grades for the Serge Ibaka deal.

After a pair of unexpected deals kicked off NBA trade season, one of the league’s more predictable, sensible deals came to fruition Tuesday morning.

According to The Vertical’s Adrian Wojnarowski, the Toronto Raptors have agreed to send Terrence Ross and a 2017 first round pick to the Orlando Magic in exchange for Serge Ibaka.

Trade rumors have been swirling around Ibaka for weeks now, which makes sense from Orlando’s perspective. With Ibaka being an unrestricted free agent this summer and the Magic being 5.5 games out of a playoff spot at 21-36, it was highly unlikely they would be able to re-sign him.

After giving up Victor Oladipo, Ersan Ilyasova and No. 11 overall pick Domantas Sabonis to acquire Ibaka last summer, the Magic had to make sure they didn’t lose him for nothing.

As for the Raptors, they’ve been in need of a game-changing move for weeks now, particularly at the power forward spot. This exact deal was the No. 1 option on our list of game-changing moves for We The North last week.

The question is, did Toronto save its season by dealing for Ibaka? Will they be able to re-sign him this summer? And how well did Orlando mitigate its losses by making this trade? To sort it all out, here are some NBA Trade Grades.

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