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Serge Ibaka: 5 potential landing spots in free agency

By Nate Wolf

Mar 27, 2017; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Raptors forward Serge Ibaka (9) reacts after being called for a personal foul against the Orlando Magic at Air Canada Centre. The Raptors beat the Magic 131-112. Mandatory Credit: Tom Szczerbowski-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 27, 2017; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Raptors forward Serge Ibaka (9) reacts after being called for a personal foul against the Orlando Magic at Air Canada Centre. The Raptors beat the Magic 131-112. Mandatory Credit: Tom Szczerbowski-USA TODAY Sports /
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Apr 10, 2017; Boston, MA, USA; Brooklyn Nets head coach Kenny Atkinson talks to his team during a timeout in the third quarter against the Boston Celtics at TD Garden. The Celtics won 114-105. Mandatory Credit: Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 10, 2017; Boston, MA, USA; Brooklyn Nets head coach Kenny Atkinson talks to his team during a timeout in the third quarter against the Boston Celtics at TD Garden. The Celtics won 114-105. Mandatory Credit: Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY Sports /

4. Brooklyn Nets

We’re over four years removed from the infamous Nets-Celtics trade, and Brooklyn still owes picks to its division rivals in New England. This is getting a bit absurd. But with no draft pick for which to tank in 2018, Brooklyn is somewhat free to try and win.

Sure, dealing Brook Lopez for D’Angelo Russell wasn’t exactly a win-now move, but Lopez only had a year left on his contract. He had to go. Brooklyn is flush with cap space, and if the team’s pursuit of Allen Crabbe and Tyler Johnson last offseason was any indication, they will try to sign players this summer too.

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Ibaka doesn’t fit the Nets’ timeline at all. This team won’t be good for at least another five years. But $25 million per year would sound nice to Ibaka, and that’s what Brooklyn can theoretically offer.

On a two-year deal, this signing wouldn’t be horrible. Ibaka gets to cash in as the best player on a major market team, while Russell and Jeremy Lin get a solid running mate to replace Lopez.

Normally, a rebuilding team would opt against a veteran eating youngsters’ minutes. That’s not the case with Brooklyn, however. Aside from recent draft pick Jarrett Allen, who is only 19 years old, none of the Nets’ top prospects are bigs.

Russell, Caris LeVert, and Rondae Hollis-Jefferson would all benefit from the spacing Ibaka provides. He’s a low-usage big who would happily sacrifice playmaking duties to young players who need to stretch their legs against NBA opposition.

Of course, this option assumes Ibaka doesn’t value winning, which is unlikely. Money talks though, and Nets general manager Sean Marks is aware of that simple fact.