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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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Feb 24, 2017; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Boston Celtics point guard Isaiah Thomas (4) dribbles as he is watched closely by Toronto Raptors forward Serge Ibaka (9) at Air Canada Centre. The Raptors beat the Celtics 107-97. Mandatory Credit: Tom Szczerbowski-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 24, 2017; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Boston Celtics point guard Isaiah Thomas (4) dribbles as he is watched closely by Toronto Raptors forward Serge Ibaka (9) at Air Canada Centre. The Raptors beat the Celtics 107-97. Mandatory Credit: Tom Szczerbowski-USA TODAY Sports /

3. Boston Celtics

Yesterday, Adrian Wojnarowski of The Vertical reported that the Celtics are attempting to nab Gordon Hayward or Blake Griffin in free agency, and then trade for Paul George. Ambitious? Yes. Possible? Very.

Serge Ibaka doesn’t push the Celtics over the top in the East – not a chance – which is why he’s not a target for Ainge right now.

That being said, if everything goes wrong in free agency, the Celtics don’t have to totally commit to the waiting game. By renouncing their rights to Amir Johnson, Jonas Jerebko, and Kelly Olynyk, the Celtics can easily carve out $20 million-plus in cap space.

Ibaka is actually an excellent fit next to Al Horford. Brad Stevens runs tons of dribble hand-offs that require bigs who are comfortable with the ball. That doesn’t describe Ibaka, but it didn’t describe Johnson either. And Ibaka is a much better shooter than Johnson, which would give Isaiah Thomas and Avery Bradley the requisite space to fly off screens into the paint.

Defensively, Horford could chase power forwards and allow Ibaka to patrol the paint. The Celtics have struggled with rim protection for years, and Ibaka represents an immediate remedy to that problem. He wouldn’t address Boston’s rebounding woes, but there are few players on the market that would.

Boston won’t sacrifice its flexibility to accommodate Ibaka on a long-term deal. As a result, this move seems unlikely unless Ibaka is willing to take a one-year flier. Still, if both Ibaka and the Celtics can’t find anything better, they could have some mutual interest come Independence Day.