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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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Dec 15, 2016; Denver, CO, USA; Denver Nuggets head coach Michael Malone (left) talks with Denver Nuggets forward Nikola Jokic (15) during the first half at Pepsi Center. The Nuggets won 132-120. Mandatory Credit: Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 15, 2016; Denver, CO, USA; Denver Nuggets head coach Michael Malone (left) talks with Denver Nuggets forward Nikola Jokic (15) during the first half at Pepsi Center. The Nuggets won 132-120. Mandatory Credit: Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports /

2. Denver Nuggets

Ignore everything I wrote about Ibaka being a center. The Nuggets have Nikola Jokic, a superstar-caliber center, hiding in plain sight, who can drag a team to a top-10 offensive rating by himself. Ibaka would not play center in the Mile High City.

This could work, though. Denver’s pursuit of Paul George let the world know: The franchise thinks it can win sooner rather than later. The Nuggets will target Paul Millsap and Blake Griffin in free agency, per Chris Haynes and Marc Stein of ESPN, and have at least explored adding Kevin Love in a three-team deal.

All five of those players fit more snugly than Ibaka, but that doesn’t make him a bad backup plan. The Nuggets finished 29th in the league last season in defensive efficiency, and even as a power forward, he would improve that number.

During the regular season, when opposing teams have little time to gameplan, twin tower lineups are more-than-tenable on defense. San Antonio and Utah just finished first and third in defensive efficiency, respectively. Even next to Jokic, Ibaka might be able to get away with playing center field and deterring foes at the rim, as he does here:

Offensively, the Nuggets are a whirling dervish of cutters and shooters, with Jokic playing quarterback. Ibaka doesn’t move particularly well without the ball, but you need spacing to maximize Jokic’s passing skills. Ibaka can space the floor and help give Denver the same five-out offense they ran last season, minus all the defensive woes.

By renouncing Danilo Gallinari alone, the Nuggets can carve out $25 million in cap space, and they’re looking to use it. If Denver wants to make a playoff run as Jokic continues to develop, there are worse options than Ibaka.