2017 NBA free agency grades: Toronto Raptors will re-sign Serge Ibaka
The Toronto Raptors have decided to bring back defensive specialist Serge Ibaka, but will it pay off next season?
As first reported by ESPN‘s Adrian Wojnarowski, Serge Ibaka and the Toronto Raptors have agreed to a three-year, $65 million contract.
Last February, the Raptors traded Terrence Ross and their 2017 first round pick to the Orlando Magic for Serge Ibaka. Ibaka, is one of the best power forwards in the Eastern Conference.
In 23 games for Toronto, Ibaka averaged 14.2 points, 6.8 rebounds and 1.4 blocks per game. He has transformed himself into a stretch-4, making a career-high 1.8 threes per game on 39.8 percent shooting.
All indications point to the next move for Toronto, re-signing All-Star point guard Kyle Lowry. This should be Toronto’s main priority, because if Lowry leaves, the Raptors will not be able to compete for the Eastern Conference crown. They would be better off letting Ibaka walk and rebuilding for the future.
Was re-signing Ibaka a good move for Toronto?
Serge Ibaka is a very good player, but for Toronto, is he worth a $21 million salary? Toronto already has $79.5 million on their books. After adding in Ibaka’s salary, the Raptors will have a little over $100 million in active contracts. P.J. Tucker decided to sign with Houston, so Toronto has Kyle Lowry, Patrick Patterson and OG Anunoby left to sign in free agency.
According to Jeff Zillgitt of USA TODAY, there is a sense around the NBA that Kyle Lowry will return to the Raptors for a three-year contract of approximately $27 million per year.
Growing sense among NBA executives that Kyle Lowry will return to Raptors. Don't be surprised if deal is three years, approx $27M per season
— Jeff Zillgitt (@JeffZillgitt) July 2, 2017
If we factor in Anunoby’s cap hold, that would put Toronto’s total salaries at over $128 million for the 2017-18 season, or about $9 million over the luxury tax. The Raptors may have to say goodbye to Patrick Patterson, unless Toronto’s ownership is willing to pay the extra taxes to re-sign him.
Serge Ibaka and Jonas Valanciunas were outscored by 1.8 points per 100 possessions when they shared the floor last season. On defense, Toronto ranked eighth in the NBA with a 104.9 defensive rating. The Raptors only had a 107.1 defensive rating with Ibaka and Valanciunas in the lineup. Ibaka probably fits best with Toronto as a center, where he can protect the rim, and not as a power forward guarding stretch fours on the perimeter.
More from Hoops Habit
- 7 Players the Miami Heat might replace Herro with by the trade deadline
- Meet Cooper Flagg: The best American prospect since LeBron James
- Are the Miami Heat laying the groundwork for their next super team?
- Sophomore Jump: 5 second-year NBA players bound to breakout
- NBA Trades: The Lakers bolster their frontcourt in this deal with the Pacers
In 23 games for Toronto, Ibaka only averaged 1.4 blocked shots per game, the lowest mark since his rookie season. He isn’t as bouncy as he once was, but the Raptors would probably like to see him average at least two blocks per game.
Ibaka didn’t seem to make the Toronto Raptors a much better team. They beat a very young Milwaukee Bucks team without Jabari Parker in six games. Then, Toronto was swept by Cleveland in the second round.
P.J. Tucker has already left and, assuming Toronto re-signs Kyle Lowry, the Raps will bring back a similar team from last season. Toronto will probably win about 50 games and finish in the top four in the east, but they don’t have any chance at winning an NBA championship. Is one of the highest payrolls in the league really worth it for a non-contender?
Will Serge Ibaka be able to maintain their current production to match his hefty contracts three years from now? Toronto has a lot of questions heading into the 2017-18 season, and they could regret not breaking up the team in this offseason.
Next: 2017 NBA free agency tracker - Grades for every deal so far
Grade: C+