Washington Wizards: 5 players the Wizards need to target in free agency

Number 1: Serge Ibaka

No player solves as many problems for the Wizards as Serge Ibaka would. He can defend the paint, switch on screens, hit threes, and finish at the rim. Ibaka could unlock the Wizards and make them a legitimate contender in a diminished Eastern Conference. He offers versatility, real championship experience and has shown that he can be a difference-maker in the postseason.

Ibaka’s regular season in Toronto was fantastic, he averaged 15.4 points and 8.2 rebounds on an effective field goal percentage of 56.4 in 27 minutes a game, and he followed it up with an even better postseason. In the playoffs, his minutes dropped to 22.8 a game but his eFG percentage shot up to 67.7  percent. The Raptors, desperate to keep up with the Celtics, played Ibaka as a small-ball center where he flourished on the defensive end. Ibaka through his effectiveness and versatility in the playoffs has made himself a lot of money this free agency.

The Wizards will need to dip into the luxury tax if they want to reel in Ibaka. He is the modern frontcourt player capable of playing as a stretch-four or as a small-ball five. Players like Ibaka are in demand and his playoff experience will make him very attractive to any contender looking to bolster their frontcourt.

They won’t be able to offer him the best chance at a championship but they can probably offer him a starring role and a boatload of cash. Serge Ibaka isn’t a luxury for the Wizards, he is a necessity. As such, they should wade into the luxury tax for him, or risk another disappointing season.