Houston Rockets Report: Team Is Interested In Serge Ibaka’s Services
The Houston Rockets are well past the midpoint of the season and the NBA trade deadline is definitely on the horizon.
The Houston Rockets are well past the midpoint of the season and the NBA trade deadline is definitely on the horizon.
Yes, Thursday, Feb. 23rd at 2 p.m. CST will be the red-letter date for many franchises as they’re some assets that are still worth moving.
As always, you know Houston Rockets general manager Daryl Morey will be at the ready to make a deal to attempt to make this team better.
The difference is that although the Houston Rockets have lost six of their 14 games, they still possess a 38-17 record, good for 3rd place in Western Conference.
One would think that there’s no reason to toy with what has been assembled ahead of the 2016-17 season.
But we’re missing an additional inside presence and those teams who have players that can exploit that weakness of ours, make us look extremely bad.
But there is an elixir to the malady that we’re suffering.
According to Calvin Watkins of ESPN.com, the Rockets have expressed “some interest” in paint-enforcer Serge Ibaka‘s services.
I have longed for Ibaka to be a part of this team for quite some time so it’s good Morey is putting his best foot forward to try to land him.
But there’s one caveat in regard to the pursuit of Ibaka.
What is that you may ask?
His asking price.
Sean Deveney of The Sporting News writes that the Orlando Magic are looking to shop Ibaka after experiencing “buyer’s remorse” as a result of his lackluster play since being acquired this off season.
Deveney also mentions that because Ibaka will be a free agent this summer, the team would like to get something in return for him if he should leave the Magic.
That’s likely because they’re now close to the bottom of the barrel of the East, possessing a 19-30 record.
Just how much the Magic want in exchange?
Here’s what one anonymous NBA executive (quoted through Deveney) said about his price:
"“They’re asking too much,” one front office executive said of the Magic, per Deveney. “(The Magic) would probably like to make a few moves there, but Ibaka is the one they’re really pushing because he is going to leave. But they have had too high a price. They want a young player and a pick, two young players — you know, a package that can get them back some assets. They’re not going to get that. Not for three, maybe four months of Serge Ibaka.”"
In rebuttal to this executive’s quote, I honestly don’t think that the asking price is not all that high, considering a contending team like Rockets would want to delve into a deal like this.
Of course, I’d offer Corey Brewer, K.J. McDaniels and my 2017 first-round pick to whet the appetite of the Magic’s brass.
Will it be enough?
Likely not — although swapping McDaniels would be intriguing, Brewer’s trade value is at an all-time low and an extremely difficult selling point to include in a deal because of his underwhelming play.
They’re going to want a player that we’d wouldn’t be as willing to give up in place of Brewer — say Montrezl Harrell or even the likes of Sam Dekker.
Hell, Clint Capela could be a player they’d want as well but I’d be willing to part with Harrell first before any of the aforementioned in my previous sentence.
But here’s the skinny — the Magic have a glut of forwards in their rotation — Ibaka along with Nikola Vucevic, Bismack Biyumbo and Aaron Gordon — and there’s just not enough minutes to share among those who are labeled at that position.
Somebody’s gotta go and Ibaka currently is the individual with the most trade value.
Although Ibaka hasn’t been as much of a force in the paint as he was with the Oklahoma City Thunder since joining the Magic, this may be not the result of his skills declining but just not necessarily the right fit for the team.
He’s not even 30 yet for crying out loud!
Mike D’Antoni is magician and can make just about any willing player work in his system.
If he can run, partake in the pick-and-roll effectively, rebound and block shots, he’s got it made.
And that’s something he can do well.
So if the Rockets can work a deal to make this happen, I’m certainly a happy camper.
But I’d only pull the trigger if I had credible re-assurance that I’d be able to re-sign him this off season.
Next: Why The Rockets Should Make A Play For Serge Ibaka
With as well as the Houston Rockets are playing, I’d consider Houston as a desired destination for Ibaka.
I mean, we’re not the Golden State Warriors or Cleveland Cavaliers but who wouldn’t want to play here?
There are too many positives — a superstar to pair with, a player’s coach, a stable, well-run organization from top to bottom and superior athletic facilities.
And most importantly — a WINNING TEAM.
We can only hope that Morey can push the right buttons to make this deal happen — I continue to trust Morey.
Ibaka, 27, is averaging 15.2 points, 6.9 rebounds, while shooting 48.7 percent from the field, 38.5 percent from three and 83.9 percent from the charity stripe through 53 games this season.
Go Rockets.