Imagine we trade and acquire Ibaka. Gsw implodes and Durant walks... ...to Houston in free agency. Big 3... holla!!! lol
Completely wrong. The best offer doesn't necessarily come from Ibaka telling other teams he will re-sign, but rather any team that feels like they have a chance to convince him to re-sign. The teams that Ibaka would commit outright to re-sign with usually have the least to offer as they are the ones trying to make a push towards contending for the Win. Your post about the Howard trade is even more asinine as Orlando was the winner of that trade. Affalo and Vucivek were/are both very good players. Howard was in decline ever since he left Orlando.
But a team that KNOWS they will have Ibaka after the season will give up more than any team HOPING he'll stay. I understand what youre saying, but Ibaka can seriously swing a trade towards a team he prefers.
And then we wake up from being comatose after taking too many sleeping pills after the Warriors win the next 5 titles.
I honestly don't think so. Ibaka is a role player. He's not even a star. He has influence, but not as much some seem to believe he will have. I also disagree that teams will give up more than any team. You don't give up much more for a player like Ibaka. That would be the equivalent of taking one step forward and 2 steps back. The likeliest scenario is you might give up a bit more, but I am sure GM's already have a hard limit on what they would give up for him.
Just pretty much copied and pasted what I said on another thread ... I was at the Orlando game last night with my brother , and Morey happened to be sitting about 3 rows below us with what looked like his family . Anyway, some seconds before the fourth quarter ended I seen him and his family get up to leave before everyone else . I walked down and called after him shouting "Hey Morey! , Ibaka!" He didn't hear me the first time . So I said "Ibaka!" and before I could say it again he kinda chuckled and did some kind of pointing & wink thing and kept walking . Ibaka confirmed ?
I believe you, you know why? In 2012 I used to be an electrician and I was working in downtown. Walking back to the car me and my project manager see Daryl Morey casually walking on the phone. I turned around and yelled DWIGHT loud at him. He just chuckled and walked right along, the next year Dwight signed with us. This is a true story btw.
Did last night's 'performance' make SI more, or less, appealing, to any who might be 'considering' getting him? For me, not so much BTW.
It will be interesting to see what happens with Ibaka. True, a team like Toronto can offer a nice asset package to Orlando, but it remains to be seen if they will do so. They have been pretty hesitant. They already have big money tied to DeMarr and have to handle the Lowry FA situation. Will they offer a bunch of assets for a UFA Ibaka, when he could walk? A Rockets package of Brewer/Harrell/2017 1st/(maybe KJ) would seem to be a competitive offer unless Toronto or Boston "goes all in" with draft picks etc. But they are not going to throw assets away if they don't know if Ibaka is going to be part of their future.
I believe you, you know why? After getting swept by Seattle in 1996, I saw Rudy T in the Rice Village parking his car. I yelled out, "Hey, Coach. We love ya. Need help backing it in." He chuckled and kept backing it in. That summer we got Barkley.
My own 2 cents worth, I knew Ibaka would have a great game last night. Our own poor / mediocre defense aside, indications are that he doesn't want to stay in Orlando. Rumors / speculation on the Internet has talked about how the Rockets could use his skill set. He was probably auditioning a bit last night. Will he bring the same to every game? Maybe not. But we sure could use his skill set.
I believe, you know why? In early January 1999 I was watching wrestling on tv at Hooters and I saw Rudy T drinking a beer. I yelled out, "Hey, Coach. We love ya! We have so much heart it's hard to believe!" He chuckled and finished off his beer. A week later we traded for Scottie Pippen.
Ibaka is going to want to get paid! I want us to get him but sometimes I wonder if we can get that production at a lower price. In the end you pull the trigger I suppose.
Ibaka's play has slipped. There is no doubt. BUT, with Harden & MDA's system, the Rockets probably would get "the best" out of Ibaka, whatever that is.
Why not, what has Ryan done to make him untradeable? He's and easy guard on the perimeter, push up on him and force him to put the ball on the floor and beat him to the spot and he will spin into the defense. I would prefer Ibaka over him right now and the fact that Serge has played with James before offers significant value.
All things considered i'm not a big fan and i agree with those saying he's not the missing part of puzzle (while he may cost like that) BUT, it really depends on few things we have no chance to know. I do think he would be an upgrade over Ryan though. Personally, i would be more willin to make a deal like this: IN: Ibaka + Hezonja + Green OUT: Anderson + 2nd rounders + KJ + Brewer + Ennis Spoiler Capela Ibaka Ariza Harden Beverley Nene/Trez Dekker Green (not a fan by any means but still better than Brewer i guess...and btw you should still be able to trade him by himself for a minor upgrade) Hezonja Gordon (and sign GPII lol) ...than: IN: Ibaka OUT: 1st + Dekker/Trez (+ KJ/Brew etc...) But that's just me, cause i still love some cap space lol PS. even though, like i said in the other thread, i'm not sure why the Magic should have interest in Ryan...he's a terrible fit with Vuc, and a front court like Biyombo-Anderson is not going to cut it either so yeah...
I don't think Ibaka is some huge "missing piece" but he would be a solid upgrade to the rotation, playoff rotation. Just a sum of the parts type of thing. Look at how it has grown with Gordon/Anderson rotation pieces added to Beverley/Ariza etc. The assumption is that Morey has a long view in mind with the cap and how to add to the team where Ibaka wouldn't monopolize too much resources cap wise. And that the assets to acquire Ibaka aren't too deep. Like, I am not giving up Dekker. Harrell & 2017 (late) 1st is it. Plus dumping of Brewer. Maybe the Rockets keep KJ and play him Brewer's minutes or maybe use KJ's contract in another trade to add another rotation piece or future asset.
