With the NBA trade deadline just over a week away, the Toronto Raptors made a splash Tuesday when they sent forward Terrence Ross and a 2017 first-round pick to the Orlando Magic for forward Serge Ibaka.
The deal was first reported early Tuesday afternoon by Yahoo! Sports’ Adrian Wojnarowski.
Orlando has agreed to trade Serge Ibaka to Toronto for Terrence Ross and a 2017 first-round pick, league sources tell @TheVertical.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojVerticalNBA) February 14, 2017
The 27-year-old Ibaka is averaging a career high 15.1 points per game this year and is shooting 38.8 percent from behind the three-point arc.
With Ibaka set to become a free agent this offseason, Wojnarowski says that this deal is not meant for a simple three month addition for the playoffs. Toronto president Masai Ujiri has full intensions of signing Ibaka to a new deal following the season.
Sources: Toronto is trading for Ibaka with intention of trying to re-sign him in free agency this summer. Masai Ujiri has long coveted him.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojVerticalNBA) February 14, 2017
Ross is averaging 10.4 points per game this year. Prior to the start of this season, the Magic traded Victor Oladipo, Ersan Ilyasova and the draft rights to Domantas Sabonis for Ibaka.
Magic general manager Rob Hennigan told the Associated Press that the team can hopefully salvage its season with the trade.
Toronto currently sits in fourth place within the Eastern Conference, while the Magic are in second to last.
• Tommy Chalk can be reached at tchalk@washingtontimes.com.
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