OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA – JUNE 13: Serge Ibaka #9 and Marc Gasol #33 of the Toronto Raptors (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
The Lakers will try to add a veteran big man from Toronto this offseason.
LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers will kick off their title defense around Christmas following the historically short offseason, meaning that the Lakers will have to quickly snatch up veteran big men that could pair with Anthony Davis inside. High on their Christmas wish list is a former All-Defensive team member and recent NBA champion.
The latest buzz suggests that the Lakers are trying to sign some veteran bigs who want to take discounts in order to win, and Toronto Raptors starter Serge Ibaka is at the top of their list.
Serge Ibaka could give some extra size to an experienced Lakers team
Ibaka made his name with the Oklahoma City Thunder, but he has continued to excel on both ends of the floor in his 3.5 season stint with the Raptors. Ibaka has averaged 14.2 points and 7.4 rebounds per game while shooting a respectable 36 percent from three-point range as a Raptor. Ibaka might not leave Toronto so easily, however, as the Raptors might be able to overpay to keep him considering Marc Gasol is likely going to play the twilight of his career in his native Spain.
While Ibaka could make one of the best defensive teams in the league even nastier, it’s fair to question if he would have a defined role in LA, as the likes of Dwight Howard potentially returning to come off the bench make his role as a rim protector a bit redundant. Even with Howard, Ibaka will likely start at the center position with Davis as the power forward.
While he might be a funky fit on this roster, veterans with his versatility scoring touch, and defensive prowess are few and far between. Rob Pelinka should jump at the chance to bring him on board.