Miami Heat NBA Trade Rumors 2017: The Heat Are Looking to Acquire Serge Ibaka
While the losses were piling up back in December, Miami Heat president Pat Riley said the team was going to rebuild. In mid-January, things didn't get any better and it was rumored that they were going to blow up the entire team and put everyone on the trading block. Well, that was a month ago and a lot has changed since then.
The Heat has won 13 straight games since the rumors came out and they are suddenly back in contention for a playoff spot. They were supposed to be sellers a month ago, but this time the team's looking for players that could push them over the hump, and reports said they were taking a good look at one of their in-state rival's players.
Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald has reported that Orlando Magic forward Serge Ibaka was on the Heat's radar, but he also admitted that he's not sure if the team would make a move before the trade deadline.
Get Our Latest News for FREE
Ibaka is definitely a huge upgrade over James Johnson, Luke Babbitt and the other Heat frontcourt players not named Hassan Whiteside. With his outside shooting, Ibaka can spread the floor to give Whiteside more room to operate in the paint. And it will be fun to see the two of them block all those shots on the defensive end.
But before Heat fans get too excited at the thought of the two teaming up, it should be noted that the team hasn't made a move yet, and it remains to be seen if they have the assets to convince the Magic to part with Ibaka. Last week, Sporting News reported that the Magic want to get "a young player and a pick" or "two young players" in return for Ibaka.
Any team that is interested in acquiring him also has to understand that there is a risk of him leaving after the season when he becomes an unrestricted free agent.
Will the Heat take the risk to strengthen their team for a playoff push? The trade deadline is just a couple of weeks away, so fans will find out soon enough.
