Free Agent Recap: 6 Potential Fits for the New Orleans Pelicans
Power Forward. Toronto Raptors. Serge Ibaka . player. 81. Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. #9
Strengths: Rebounding, rim protection, toughness, 3-point shooting, playoff experience
Weaknesses: Playmaking, turnovers
Key Statistics: 39.8 percent 3-point shooter in 2019-20
How he fits with the Pelicans:
Derrick Favors will be a free agent in the offseason, and if the New Orleans Pelicans decide to let him walk, they might find his replacement in power forward Serge Ibaka.
Ibaka provides all of the rebounding, rim protection, veteran leadership and toughness as Favors, but has two things Favors does not: 3-point shooting and playoff experience.
Ibaka is having one of his best offensive seasons, scoring a career-high 16 points per game on 39.8 percent shooting from behind the arc.
Ibaka could stretch the floor in ways that Favors cannot.
Ibaka also has a long history of playoff experience and success, as he has been to wars with the Oklahoma City Thunder and won a title with the Toronto Raptors.
No matter what you think of Ibaka’s rough and somewhat dirty style of play, he is the kind of tough, veteran winner that could teach the young New Orleans Pelicans how to make the leap when they make the playoffs.
Even though Ibaka has seemingly been in the league forever, he is still just 30 years old and has plenty left in the tank.
His career-best numbers have likely priced him out of the New Orleans Pelicans range unless they were to make a trade, but Ibaka would fit with the Pelicans from a basketball perspective.
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Every team needs a gritty inside presence to set the tone defensively, grab rebounds and protect the rim.
Ibaka can do all of those things, plus add elite long-range shooting for his position. He’d fit in well in small ball lineups with Zion and could handle the opponent’s toughest interior assignment.
Next. Mock Draft 1.0: Pelicans Can Swing for the Fences. dark
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