Toronto Raptors: Five moves the Raptors should make this off-season

Re-sign Serge Ibaka

It would be an understatement to say that Serge Ibaka was the best center employed by the Toronto Raptors in the 2019/20 season. When healthy, he was productive at both ends of the floor, providing rebounding, muscle, and rim protection defensively. Offensively, Ibaka provided the Raptors with 15.4 points per game.

All things relative, considering he had to come off the bench and split time with starter Marc Gasol, Ibaka’s numbers are awe-inspiring. Combined, Marc Gasol and Ibaka made over 48 million this past season. Ibaka was a complete player while Gasol was a shell of his past self and an unreliable liability on the court, especially on offense.

Ibaka, age 31, can likely expect a salary bump after his contributions to a championship team in 2019 and a very productive 2020.  The Raptors may want to offer the seven-foot free agent a two-year deal, 1+1 (one year guaranteed with a team option for year two)  totaling 60 million or 30 million a season.

If rumors are correct and the situation works out, and the Toronto Raptors want cap room to sign Giannis Antetokounmpo next season as a free agent, the Raptors could decline Ibaka after a single season. By declining the option year on Ibaka, the Raptors would automatically free up 30 million in cap space depending on other contractual situations, of course.

In any event, Ibaka is a productive big man who, in today’s style of NBA play, can stretch the floor and make three-pointers while also being athletic enough to defend his position.  Serge Ibaka would be a welcome returning asset to the Toronto Raptors roster in 2020/21.