Serge Ibaka and Marc Gasol, Toronto Raptors
Fresh off a championship, the Raptors are kind of in limbo. Sure they have the talent to make the playoffs in the east, but do they really want to? They have a budding star in Pascal Siakam and a potential two-way stud in OG Anunoby, but they also have valuable expiring contracts in Kyle Lowry, Marc Gasol, and Serge Ibaka, who could be moved for draft capital and young talent to start a new era for Jurassic Park.
I do believe, with Masai being the super ballsy GM, will tear down the team and acquire draft capital that suits the team more long term. I do think that they will keep Lowry on the team, but I do see the big men for the Raptors on the move.
And I do see both of them netting first-round picks respectively. Both are on the last year of their deals and are valuable pieces for a contender. They both play both ends of the floor and bring valuable championship leadership to a contender. Let me discuss each player separately a bit.
Marc Gasol is a great piece for any team to acquire. He’s an efficient two-way center who at this point of his career, most likely will come off a bench for a contender. Not because of his skill set but because most teams that may go after him already have a starting-caliber center. I can see teams like the Rockets, the Spurs or the Mavericks going after during this season.
Now onto Serge Ibaka. I believe that he is the more valuable trade asset of the two. Both him and Gasol essentially have the same skill set, it’s just that Ibaka is a little younger and has more lineup versatility than Gasol. I can see teams like the Jazz, the Celtics or the Nuggets going after him.