The Toronto Raptors are entertaining the idea of splitting up their frontcourt tandem of Serge Ibaka and Jonas Valanciunas, according to Josh Lewenberg of TSN Sports.
Even after a season and a half, the Raptors are not sold on the Ibaka-Valanciunas pairing, according to team sources, believing both are better suited playing centre at this stage of their careers.
Also based on the report, Toronto would likely prefer keeping Valanciunas than Ibaka, who disappeared in this year’s playoffs, particularly during the second round series against the Cleveland Cavaliers.
If it simply came down to preference, Toronto would gladly move on from Ibaka following his inconsistent 2017-18 season and disappointing playoff performance.
In Toronto’s four-game sweep loss at the hands of LeBron James and company, Serge Ibaka put together a pathetic stat line of 8.5 points on just 39.3 percent shooting from the field and 4.3 rebounds per game.
Finding a trade partner to unload Ibaka, however, could prove to be an arduous task, as the 28-year-old big man carries with him significant cap hits for the next two seasons, over which he stands to make $44.9 million more. Perhaps Toronto could make it easier to deal Ibaka if they are willing to get a bad contract in return or throw in at least another asset in a trade package to sweeten up a possible offer.
As for Jonas Valanciunas, the Lithuanian center has a year left on his contract before gaining the ability to exercise his player option in the summer of 2019. Last season, he averaged a career-high of 12.7 points on 56.8 percent shooting from the field to go with 8.6 rebounds and a shade under one block in 77 games.
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