Per Shams Charania and Eric Nehm of The Athletic, the Milwaukee Bucks and longtime NBA center Serge Ibaka are poised to part ways. The team is expected to include Ibaka, 33, in their negotiations by the close of trading on February 9.
Given the state of their lineup, it might not be a surprise if the New York Knicks inquired about Ibaka’s services.
In the midst of his 14th NBA season, Ibaka struggled to crack the Milwaukee rotation, appearing in just 16 games and just two since Nov. 21. More recently, Ibaka was absent from the Bucks’ active roster for personal reasons, and only added further credence to the idea of a trade.
Ibaka returned to Milwaukee on a veteran-minimum contract after arriving from the Los Angeles Clippers for the final date, but struggled to find minutes. The Bucks’ primary Paint residents, Brook Lopez and Bobby Portis, have been relatively healthy, but Ibaka has also lost time on the Sandro Mamukelashvili development project.
Ibaka is certainly not getting any younger, but has the credentials to help a team in dire need of defence. He boasts three All-Defensive First Team nominations (2012-14) and leads the association blocks twice.
This is where the Knicks come into play.
When the Knicks (25-22) lost their third straight game in Atlanta on Friday night, they got a bitter taste of life without starting center Mitchell Robinson: The big man is out for at least three weeks because of a thumb injury he sustained Wednesday against Washington, New York dropped 139 points to the Streaking Hawks in one of their worst defensive performances of the year and was passed 39-34.
Observers liked what they saw of second-year substitute Jericho Sims, who scored a career-best 12 points in a loss. But if New York wants to do more than just tread water while Robinson heals, perhaps they should seek a purer, more traditional center. New York has tried to make Isaiah Hartenstein a more traditional big man, but he’s struggled to keep up with that plan, losing minutes to Sims.
The idea of bringing in Ibaka is low risk but high reward as the Knicks probably wouldn’t have to part with one of their prized first-round picks to get him. The team will likely try to bid their time before making a hasty move for a big man or two, but it’s certainly something to keep in mind… especially if Hartenstein continues to struggle and Obi Toppin continues to be buried on the bench .
In the meantime, the Knicks will look to end their losing streak Sunday night against the Toronto Raptors (6 p.m. ET, MSG).
Geoff Magliocchetti is on Twitter @GeoffJMags
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