MAGIC MOVES OLADIPO, ILYASOVA, PICK FOR IBAKA
The Orlando Magic acquired power forward Serge Ibaka from the Oklahoma City Thunder for combo guard / small forward Victor Oladipo, combo forward Ersan Ilyasova and rights to power forward Domantas Sabonis.
What does it give the Orlando Magic
For awhile now the young Magic has been in need of a gritty veteran presence, and Ibaka is exactly that. He's as tough as they come in the paint: an elite shot-blocker and all-round defender who can also produce offensively as a 'stretch four' power forward and hit the trey. Even though the Magic has super-athletic up-and-comer Aaron Gordon at power forward too, Gordon can probably slide over to small forward (and appears likely to, with undersized starter Evan Fournier likely moving as well, to shooting guard). Ibaka should be very productive with both a bigger role and the motivation of 2017 unrestricted free agency.
What does it give the Oklahoma City Thunder
The Thunder has been living with a revolving door at shooting guard since James Harden was traded, and Oladipo should shore things up there. He's a rising star who can be a nice scoring complement to superstars Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant (assuming Durant doesn't leave this summer via free agency). Ilyasova and Sabonis are skilled bigs who give OKC excellent depth up front, but Ibaka's all-round efforts will nonetheless be missed. Oladipo is a restricted free agent next season, giving the Thunder more contractual options than they had with Ibaka.
Fantasy impact
Ibaka gets a big fantasy boost with this move to Orlando; he's in a contract year, and the Magic needs his offense more than the Thunder did. Draft him in the early rounds of standard fantasy formats. Ibaka's arrival might temporarily hurt the fantasy fortunes of Gordon, since Gordon now needs to either shift to small forward or back up Ibaka. The move also helps Fournier and second-year wing Mario Hezonja fantasy-wise (the latter of whom looks ready for a bigger role). On the Thunder side of the swap look for Oladipo to improve his production on the offensively-gifted Thunder (especially if Durant leaves); but don't expect much next season from either Ilyasova or Sabonis, who appear set for lesser roles in a likely crowded power forward rotation.
