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The Orlando Magic are looking for a scorer and the New York Knicks need to solidify the defense. Could a trade for Serge Ibaka save the season?
The New York Knicks are drifting closer to the edge of obscurity with every passing game. Postseason dreams have flirted with becoming nightmares and the future of the organization is up in the air.
As the Knicks search for answers and ponder the possibility of trading Carmelo Anthony, the right trade to make may not include him at all.
New York’s offense has been respectable at 105.0 points per 100 possessions, but its defense has been atrocious. Thus, it may be time to look outside of the organization for players who can anchor the defense.
That blessing may be found in Florida, as Marc Stein of ESPN reports that the Orlando Magic are actively pursuing a trade for a scorer.
"Orlando, according to league sources, remains focused on acquiring a proven scorer on the wing before the Feb. 23 trade deadline if the ever-elusive right deal presents itself."
According to Sean Deveney of Sporting News, the Magic are willing to trade Serge Ibaka to find that elusive scoring threat.
"League sources told Sporting News that the Magic have picked up their attempts to move Ibaka ahead of next month’s trade deadline, eager to ensure that they come away with some return for a player who does not figure to be in Orlando long."
Though it’s a surprising development, it makes sense when one considers the fact that Orlando traded a considerable amount of talent for Ibaka and it still isn’t winning.
Orlando may be looking for a wing scorer, but Derrick Rose could be an ideal addition to the Magic’s puttering offense. He’d be able to collapse defenses with his penetrating ability, and head coach Frank Vogel is familiar with how Rose operates from his days in the Central Division.
It would be risky for both sides to give up on their respective experiments, but both could benefit from the trade.
If the two sides were to agree to a deal, the trade would look something like this:
The question is: what would the pros and cons be of making this high-profile move?