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Knicks Trade Rumors: Serge Ibaka Could Be The Answer To New York’s Woes

By Maxwell Ogden

Dec 23, 2016; Orlando, FL, USA; Orlando Magic forward Serge Ibaka (7) reacts and celebrates against the Los Angeles Lakers during the second half at Amway Center. Orlando Magic defeated the Los Angeles Lakers 109-90. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 23, 2016; Orlando, FL, USA; Orlando Magic forward Serge Ibaka (7) reacts and celebrates against the Los Angeles Lakers during the second half at Amway Center. Orlando Magic defeated the Los Angeles Lakers 109-90. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jan 27, 2017; New York, NY, USA; New York Knicks point guard Derrick Rose (25) drives against Charlotte Hornets small forward Michael Kidd-Gilchrist (14) and Charlotte Hornets center Roy Hibbert (55) and Charlotte Hornets point guard Kemba Walker (15) during the third quarter at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 27, 2017; New York, NY, USA; New York Knicks point guard Derrick Rose (25) drives against Charlotte Hornets small forward Michael Kidd-Gilchrist (14) and Charlotte Hornets center Roy Hibbert (55) and Charlotte Hornets point guard Kemba Walker (15) during the third quarter at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports /

Con: Abandoning The Project

It stands to reason that the only way the Orlando Magic would accept a trade including Serge Ibaka is if Derrick Rose were involved. Orlando may ask for other pieces, but Rose has shown brief flashes of stardom in 2016-17 and is on an expiring contract.

Rose has been one of the most scrutinized players on the Knicks, but it would be tough to abandon this experiment before it’s seen all the way through.

Rose was brought to New York with the intention of seeing how much progress he could make by year’s end. He’s already rediscovered his explosiveness and is one of the best finishers in the NBA.

Rose has even shown signs of life with his midrange game, although he still can’t knock down a jump shot with any form of consistency.

By abandoning the Rose project, the Knicks would effectively be starting over at point guard. That may transpire during free agency, but it would entail New York signing a new player and having a full training camp and preseason to develop chemistry.

Re-signing Ibaka and finding the room to sign a point guard could be tough for the Knicks to accomplish during the summer of 2017.

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