Orlando Magic Rumors: Boston Celtics pushed for Serge Ibaka

The Orlando Magic made their deal for Serge Ibaka, but they were undoubtedly exploring all options. Including one from the Boston Celtics.

Now that the Orlando Magic’s deal sending Serge Ibaka to the Toronto Raptors for Terrence Ross, the buyer’s remorse can begin.

Clearly, the Raptors were not the only team the Magic talked about for a trade — there were several teams reportedly. And the fact the Magic completed a deal more than a week before the trade deadline also raises some concerns that perhaps the Magic could have gotten a better deal had they waited close to the deadline.

The reality is the going market for a big on an expiring contract appears to be a young player and a first-round pick. And that was not a price the Boston Celtics, specifically, were willing to pay.

Jared Weiss and Keith Smith of Celtics Blog report the Celtics and Magic discussed a Serge Ibaka deal. But they could not come to an agreement because Boston was unwilling to part with promising young guard Terry Rozier.

"Multiple sources tell CelticsBlog that the Celtics and Magic had discussed an Ibaka deal, but the Celtics were not willing to include Terry Rozier. The Celtics are not interested in surrendering assets of value, including first-round picks and prospects like Rozier, for short-term acquisitions that do not clearly put them over the top for title contention, per sources. The Raptors became motivated to go all in after the Love news, as some around the NBA believe he may not make it back this year per sources."

It certainly seems like the Celtics were not willing to pay that going rate for a quality big on an expiring deal at this deadline. Orlando, in doing what appears to be a soft reset of their rebuild, is clearly seeking to rebuild some trading assets. Young players and draft picks were definitely the Magic’s target in trading Ibaka.

Terrence Ross and the worst of the Raptors’ two first round picks is about the best the team could expect to do considering Ibaka will become an unrestricted free agent. Something similar was not a price the Celtics were willing to pay at this time.

Orlando clearly moved on and made a deal elsewhere.

What this does perhaps hint at is how negotiations stalled when it came to Nikola Vucevic. Earlier this month, rumors surfaced the Magic and Celtics had discussed a deal involving Vucevic. By all accounts, that did not get much further than the exploratory stages and was long done before it leaked.

It would seem that a deal involving Nikola Vucevic would likely have taken the same framework — a matching salary with a young player or draft pick. That is not something the Celtics are willing to give up right now.

Maybe that need changes as the trade deadline nears. It would not be surprising if negotiations pick back up. Maybe that need changes closer to the Draft.

Now that Orlando has traded Ibaka, the team can focus on longer-term assets like Vucevic. And there is less deadline pressure to deal him so the Magic can focus more on what they want.

That probably kills any dealings with Boston for now.

With another week to go before the trade deadline, the Magic are not likely to shut their phones off and pack it in. There are still some minor deals they can make. And they can still explore bigger issues and deals.

Next: Terrence Ross is ready to take flight

Certainly, Orlando will keep exploring its options ahead of Thursday’s deadline.