Orlando Magic: Transforming Serge Ibaka into a playmaker

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Apr 10, 2016; Miami, FL, USA; Orlando Magic center Nikola Vucevic (9) shoots past Miami Heat center Hassan Whiteside (21) during the first half at American Airlines Arena. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports /

Nikola Vucevic

If Ibaka can make plays this year, it could essentially make Nikola Vucevic a top-2 scoring center in the NBA. Especially if the Magic set up high-low sets that take advantage of their passing ability.

Last year, Vucevic landed in the top four among centers in scoring averaging 18.2 points per game. Only Karl Anthony-Towns, DeMarcus Cousins and Brook Lopez scored more than Vucevic.

There are plenty of ways Ibaka could gain assists when on the floor with Vucevic. One way is the lob pass. The lob would work whenever a defender loses focus and Vucevic rolls to the basket. TheMagic have used these plays often throughout the preseaosn.

With Ibaka on the other side of the block it will force teams with a sub-par defensive center to glance Ibaka’s way. Sometimes a look-away glance is all it takes to get beat by a pass on the NBA level. Ibaka-Vucevic could form into the best center/power forward duo in the East.

The reason why this did not work with Ibaka and Steven Adams or Enes Kanter is because Westbrook is a ball-dominating point guard. With the ball in Westbrook’s hands there wasn’t a need for Ibaka to be used in this way.

Although Vucevic has proven he can average more assists on a non-playoff team, the Magic are trying to invest in Ibaka as the leading anchor to a struggling Magic team.

To free up Vucevic too, though, the Magic will need to get more out of Ibaka in the passing game. The offense certainly seems set up to help him do so.

This is one of most anticipated duos in the NBA. Ibaka is exactly what Vucevic has needed during his time in Orlando, a shot-blocking power forward who is elite with a mid-range shot.

Vucevic can play more freely in the paint if defenders have to respect Ibaka’s entire offensive repertoire. When Vucevic is working on a defender down low, the opposite post defender cannot just leave Ibaka open or he will knock down a mid range shot.

If Ibaka and Vucevic can get on the same page offensively it could be dangerous for other squads.