Rumor: Raptors, Heat interested in Magic’s Serge Ibaka as trade deadline approaches

Serge Ibaka has long been rumored as a moveable piece, and as we approach the Feb. 23 NBA trade deadline it appears that things have started to heat up when it comes to offers for the Orlando Magic big man.

Word from ESPN’s Marc Stein is that both the Toronto Raptors and Miami Heat have been in contact with Orlando for the former Oklahoma City Thunder frontcourt star.

The most relevant portion of the rumor, via ESPN:

Sources say that Toronto and Miami are among the Eastern Conference teams that have expressed interest in Ibaka this month. More than one rival club has expressed the belief that Orlando will use the next 10 days before the deadline to keep fielding offers and then, ultimately, choose the best available package for Ibaka on Feb. 23 and make the move.

Orlando is sure to keep receiving offers for Ibaka, particularly as teams feel the need to make a firm decision on their direction leading up to the deadline. We’ve already seen the Denver Nuggets decide they are all in on the 8th seed in the West after trading Jusuf Nurkic and a first rounder for Mason Plumlee on Sunday.

The Magic are in a position to sell, and at 20-36 they’re bound to the bottom of the Eastern Conference. The Plumlee-Nurkic trade -- and now serious rumblings on Ibaka -- might be an indicator of a fun trade deadline, after all.