TORONTO (AP) – Nagpahayag ng pagkabahala si Kyle Lowry sa katayuan ng Raptors sa playoff. At agarang pagbabago ang kailangan para mapunan ang pagkukulang sa opensa.

Tila sinagot ang panalangin ni Lowry sa mabilis na pagkakataon.

Inaasahang darating sa Toronto si Serge Ibaka matapos itong ipamigay ng Orlando Magic kapalit ni small forward Terrence Ross at 2017 first round draft pick.

Pormal na kinumpirma ni Orlando general manager Rob Hennigan nitong Martes (Miyerkules sa Manila) ang naging kasunduan na aniya’y isang paraan para maisalba ng Magic ang kampanya ngayong season.

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"Any time you can add a talent who has got playoff experience, (NBA) Finals experience, and a defender and two-way player like Ibaka has got to give us a boost," pahayag ni Raptors coach Dwane Casey.

"Ibaka fills a huge need. His style of play fits our style of play. ... There's nothing we're doing that he hasn't seen before. It won't take him long to pick up the terminology,” aniya.

Sa kasalukuyan, nasa ikaapat na puwesto ang Toronto sa Eastern Conference standing, ngunit naitala nila ang 10 kabiguan sa huling 14 na laro.

Ayon kay Casey, mapapalakas ni Ibaka ang hanay ng depensa ng Raptors.

"Like most players, he has migrated out on the perimeter, so his shot-blocking and rebounding (numbers) are down a little bit. But there's a lot of difference positions he can play for us,” sambit ni Casey.

Tangan ni Ibaka ang averaged 15.1 puntos, 6.8 rebound ngayong season sa Magic.