What the Raptors have gained:

Serge Ibaka is a solid defender, shotblocker, and 3-point shooter (37% for his career, 39% this season). Ibaka has played in 89 playoff games, and went to the 2012 Finals with OKC. He is easily the best PF the Raptors have had since Chris Bosh. It was the weakest position in the Raptor lineup, a gaping wound papered over with rookies, washed-up vets, guys playing out of position, and one good bench player. The Raptors’ swoon since Patterson’s injury is a testament to just how bad the situation at the position was. It’s now filled with a solid veteran starter.

What the Raptors have lost:

T-Ross is a streaky shooter who helped put some games away earlier this season, but he’s been slumping recently and has yet to put together a consistent season. The change of scenery could unlock a higher level of play. Or he’ll continue to be an up-and-down scorer who’s spectacular some nights and invisible on others.

The Raptors also dealt away a 2017 first-rounder, but that blow is softened by the fact that they will still have a first-round pick (Orlando will get the lower of the Raptors’ or Clippers’ picks). Who knows what the pick will yield, but when you’re getting the better player you have to give up something extra. Recent first-rounders Delon Wright, Bruno Caboclo, Jakob Poeltl and Pascal Siakam have yet to establish themselves as bonafide rotation players. It’s doubtful that whoever Masai Ujiri would have got with this selection would crack Casey’s rotation anytime soon. For the upgrade Ibaka represents to the PF position, it’s a tax well worth paying.

Other Pros:

The deal balances the roster out. While PF was the weakest position, SG was the strongest. DeMar DeRozan, Terrence Ross and Norm Powell are all deserving of minutes, and Powell has been getting squeezed in the minutes crunch. He will get consistent burn for the rest of the season with Ross gone.

The Raptors are more versatile up front now. The best defensive lineups will include Ibaka and Patterson. They can play together as a frontcourt, or as the forwards in a now-unlocked big lineup. Casey could rarely move 2Pat to the 3 when he was the only real NBA-level 4 on the roster.

Other Cons:

Ibaka is a free agent after this season. He will likely re-sign, but there is risk there until he does. His price tag will be a point of interest.

Ross was the Raptors’ leading bench scorer and one of their top shooters. They lost in Chicago tonight with the bench getting outscored by 20 and shot 5-for-20 from 3.

The Raps now have a ton of bigs and point guards but are a little thin on the wing. If one of DeRozan, Carroll or Powell get hurt it’ll be a major issue, especially against bigger teams. That was always the case with DeMar but with Ross around they had depth to deal with an injury to one of the other two. Casey deploys multi-point guard lineups for stretches in every game, which mitigates this. Otherwise, Bruno Caboclo is next up!

Cleveland and Golden State are still clearly better. That’s no reason to stop trying to improve. Advocates of blowing a team this good up to tank are ridiculous, but plentiful enough to address this point. If the slump doesn’t stop and it’s a total disaster, Lowry and Ibaka can be allowed to walk in free agency this summer and the pro-tankers get their wish.