Feb 3, 2017; Orlando, FL, USA; Orlando Magic forward Serge Ibaka (7) celebrates after scoring during the first quarter of an NBA basketball game against the Toronto Raptors at Amway Center. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports

The Toronto Raptors are looking to acquire Orlando’s shot blocking stretch-4, Serge Ibaka.

It’s no secret that the Toronto Raptors are currently in the middle of a slump. The team has struggled to find its form from early in the season. These struggles have put a magnifying glass to the deficiencies of their roster. As the trade deadline approaches, the time for the Raptors to make a move is now.

According to Marc J. Spears of The Undefeated, the Raptors are interested in acquiring Serge Ibaka from the Orlando Magic. From a basketball standpoint, a union between Toronto and Ibaka would make perfect sense.

Ibaka would give the Raptors everything they’ve been missing from the power forward position. Known for his defense and rim protection, Ibaka could help turn around a struggling Raptors interior. He also is one of the few defensive power forwards in the league that also has the ability to stretch the floor. Ibaka is a career 36.5 percent three-point shooter and is shooting a career-best 38.7 percent this season.

This move, should it materialize, would give the Raptors a continuity they have lacked over the past few seasons. Patrick Patterson has done an admirable job off the bench filling into a “3-and-D” role at the power forward position. In addition to that, he has also been the designated closer at that position.

Whether it be be Luis Scola or Pascal Siakam, the team has been prone to slow starts and poor defense, largely as a result of their power forward position. With a rotation of Ibaka and Patterson, the team will be able to maintain defensive integrity and run the same sets for their offense.

At just 27 years old, Ibaka fits perfectly into the window of this roster. He, along with DeMar DeRozan, would bridge the gap between the team’s elder statesmen in Kyle Lowry and DeMarre Carroll, and the team’s youth movement.

With Orlando’s season in ruins, moving Ibaka makes sense. The team is far from contending and Ibaka will likely command a near-max contract during free agency. This makes an Ibaka trade a near inevitability at the trade deadline. The downside of his availability from a Raptors perspective is that it is likely to create a bidding war.

The Boston Celtics have also been courting Ibaka. Orlando will likely use the two competitors to bid against one another. This would put Toronto in a tough position. They may be faced with the dilemma of overpaying for a pending free agent, or letting him go to a rival.

The Raptors do possess a number of valuable trade assets. They own both their own and the Los Angeles Clippers’ first round pick. They also have a surplus of young point guards and wings. Masai Ujiri’s relationship with Ibaka through the Giants of Africa program could be an advantage in determining a likelihood of being able to re-sign him this summer.

It’s not an easy situation to be in for Toronto. The Magic are clearly trading from a position of weakness. However, the possibility of striking out and losing Ibaka to Boston would be a crippling blow. With limited cap space, a trade is the only way the Raptors can make a substantial improvement to their roster. This must create a sense of urgency for Toronto, especially with Ibaka being the only quality big man rumored to be available.

Trading for Ibaka wouldn’t make the Raptors the favorite to come out of the Eastern Conference, but it would give them a much better chance at slowing down the Cavs’ offense. If Ibaka were to go to Boston, the Raptors wouldn’t even be the favorite to make the Eastern Conference Finals.

A failure to act at this trade deadline would send a grim message to the Raptors’ fan base. Not only would this be a failure to take a step forward as a team, but it would put in question the team’s ability to continue improving. With Lowry’s pending free agency, most assume he will re-sign with the team. But if the team’s growth has stalled, signing him to a long-term deal should raise concerns for both parties.

For Lowry, it would raise questions on whether or not he will ever have the opportunity to contend, while for the Raptors, they would need to question whether or not they have capped their ability to improve their roster.

You could argue that this is the most important moment in Raptors franchise history. The team has reached its potential and desperately needs to make a move to continue their growth. At the same time, a challenger from within their division is also pursuing a piece that would be a perfect fit to Toronto’s puzzle. Whatever happens next could change the future of the franchise in a big way.