Tag: serge ibaka

Clippers center Serge Ibaka undergoes back surgery

L.A. Clippers center Serge Ibaka underwent back surgery in Los Angeles on Thursday, June 10. He will miss the remainder of the NBA post-season.

Ibaka played 41 games for the Clippers this regular season, starting 39 times, for an average of 11.1 points, 6.7 rebounds and 1.8 assists in limited action: 23.3 minutes per game. He missed two months of action, from mid March through mid May, but played just six minutes in a first round Game 2 against the Mavericks on May 25, and hasn’t been on the court since.

The Clippers are currently down 0-2 to the Utah Jazz in their second round playoff series.

Serge Ibaka set to return for Clippers

The Clippers are getting Serge Ibaka back in action. Here’s head coach Tyronn Lue discussing it, via the OC Register:

Lue said he expects Ibaka back in the lineup on Wednesday against the Sacramento Kings. The veteran 7-footer missed his first game as a Clipper on Sunday when an illness unrelated to the coronavirus kept him out of the Clippers’ 129-96 victory over Indiana.

Starring sixth man Lou Williams, however, might need more time before he returns from the sore hip that’s been bothering him.

“He’s gonna do a little bit today in practice, see how he feels,” Lue said.

The Clippers are 10-4 this season, right behind the Lakers atop the Western conference. The team has two clear leaders so far: Paul George, averaging 24.8 points, 6.2 rebounds and 5.1 assists per game, and Kawhi Leonard, who is putting up 24.3 points, 5.1 rebounds and 5.9 assists per outing.

Raptors free agent Serge Ibaka will reportedly join Clippers

Raptors free agent Serge Ibaka will reportedly be leaving Toronto and heading to Los Angeles.

Per multiple reports, the 31-year-old power forward has agreed to sign with the L.A. Clippers, and will ink a two-year, $19 million deal, with the second year a player option.

Ibaka averaged 15.4 points, 8.2 rebounds and 1.4 assists per game last season, shooting 51.2% from the field. He’ll be joining one of the best cores in the league and will play alongside Kawhi Leonard and Paul George.

Raptors face big free agency decisions this offseason

Although they fell short of reaching the Eastern Conference Finals, the Raptors are clearly one of the best teams in the Eastern Conference. Whether that will remain true next season largely depends on what happens in free agency this offseason. Here’s the Toronto Star on the squad and what team president Masai Ujiri has to say:

There are three key free agents — Fred VanVleet, Marc Gasol and Serge Ibaka — and dealing with them will be the first task. A long-term contract for VanVleet and one-year deals with either of the other two should preserve salary-cap room for 2021 and address critical present needs, but the only hint Ujiri would give is that he considers everyone a priority.

“It’s all communication and how we relate to our players,” Ujiri said. “We are very confident with our culture and, yes, Fred is a priority, our bigs are a priority — Serge had an incredible run, Marc Gasol brings so much to our organization — and we have our young players coming up with Chris Boucher. Rondae (Hollis-Jefferson), too, is a free agent and he found a niche with our organization.

“That’s what our jobs are. We have to face them square on, and we will deal with them as we come, as we have in the past.

“We have to really attack this head on, and we know where their game is. We know how much they can improve. We try to project that as much as we can. We know where they have come from too, because we have gone through all these struggles with all these guys and we mutually appreciate that.” …

The NBA has set up a virtual scouting combine that includes some in-person workouts with trainers through October, but how much value that would have in debatable. And whether the Raptors would even keep their pick — No. 29 — is also uncertain. Using it in a trade package might make sense but, again, the unknown financial situation makes that difficult.

Forward Pascal Siakam isn’t going anywhere, and neither is guard Kyle Lowry. But Lowry, while still in possession of serious game, is 34 years old, so by 2021, VanVleet, should he stick around, will possibly have even more responsibility than before. Making this offseason all the more critical.

Some key Raptors players are free agents this summer, including Fred VanVleet

Raptors guard Fred VanVleet was considered a respectable backup guard last regular season. And then emerged in the playoffs, rose his profile, and never looked back. He’s a very key member of the team, and with the future in mind is even more important considering that fellow starting guard Kyle Lowry, as good as he still plays, will turn 35 years old in March of 2021 and may start to slow down.

But VanVleet is a free agent this offseason. Here’s the Toronto Star examining how the Raps can potentially navigate the situation:

Keeping the 26-year-old guard, an integral part of a championship team and seemingly a foundational piece of the roster right now, has to be job No. 1 for Raptors president Masai Ujiri and general manager Bobby Webster when it comes to retooling a roster that had a wonderful regular season and then fell in a seven-game, second-round Bubble Series against the Boston Celtics.

No one is running from or hiding the fact that the team will have no centres under contract when the off-season hits, because that is an issue, but the first domino needs to be VanVleet.

It’ll be costly, but it can be done. The Raptors could work some financial magic and pay VanVleet somewhere around $20 million (U.S.) a year — he made about $9.3 million this season — and still retain a maximum salary slot for 2021, when the free-agent market will be rife with high-profile stars.

The Raptors had an excellent shot at the Eastern Conference Finals this season, falling just one win short in the second round against the Celtics.

And they also soon might have a hole at the center spot, with both Marc Gasol and Serge Ibaka hitting free agency.

It would be smart to keep Ibaka. But the most important player for the Raps in the group is VanVleet.

Raptors re-sign Serge Ibaka

Raptors re-sign Serge Ibaka

The Toronto Raptors announced Friday they have re-signed free-agent forward-centre Serge Ibaka (Surge ee-BAK-ah) to a multi-year contract.

According to the Toronto Star, the deal is a “a three-year, $65 million (all figures US) contract.”

“We are thrilled with the skills and intangibles Serge brings to our team,” said Raptors President Masai Ujiri. “He is one of the top two-way power forwards in the NBA and his ability to stretch the floor is a valuable asset today’s game.”

Ibaka, 6-foot-10, 235 pounds, averaged 14.8 points, 6.8 rebounds, 1.6 blocks (10th in the NBA) and 30.7 minutes in 79 games (all starts) last season between Orlando and Toronto. He shot a career-best .391 (124-317) from three-point range and set a single-season career high for three-point field goals. Ibaka averaged 14.3 points, 6.5 rebounds and 30.7 minutes in 10 playoff games. The Raptors acquired him from the Magic on February 14 in exchange for Terrence Ross and a 2017 first-round pick.

A native of the Republic of Congo, Ibaka owns career averages of 12.0 points, 7.3 rebounds, 2.4 blocks and 29.1 minutes in 603 career games (492 starts) with Oklahoma City, Orlando and Toronto. He posted career highs of 15.1 points and 8.8 rebounds in 2013-14 with the Thunder.

Ibaka has been named to the NBA All-Defensive First Team three times (2011-12, 2012-13, 2013-14) and led the League in blocks in four consecutive seasons (2010-14).

Ibaka scored a career-high 31 points November 13, 2016 at Oklahoma City. He set personal bests of 22 rebounds February 19, 2015 versus Dallas and 11 blocked shots February 19, 2012 versus Denver.
In the postseason, Ibaka is averaging 11.3 points, 6.7 rebounds, 2.4 blocks and 31.0 minutes in 99 career games (93 starts). He has reached the Western Conference finals four times with one NBA finals appearance in 2012.

Ibaka was selected 24th overall in the 2011 NBA Draft by the Seattle Supersonics. The Magic acquired him from Oklahoma City on June 23, 2016 in exchange for Ersan Ilyasova, Victor Oladipo and the draft rights to Domantas Sabonis.

Prior to the NBA, Ibaka played professionally in Spain for three seasons (2006-09). He also captured a silver medal with Spain at the 2012 Olympics.

Raptors to re-sign Serge Ibaka

The Raptors, who won 51 games last regular season and remain one of the best teams in the Eastern Conference, will reportedly retain one of their key frontcourt contributors. Here’s the Toronto Star reporting:

Raptors to re-sign Serge Ibaka

Serge Ibaka is headed back to the Raptors.

NBA sources have confirmed a report by ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski that the free agent power forward/centre has agreed to a three-year, $65 million (all figures US) contract with Toronto.

The deal won’t become official until the NBA’s moratorium on free agent signings is lifted Thursday but it will keep the 6-foot-10, 27-year-old in Toronto and is a major step towards keeping the Raptors roster intact for at least the short-term future.

Thunder trading Serge Ibaka to Magic

It’s 2016 Draft night, and the biggest news, other than the Sixers making the expected first-overall pick of Ben Simmons, is that the Thunder, who came within one win of reaching the 2016 NBA Finals, are trading power forward Serge Ibaka to the Magic. Here’s the Oklahoman reporting:

Thunder trading Serge Ibaka to Magic

In a draft night bombshell, the Thunder traded Serge Ibaka to the Orlando Magic for Victor Oladipo, Ersan Ilyasova and the rights to first round draft pick Domantas Sabonis, sources confirmed to The Oklahoman…

In dealing Ibaka, the Thunder let go of one of its core members and its long-time defensive anchor. In Oladipo, the Thunder adds a versatile 24-year-old shooting guard who can both score and defend.