The Congolese Hispanic power forward Serge Ibaka, who a year ago was an undisputed and untouchable starter with the Oklahoma City Thunder, learned today that he will have as a new destination the Toronto Raptors after his current Orlando Magic team transferred him.
Ibaka played last night as a starter for the Magic in the game they beat the Miami Heat 107-116 on the road to break a four-game losing streak.
The Spanish international player finished the game with 17 points, eight rebounds and a block in the 28 minutes he was on the track at the American Airlines Arena in Miami.
Although Ibaka, 27, has become a key player in the new Magic system, averaging 15.1 points, 6.8 rebounds and 1.6 blocks, according to various media sources, led by “The Vertical”, the Orlando team faced with the possibility that at the end of the season he would become a free agent, decided to accept the offer from the Raptors.
The Canadian team in exchange for Ibaka gives the Magic guard-forward Terrence Ross and the top pick in this year’s college draft.
Ibaka, who had been a mainstay on the Thunder’s winning team following the departure of star forward Kevin Durant, dropped out of the Oklahoma City team’s rebuilding plans and was traded to the Magic by guard Victor Oladipo last summer. and Lithuanian power forward, rookie Domantas Sabonis.
The Magic were happy with the work carried out by Ibaka, although the player did not feel very identified by the way in which the new coach of the team, Frank Vogel, used him without having a clear definition.
Ibaka, in statements to the EFE agency, reiterated that his style of play was to compete both in attack and defense, without having any type of limitation.
“I like to compete equally both in attack and defense, I am not a player who limited me to a single task,” said Ibaka.
Something that he felt was missing in the way Vogel used him, that he wanted to make him more of an attacking player, in fact he is the best tall man in the NBA with shots from outside the perimeter.
In addition, the continuity of current Magic general manager Rob Hennigan, the man who brought him to the team, was not clear either, was another factor that prompted the player to consider free agency when this season concludes.
That perception was also observed by the Magic officials, that Ibaka did not have as his first priority to continue after this season with the team, and they decided to get compensation before he reached the free agent market.
With the transfer offers they had received from teams such as the Miami Heat and the Raptors, in the end they decided on that of the Canadian team, who are confident of getting Ibaka’s contract renewed at the end of this season.
For their part, the Magic host Ross, 26, five as a professional, who this season as the sixth man has averages of 10.4 points and 2.6 rebounds. EFE
Center Serge Ibaka traded to Toronto Raptors
