Well this was somewhat unexpected. It appears the Oklahoma City Thunder are shopping power forward Serge Ibaka ahead of the draft, via Marc Spears of The Undefeated:
The Thunder is shopping big man Serge Ibaka on this draft day, a source said. https://t.co/obBwkWDf6F
— Marc J. Spears (@MarcJSpearsESPN) June 23, 2016
Ibaka has been a huge part of the Thunder’s core for years now. His emergence as a premier rim-protector on one end of the floor and three point shooter on the other makes him one of the most unique players in the league. His impact is always felt.
Ibaka had a bit of a down year last season, perhaps due to injuries. But his play in the postseason was crucial for a surprising playoff run. The Thunder would not get past the Spurs without their big man’s services.
Nevertheless, it is fair to wonder whether the team needs to have a shake up in the roster. The Warriors seem beatable and the Thunder showed they are very close to reaching that level. Perhaps Ibaka could net them the pieces they need to take the next step.
The most surprising part of this rumor, however, is that it is happening on draft day. The Thunder are in win-now mode so acquiring picks, especially in a weak draft class, should not interest them. If they trade Ibaka for a bunch of raw talents who need years of development to be impact players, what kind of message does that send to Kevin Durant who is a free agent?
My gut feeling is that the Thunder will look to find wing help in exchange for Ibaka. That would be a smart move as it could add depth at positions of need. Additionally, Steven Adams’ emergence has made Ibaka a bit more expendable, especially considering both will be free agents next summer.
The rumor itself is not very shocking. Serge Ibaka is a great player who can net a lot in trade talks. But if the Thunder are using him to gain a lot of draft picks, then that may point to more pressing issues, such as Kevin Durant leaving.
