Thunder likely expected Serge Ibaka to leave in free agency
Oklahoma City’s decision to trade Serge Ibaka on draft day was a shocker, but the surprising move is starting to make some sense.
The Thunder traded Ibaka, who has been with the team since 2008, to the Orlando Magic for Victor Oladipo, Domantas Sabonis and Ersan Ilyasova.
Though bringing in Oladipo and Sabonis, with Ilyasova as a throw-in, may be good for the team long-term, it’s a risky move because it could sour free agent Kevin Durant and free agent-to-be Russell Westbrook on the team. So why would GM Sam Presti and Co. make the move? Because Ibaka was going to be a free agent after next season, and they may have expected him to leave:
Serge Ibaka grumbled about shots this year and had grown tired of reduced role. High chance he walked after next season. Still: Surprising.
— Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) June 24, 2016
Believing he would leave, the Thunder probably thought they might as well get some serious compensation for him now rather than lose him for nothing. It’s a Belichick-like strategy of sustaining long-term success.
The question is whether or not this will influence Durant’s decision to remain with the team. For what it’s worth, the move was apparently made independent of Durant’s free agency.
Kevin Durant has not indicated any type of lean toward the Thunder, leaving or staying. Ibaka trade was made independent of that, I'm told.
— Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) June 24, 2016
The loss of Ibaka likely means we will see more of Steven Adams and Enes Kanter, who proved last season to be valuable pieces. Adams is only 22 and played like one of the best bigs in the playoffs, so he has a lot of room to improve and be a centerpiece on the team. Kanter is also young at 24 and could see some improvement.
Maybe the Thunder have improved their lineup, but that is contingent upon one key thing: whether or not Durant stays. They better hope this doesn’t push him out the door, but rather that it helps encourage him to stay. He apparently considers Oladipo a friend and was very complimentary of him once:
FWIW Kevin Durant once said of Oladipo: "He reminds me a lot of Dwyane Wade in his body, his athleticism and how he gets to the basket"
— Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) June 24, 2016
