The Magic looked to take things to the next level last season with hiring Scott Skiles but the experiment fell flat with many players stunting their development, especially Aaron Gordon, who did not see much growth until Orlando shipped off Tobias Harris to the Detroit Pistons.
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What does it mean for each team?
During his three-year tenure at Orlando, Oladipo averaged 15.9 points per game and 4.4 rebounds per game. Ibaka hasn’t played like that the last two years, but new Orlando head coach Frank Vogel always had tough defensive teams at IN and will make sure the power forward knows how to make the most of his gifts. They are getting a couple of players in return for Ibaka.
The Thunder franchise hinges on Durant’s decision in free agency.
The offseason for the Oklahoma City Thunder has been pretty normal like every other season besides all the talk of the impending free agency of Kevin Durant.
Ibaka was due to become a free agent after next season and would have been chasing a hefty increase on the four-year, $US48 million contract he signed in the summer of 2012.
The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the trade won’t become official until after the NBA’s new fiscal season begins on July 7.
Even Sabonis got in on the social media action by letting Oklahoma City know he’s ready to come play.
He was set to be paid more than $12 million next year by OKC. In his seven seasons with the Thunder, he is a career 11 points per game shooter.
His trade will free up a good amount of money that could be used to re-sign Kevin Durant. Both players are from the Washington D.C. area, and Durant has reportedly mentored Oladipo a bit over the past few years.
The Oklahoma City Thunder has traded defensive cornerstone Serge Ibaka to the Orlando Magic. The Thunder did not fall to them easily though. In what was believed a weak draft class, the 11th pick didn’t have as much value as season’s past. But aside from these two players, Orlando also gave up the draft rights to No. 11 pick Domantas Sabonis to OKC.
“He is a 6’10” big man who has a great mid-range game.
Better a year too early.
The Orlando Magic have acquired forward Serge Ibaka in a multiplayer trade agreed to Thursday night, sources confirmed to ESPN. And Sabonis, son of Hall of Famer Arvydas Sabonis, is viewed as a precocious prospect who could quickly mature into a frontcourt starter in the same way that Steven Adams did.
Point guard was a top need for the Kings because it’s possible Rajon Rondo leaves this summer as an unrestricted free agent.
With Sabonis, Oklahoma City adds a young, physical power forward to the rotation who can use his solid playmaking and scoring abilities to find a niche with the Thunder.
Ilyasova is an intriguing addition because his role will likely be very limited.
Sabonis is a bit of a more traditional big man compared to Ilyasova. Moreover, he could play under a coach who successfully recruited him once before and that recruitment led to back-to-back NCAA titles.
“Ibaka would help fill many different voids that the Celtics have had over the past couple of years”. He spent his first two seasons at the Orlando Magic. “It just gives us a lot of versatile interchangeable parts”.
He likes to handle the ball, enough that the Magic actually tried him as a point guard when he first entered the National Basketball Association, and it’s not like he’s an off-ball shooter who could provide extra spacing next to Westbrook.
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Losing Oladipo is a big loss for the Magic.
