The Oklahoma City Thunder have reached agreement on a trade to send forward Serge Ibaka to the Orlando Magic for Victor Oladipo, Ersan Ilyasova and the draft rights to Domantas Sabonis, league sources told The Vertical.
With his range and shot-blocking, Ibaka became a key member of the Thunder's core alongside Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook. He helped Oklahoma City reach the NBA Finals in 2012 and make the Western Conference finals three other years.
Ibaka will be a free agent at the end of next season, and Thunder officials decided within the past week to assess his value on the trade market, league sources said. Oklahoma City also had talks with the Toronto Raptors on a potential Ibaka trade before accepting Orlando's offer, league sources told The Vertical said. Ibaka did not ask the Thunder for a trade, league sources said.
Ibaka will be a free agent at the end of next season, and Thunder officials decided within the past week to assess his value on the trade market, league sources said. Oklahoma City also had talks with the Toronto Raptors on a potential Ibaka trade before accepting Orlando's offer, league sources told The Vertical said. Ibaka did not ask the Thunder for a trade, league sources said.
Ibaka, 26, was the 24th pick of the 2008 NBA draft. He averaged 12.6 points, 6.8 rebounds and 1.9 blocks this season.
The trade of Ibaka comes one week before Durant enters free agency. In parting with their longtime forward, the Thunder improved their depth, picking up a potential starting guard in Oladipo, a forward with 3-point range in Ilyasova and a promising young center in Sabonis. OKC still has Steven Adams and Enes Kanter to help anchor their frontline.
Sabonis, the son of famed former Portland Trail Blazers center Arvydas Sabonis, was taken with the No. 11 pick.
Thunder general manager Sam Presti and Magic GM Rob Hennigan worked together in the San Antonio Spurs' front office before Hennigan became Presti's assistant GM in OKC.
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