Serge Ibaka: ‘I never asked to be traded’ from Oklahoma City

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The prevailing narrative surrounding Serge Ibaka this summer seems to be one of a disgruntled big man who was bothered by a marginalized role and wanted out of Oklahoma City, either via trade or via free agency next summer. But Ibaka insists that this wasn’t the case.

In a feature for Sports Illustrated on Tuesday, Ibaka opened up about his wild offseason and put to rest rumors that he was unhappy with the Thunder.

“I never asked to be traded, even though there was a lot of media conjecture that I was unhappy with my role,” Ibaka wrote. “I had an exit meeting with [head coach] Billy Donovan and [general manager] Sam Presti after the season, and both went well. But this is still a business, everybody has to do what’s best for them, and I let my agent deal with the business side of things.

“I just focus on basketball,” Ibaka continued. “I’m not the kind of guy who’s going to go in and ask for a trade, and I would have been happy staying with the Thunder. Playing in the NBA was my dream, and I’d be happy playing anywhere.”

Ibaka was traded to the Orlando Magic on Draft Night 2016, leading to rumors of his discontent in Oklahoma City, which were only stoked by comments made by his agent, Andy Miller.

While Ibaka may never have specifically asked for a trade, the Thunder still had to leverage against the possibility of the three-time All-Defensive First Teamer leaving for nothing in 2017, especially given the (as it turned out, justified) uncertainty at the time regarding Kevin Durant’s free agency.

The 26-year-old will now try to start anew on a Magic team where there could be a lot of competition in the frontcourt next season among him, Bismack Biyombo, Aaron Gordon, and Nikola Vucevic.

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Raptors reportedly planning to target Serge Ibaka next summer

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The Toronto Raptors must want revenge on the Orlando Magic for stealing Bismack Biyombo away this offseason.

According to a report by Doug Smith of the Toronto Star, the Raptors are planning to pursue three-time All-Defensive First Team big man Serge Ibaka next summer with a run at Ibaka said to be “very much on their minds.”

The 26-year-old Ibaka becomes an unrestricted free agent after the 2016-17 campaign. He would make for an excellent fit on a Raptors team with a hole at the power forward position, where they are currently planning to start reclamation project Jared Sullinger next season.

As a multi-purpose big with elite stretch-4 and rim guardian capabilities, Ibaka is an ideal piece to potentially slot next to center Jonas Valanciunas. He is also able to close games as an undersized 5 in certain situations.

Orlando’s frontcourt looks a bit congested after they brought in both Ibaka and Biyombo to compete for playing time with Nikola Vucevic and Aaron Gordon. It’s still uncertain how open Ibaka might be to signing a long-term extension with the Magic, but it looks like he already has options elsewhere should he choose not to.

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