The Los Angeles Clippers approached the NBA trade deadline Thursday with a few goals in mind: How can we get better now and how can we position ourselves for success in a few months and in a year? Unfortunately, the answer to that question just hours before Tyronn Lue and Nicolas Batum led the Clippers into a matchup against the Dallas Mavericks was trading away Serge Ibaka.
Ibaka played two years with the Clippers, but due to injuries, only totaled 76 of a possible 128 regular-season games and two of a possible 13 postseason games. The nerve-related back injury he suffered halfway into the 2020-21 season sidelined him. A return late in the season provided a bit of optimism, but Ibaka's situation quickly worsened and surgery was deemed necessary.
Ibaka worked hard to return this year, but he ultimately returned to a team that didn't have a consistent role for him off the bench.
Just hours before the 3 p.m. ET trade deadline, the Clippers agreed to send Serge Ibaka to the Milwaukee Bucks as part of a four-team trade. In the deal also involving the Sacramento Kings and Detroit Pistons, the Clippers received Rodney Hood and Semi Ojeleye.
“Serge is one of the best rim protectors of his era and we are grateful to have had him with us for the past two seasons,” Clippers president Lawrence Frank said of Serge Ibaka in a release. “We all saw the tremendous amount of work he put into his recovery from back surgery. He was determined to contribute this season, and he did, providing valuable shooting and defense.”
The Clippers have made the trade official, sending out Serge Ibaka and acquiring Rodney Hood and Semi Ojeleye. pic.twitter.com/hAMZPaICnr
— Tomer Azarly (@TomerAzarly) February 11, 2022
As the Clippers' starting center in his first season, Ibaka averaged 11.1 points, 6.7 rebounds, 1.8 assists, and 1.1 blocks on 51 percent shooting from the field. His season was cut short, which gave the then-24-year-old Ivica Zubac the opportunity to start. Nearly a year later, Zubac still hasn't relinquished that starting spot.
“It's tough, Serge has been here two years,” head coach Tyronn Lue said after the trade. “With the back surgery, and him playing through his back hurting all last year and just giving us everything he had and then being one of the most dominant shot blockers we've seen in a while along with some other guys, but defensively he's always been great — he's been great for us, so you hate to lose guys like that, guys with championship pedigree, guys that do it the right way, work hard, compete every single night, and it's tough to see him move on.
Nicolas Batum, Ibaka's fellow French-speaking teammate with the Clippers, was sad to see him go, but he understands it's a business and wished him all the luck.
“I love Serge,” Nicolas Batum said. “You know, like I said, he was my French-speaking teammate, always good to speak the language sometime with somebody else, but I’m happy for him. As long as he’s happy. Of course I’m going to miss him, we’re going to miss him, but we’re going to stay in touch for sure. As long as he’s happy he’s going to end up in a great organization, a great situation, so we just wish him the best.”
The big man now moves on to a contending team, but not just any contending team. The defending NBA champion Milwaukee Bucks, who have been without starting center Brook Lopez since opening night, could certainly use the services of Serge Ibaka.
The Clippers fell to the Mavs on Thursday, but they hope to get back on track Saturday with a win against them.
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