One of the Golden State Warriors’ chief rivals made a dramatic draft day trade on Thursday.
Oklahoma City has traded Serge Ibaka to the Orlando Magic, league sources told @TheVertical.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojVerticalNBA) June 24, 2016
Orlando will send Victor Oladipo, Ersan Ilyasova and rights to Sabonis to the Thunder, sources said.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojVerticalNBA) June 24, 2016
It's pretty shocking the Thunder would part with Ibaka, but with his contact up in 2017 and some role grumbling, should've seen it coming.
— Royce Young (@royceyoung) June 24, 2016
The Thunder making this move makes it virtually a guarantee they won't match on an offer sheet for Dion Waiters this summer.
— Royce Young (@royceyoung) June 24, 2016
Victor Oladipo has Maryland ties to Kevin Durant. Gotta imagine KD loves this trade
— Kevin Jones (@Mr_KevinJones) June 24, 2016
Ibaka, 26, had several solid games in the Western Conference Finals against the Warriors. He averaged 12.6 points and 6.8 points per game last season. In three wins against the Warriors in the postseason, Ibaka averaged 14 points and 8.6 boards. The Magic will use him next to Aaron Gordon in a small ball lineup.
Victor Oladipo, 24, gives the Thunder a much needed running mate next to Russell Westbrook, shifting Andre Roberson back to the bench. He averaged 16.0 points per game and 3.9 assists for the Magic last season. Perhaps the bigger move for Oklahoma City is that they feel draft pick Domantas Sabonis is a ready replacement for Ibaka and someone to pair next to Steven Adams and Enes Kanter. From every sign of this trade, the Thunder look more formidable than they did to begin the day.
We’ll have much more on the ramifications this trade has for the Warriors. It will definitely impact their offseason plans.