Clippers and massive man Serge Ibaka attain settlement on two-year, $19-million pact

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Serge Ibaka listens to Toronto coach Nick Nurse during a playoff game against Brooklyn on Aug. 23, 2020, in Orlando, Fla.
Serge Ibaka listens to Toronto coach Nick Nurse throughout a playoff sport Aug. 23. In becoming a member of the Clippers, Ibaka will likely be reunited with ex-Raptors teammate Kawhi Leonard. (Kim Klement / Pool photograph by way of Related Press)

The Clippers made their massive transfer to get a giant man.

A day after frontcourt staples Montrezl Harrell and JaMychal Inexperienced departed in free company, the Clippers reached an settlement with Serge Ibaka on a two-year contract value $19 million, an individual with information of the deal confirmed. It represents a notable splash for a workforce whose prospects at signing a extremely regarded massive had appeared to develop slimmer by the hour Saturday.

The 31-year-old Ibaka brings 144 video games of postseason expertise that features the 2019 championship he received with Toronto taking part in alongside Clippers ahead Kawhi Leonard. The 7-footer will signal for the workforce’s full midlevel exception subsequent season, value $9.3 million, the individual confirmed.

Ibaka is coming off a season during which he shot an efficient field-goal proportion of 56.4%, the second-highest mark of his profession, whereas averaging 15.4 factors and eight.2 rebounds. He additionally made 38% of his three-point makes an attempt.

A 3-time member of the NBA’s all-defense workforce, Ibaka broke into the league as a stalwart of Oklahoma Metropolis’s beginning lineup however in current seasons gave Toronto a lift off the bench. He might slide into an identical function with the Clippers taking part in behind younger starter Ivica Zubac.

Ibaka’s measurement and suppleness to play a number of frontcourt positions, roam the paint defensively and in addition step past the perimeter to stretch opposing defenses is taken into account a stark improve from Harrell, whom the Clippers misplaced to the Lakers on Friday after a career-best season but was confined to taking part in a narrower function of purely middle due to his measurement and capturing.

The Clippers are actually anticipated to show their sights to different areas of demand on their roster, together with a playmaking guard and backup ahead who will help spell Leonard. The Clippers have been recognized to have curiosity in a single such guard coming into free company in Rajon Rondo, however he reached an settlement earlier Saturday with the Atlanta Hawks.

Earlier than the Clippers landed Ibaka, a gentle stream of athletic backup facilities had signed elsewhere: Nerlens Noel to New York, Tristan Thompson to Boston. These strikes had adopted the occasions of the night time earlier than, which appeared to place the workforce in a troublesome place because it sought assist up entrance.

When free agent Jerami Grant turned down Denver’s three-year provide value a reported $60 million in favor of bolting for comparable phrases however a bigger offensive function in Detroit late Friday, the Nuggets elevated their pursuit of Clippers free agent Inexperienced.

Given extra time to gauge how the remainder of their free-agency puzzle was coming collectively, there was an opportunity the Clippers might have come again to Inexperienced, who had declined a participant choice value $5 million Thursday, with a suggestion near the total mid-level exception, value $9.3 million. However with Grant out of the image in Denver, the Nuggets might instantly provide a elevate, a possible beginning function — successfully changing Grant within the lineup — and an opportunity to parlay that function into an excellent larger payday in 2021, when extra groups are anticipated to have salary-cap area. Inexperienced agreed to a two-year contract with Denver value $15 million, with a participant choice for the second yr.

Harrell’s departure from the Clippers was seen by some league observers as inevitable. Inexperienced’s choice to go away, nonetheless, stung as a result of it wasn’t a foregone conclusion. Plus, his versatility and three-point capturing would now strengthen the Nuggets, the workforce that eradicated the Clippers in gorgeous trend within the second spherical of the postseason, in September.

Nearly 24 hours later, the Clippers supplied the balm. Simply earlier than 9 p.m., they emerged from a day of quiet maneuvering to shore up a key want.

Instances employees author Broderick Turner contributed to this report.

This story initially appeared in Los Angeles Instances.

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