Power forward Serge Ibaka admitted that he never wanted to leave Oklahoma. However, last June, Thunder decided to trade him to Orlando, and he is now happy with the Magic.
Oklahoma City Thunder traded Serge Ibaka in June in exchange for Victor Oladipo, Ersan lyasova and the 11th pick in NBA draft 2016. Both fans of the Thunder and Ibaka were equally surprised with the trade, but the trade was equally beneficial for either Thunder or Ibaka.
The 6'10" power forward shared his thought in SI The Cauldron about his feeling about his old team regardless of any media speculation.
"I never asked to be traded, even though there was a lot of media conjecture that I was unhappy with my role. I had an exit meeting with Billy Donovan and Sam Presti after the season, and it 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," he recalled his meeting with head coach Donocan and team manager Presti at the end of last season.
But when he was in Spain this summer, rumor about his trade began to circulate as Thunder wanted to add younger players to its rosters. Oklahoma City Thunder traded Ibaka to Orlando Magic for three young players.
Ibaka is now happy to play for Orlando Magic and other new players in Orlando. This season, Magic added Bismack Biyombo, Jeff Green, Jodie Meeks and D.J. Augustin along with Ibaka. He is excited to play for one of the best defensive coaches in the NBA, Frank Vogel, according to CBS Sport.
Ibaka will play a a very important role for Orlando as he is known as a superb defensive player in the low-post. As the Magic's current roster consist of players who posses high athleticism and supreme defensive ability, Orlando Magic may become team with the toughest defenses in the NBA this season.
Ibaka will start his season with Orlando Magic against Memphis Grizzlies on Oct.3 in FedEx Forum, Memphis in NBA preseason.
