#freesergeibaka

[Kelphus]

OK, a tip of the hat to ole Britney who now is free.. We have a new poster child. What is going on with Ibaka? I can't find anything at all on what is going on. Ibaka's making $9 million this year. Is it as simple as that he has an expiring contract and Hartenstein and Zubac's growth has made him expendable? I can totally see the logic and that would explain no playing time and why his attitude would not be sunny. I feel bad for Serge.. but what does the front office have up their sleeve? Isn't it a bit early for trades? The trade deadline isn't until February 10.

Colleagues - Any info/intel?

[Kelphus]

https://sircharlesincharge.com/2021/12/12/nba-trade-rumors-simmons-rank/2/

Some fun speculation maybe starts here. Irving, nah. Wall? come on. But there's this guy in Philly.....

[Clemenza]

Things change. We needed him all last season and he wasn't there. Needed him at the start of the season and he wasn't there. But I take it he's ready now but the funny thing is Hart and Zu are improving. He had all the sideline outfits going, the Youtube cooking show, the dances and music, etc. Basically everything but playing on the court.. so now its all about basketball? I think he'll be needed in the bigger games and in the post season. He would've slowed down Ayton in the WCF's had he been healthy. He's just has to sit back and let it all play out. I guess he's finally trying to play so he can secure another contract for next season

[KL2]

He can’t be happy. He’s healthy. He asked to go to the g-league to get reps and played well. Now he’s collecting DNP’s. He looked isolated on the bench. Hood up, mask on, it took me a bit to figure out it was him. End of the bench. Never in the huddles. Not that I can see that side the whole game. Just going on the shots we were given. He’s not even interacting with Leonard who he is close with.

Now the blurbs that Lue is having conversations with him. As someone in the game day thread said I don’t think this is going to end well.

[LamarWho]

Time to move him to the kitchen. I heard he's great cook, makes great bull penis Pizzas.

[Kelphus]

https://www.dailynews.com/2021/12/13/clippers-serge-ibaka-is-healthy-but-playing-time-wanes/?utm_email=C46BA4C5F41CD4FC752964A026&g2i_eui=2m1gWr7rF92ew3pl7Bj3S3jL%2fC7rE%2fBe&g2i_source=newsletter&lctg=C46BA4C5F41CD4FC752964A026&active=yesD&utm_source=listrak&utm_medium=Email&utm_term=https%3a%2f%2fwww.dailynews.com%2f2021%2f12%2f13%2fclippers-serge-ibaka-is-healthy-but-playing-time-wanes%2f&utm_campaign=scng-clippers

Story from LA Daily News...

[Wammy Giveaway]

My take on this: Ibaka will no longer be playing due to age and injury. Zubac and Hartenstein are finding their footing, and Clippers are trying to be more better with small ball. He was initially brought in to help with chemistry and locker room issues after their second 3-1 collapse. He played with Leonard before, and won a title with him on Raptors. But this isn't Raptors anymore, it's the Clippers. Ibaka is probably going to get traded.

It is also possible that he could get bought out instead. I know, it's anti-Spursian for the Clippers who are trying to embody the qualities and philosophies of San Antonio, but they might do as a friendly gesture and sort of loyalty. Any team the Clippers want to trade with, a 1st round pick is required, and they have none. They don't want to give up their youthful prospects either. And of course, everybody is eyeing on the Clippers to break up the dynamic duo of Leonard-George. The 29 other teams in the league hold all the cards in ending the Clipper's competitive growth, and what better way to stick it to the league than to make Ibaka a free-for-all - perhaps Ibaka chooses NOT to sign with any team and threatens retirement. Clippers lose a vital piece - both a trade asset and a helpful player - take the cap hit, and shorten the playoff roster from twelve to eleven. But on the bright side, Clippers prevent opposing team from using Ibaka for their own playoff run, or be used against the Clippers.

[clipsfever]

Ibaka and Bledsoe's contracts are an exit visa for another team to get out of some sizeable money for next year (and/or could be traded to a 3rd team)

I'd also obviously include Keon Johnson, Preston and Scrubb if it comes to that...

Ballmer can also throw in cash.

What can we get?

Enough to get oft-injured and contracted-for-next season Caris Levert (who can handle the ball)? [Warren has been injured all season and has an expiring contract]
http://www.espn.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=yxar2mxt

[madmaxmedia]

I guess Hartenstein's emergence is what has kept Serge on the bench, but the center minutes will/should depend on match ups. There will still be times when we want to play small/smaller ball and Serge can play significant role in those situations. As long as we make the playoffs, a healthy Clipper team firing on all cylinders will be a very tough out for anybody. We didn't even have that last playoffs, and Lue was generally able to put out fantastic lineups as needed.

Unless of course it is obvious to the staff that Serge is shot due to age/injuries, and then he's a decent salary piece at the trade deadline.

Between Serge, Bledsoe, and the TPE, we should be able to add at least 1 supporting piece by February.

[esqtvd]

personal reasons?

Read on Twitter

[KL2]

Read on Twitter

[Goner]

Ibaka and Bledsoe's contracts are an exit visa for another team to get out of some sizeable money for next year (and/or could be traded to a 3rd team)

I'd also obviously include Keon Johnson, Preston and Scrubb if it comes to that...

Ballmer can also throw in cash.

What can we get?

Enough to get oft-injured and contracted-for-next season Caris Levert (who can handle the ball)? [Warren has been injured all season and has an expiring contract]
http://www.espn.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=yxar2mxt

ech... Why move the rooks when they've each shown a great deal of promise?

[esqtvd]

Ibaka and Bledsoe's contracts are an exit visa for another team to get out of some sizeable money for next year (and/or could be traded to a 3rd team)

I'd also obviously include Keon Johnson, Preston and Scrubb if it comes to that...

Ballmer can also throw in cash.

What can we get?

Enough to get oft-injured and contracted-for-next season Caris Levert (who can handle the ball)? [Warren has been injured all season and has an expiring contract]
http://www.espn.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=yxar2mxt

ech... Why move the rooks when they've each shown a great deal of promise?

If Kawhi isn't coming back 100%--and it's too soon to tell--no point in making major moves. But if he can, one of the kids is as good as a FRP, which we ain't got none of to trade because of the Stepien Rule.

[Goner]

Ibaka and Bledsoe's contracts are an exit visa for another team to get out of some sizeable money for next year (and/or could be traded to a 3rd team)

I'd also obviously include Keon Johnson, Preston and Scrubb if it comes to that...

Ballmer can also throw in cash.

What can we get?

Enough to get oft-injured and contracted-for-next season Caris Levert (who can handle the ball)? [Warren has been injured all season and has an expiring contract]
http://www.espn.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=yxar2mxt

ech... Why move the rooks when they've each shown a great deal of promise?

If Kawhi isn't coming back 100%--and it's too soon to tell--no point in making major moves. But if he can, one of the kids is as good as a FRP, which we ain't got none of to trade because of the Stepien Rule.

"as good as a first round pick," you say? You mean it? A whole first round pick? Pfffftttt. We may have miraculously gotten out of the "Clippers have no future" prognosis and people already want to trade that away again for some (possibly) aging sub-allstar? No thanks. As I argued in another thread, Ballmer is spending billions on a new arena and I can't imagine anything more pathetic than us finally moving into our own arena with a tanking team because all our win-now pieces aged out.

[esqtvd]

ech... Why move the rooks when they've each shown a great deal of promise?

If Kawhi isn't coming back 100%--and it's too soon to tell--no point in making major moves. But if he can, one of the kids is as good as a FRP, which we ain't got none of to trade because of the Stepien Rule.

"as good as a first round pick," you say? You mean it? A whole first round pick? Pfffftttt. We may have miraculously gotten out of the "Clippers have no future" prognosis and people already want to trade that away again for some (possibly) aging sub-allstar? No thanks. As I argued in another thread, Ballmer is spending billions on a new arena and I can't imagine anything more pathetic than us finally moving into our own arena with a tanking team because all our win-now pieces aged out.

Prospects are...prospects. FRPs past 15 are just deal-sweeteners anyway. Look at Hinkie and Ainge. Zillions of FRPs--they stacked the garbage high.

Ballmer isn't thinking about back of the rotation players on the 2024 roster. The #51 pick is not an untouchable.

[Goner]

If Kawhi isn't coming back 100%--and it's too soon to tell--no point in making major moves. But if he can, one of the kids is as good as a FRP, which we ain't got none of to trade because of the Stepien Rule.

"as good as a first round pick," you say? You mean it? A whole first round pick? Pfffftttt. We may have miraculously gotten out of the "Clippers have no future" prognosis and people already want to trade that away again for some (possibly) aging sub-allstar? No thanks. As I argued in another thread, Ballmer is spending billions on a new arena and I can't imagine anything more pathetic than us finally moving into our own arena with a tanking team because all our win-now pieces aged out.

Prospects are...prospects. FRPs past 15 are just deal-sweeteners anyway. Look at Hinkie and Ainge. Zillions of FRPs--they stacked the garbage high.

Ballmer isn't thinking about back of the rotation players on the 2024 roster. The #51 pick is not an untouchable.

I completely agree with this, in principle. There's no such thing as a player that is off-the-table, as it were, and any GM that claims so is simply asking for more in a hypothetical deal. I suppose, then, that we don't disagree; only that we have different valuations of the youngsters.

[esqtvd]

"as good as a first round pick," you say? You mean it? A whole first round pick? Pfffftttt. We may have miraculously gotten out of the "Clippers have no future" prognosis and people already want to trade that away again for some (possibly) aging sub-allstar? No thanks. As I argued in another thread, Ballmer is spending billions on a new arena and I can't imagine anything more pathetic than us finally moving into our own arena with a tanking team because all our win-now pieces aged out.

Prospects are...prospects. FRPs past 15 are just deal-sweeteners anyway. Look at Hinkie and Ainge. Zillions of FRPs--they stacked the garbage high.

Ballmer isn't thinking about back of the rotation players on the 2024 roster. The #51 pick is not an untouchable.

I completely agree with this, in principle. There's no such thing as a player that is off-the-table, as it were, and any GM that claims so is simply asking for more in a hypothetical deal. I suppose, then, that we don't disagree; only that we have different valuations of the youngsters.

If you exclude the foreign-born finds and draft-and-stashes, the list of second-rounders who made a dent in the NBA is very small indeed. Especially skill guys [as opposed to bangers like Draymond and Harrell].

http://www.thepostgame.com/second-round-picks-who-became-nba-all-stars

https://bleacherreport.com/articles/914567-50-greatest-second-round-nba-draft-picks-of-all-time


I'm hopeful about Brandon Boston but at 20 he still has a LOT to learn. Forgive me if I don't smell a Booker [22 ppg at age 20] or Mitchell [20 ppg at age 21] quite yet.

[TucsonClip]

Law Murray had a quote from Ty that basically said with Hartenstein playing well and Serge being out so long, he can't just take another guys spot away. They tried playing Serge at the 4, but he's going to have to beat out Hartenstein for the backup role. He has to earn it.

[Clemenza]

Prospects are...prospects. FRPs past 15 are just deal-sweeteners anyway. Look at Hinkie and Ainge. Zillions of FRPs--they stacked the garbage high.

Ballmer isn't thinking about back of the rotation players on the 2024 roster. The #51 pick is not an untouchable.

I completely agree with this, in principle. There's no such thing as a player that is off-the-table, as it were, and any GM that claims so is simply asking for more in a hypothetical deal. I suppose, then, that we don't disagree; only that we have different valuations of the youngsters.

If you exclude the foreign-born finds and draft-and-stashes, the list of second-rounders who made a dent in the NBA is very small indeed. Especially skill guys [as opposed to bangers like Draymond and Harrell].

http://www.thepostgame.com/second-round-picks-who-became-nba-all-stars

https://bleacherreport.com/articles/914567-50-greatest-second-round-nba-draft-picks-of-all-time


I'm hopeful about Brandon Boston but at 20 he still has a LOT to learn. Forgive me if I don't smell a Booker [22 ppg at age 20] or Mitchell [20 ppg at age 21] quite yet.

Still have to see what the kids become before making a move. Like I said in another thread we already have two $40 million dollar a year guys in street clothes and adding another aging "star" who's in the $20-40 million dollar range at the expense of youth and upside doesn't really make sense anymore even for a guy like Ballmer. To do this one of the stars has to be an iron man like a LeBron, Jokic, KD, etc. to justify having a super expensive aging Big 3. Can't have over a $100 million in salary in street clothes on the bench for a large chunk of the season. Hindsight is 20/20 but I seriously doubt the front office does the Kawhi courting-give us your list of demands thing again.

Plus finding diamonds in the rough with big upside on the cheap is a front office's dream scenario. Plus all that "OKC owns our soul" talk is becoming less and less by the week. I'm not saying the kids aren't on the table for a trade, although I feel Boston and Keon definitely won't be moved no matter what, I'm just thinking they want to see what they fully have in them first of all before anything. Definitely need to win now but you also can't open a new arena with a group of guys in their late thirties on max deals and has trouble staying healthy

[Roscoe Sheed]

Unless a good trade comes around, they should probably keep Ibaka. He can still be useful against certain teams when you want to pull big men out of the paint. He's had some decent moments this season. He isn't totally washed up