Fansided

NBA trade rumors: 5 destinations for Serge Ibaka

By John Buhler

May 26, 2016; Oakland, CA, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder forward Serge Ibaka (9) stands on the court prior to the game against the Golden State Warriors in game five of the Western conference finals of the NBA Playoffs at Oracle Arena. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports
May 26, 2016; Oakland, CA, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder forward Serge Ibaka (9) stands on the court prior to the game against the Golden State Warriors in game five of the Western conference finals of the NBA Playoffs at Oracle Arena. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
6 of 6
Next
Oklahoma City Thunder forward Serge Ibaka (9) blocks a shot by Los Angeles Lakers forward Carlos Boozer (5) in the first quarter at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Oklahoma City Thunder forward Serge Ibaka (9) blocks a shot by Los Angeles Lakers forward Carlos Boozer (5) in the first quarter at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /

West. Pacific. Los Angeles Lakers. 1. player. 20.

The Los Angeles Lakers need to push hard to get out of their post-Kobe Bryant quagmire in 2016-17. Los Angeles won 17 games in the final year of Bryant’s career as the laughing-stock of the Western Conference.

While the Lakers have four interesting young players in point guard D’Angelo Russell, shooting guard Jordan Clarkson, power forward Julius Randle, and center Larry Nance, Jr., new head coach Luke Walton needs a veteran presence in the front court to even have a chance at winning 30 games in his first season as the Lakers’ head coach.

Given that Donovan was a terrific college coach at the University of Florida, he has a great reputation in player development, so really any of these four players can grow into a high-caliber rotation piece he would need to win a championship this year. He could also target sharp shooter and former NBA Sixth Man of the Year Lou Williams to help bring a strong three-point game to a mediocre jump-shooting Thunder squad.

To land Ibaka, Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak will have to send Williams, Clarkson, and either Randle or Nance to pull this draft day trade off. The Lakers don’t have the luxury of rebuilding for much longer.

They’ve already been a terrible basketball team for three years. It’s time for Kupchak to trade some of these assets for great veteran players like Ibaka. He’ll have an easier time doing it now that Los Angeles is sure to draft Duke Blue Devils small forward Brandon Ingram at No. 2 in the 2016 NBA Draft.

For more NBA Draft coverage, please check out our NBA Draft category page.

Home/Boston Celtics