Thunder trade Serge Ibaka to Magic for Victor Oladipo, Domantas Sabonis
The Thunder have pulled off a blockbuster trade with the Magic involving Serge Ibaka, Victor Oladipo, and No. 12 pick Domantas Sabonis
Right before the start of the 2016 NBA Draft, there started brewing some rumors that the Oklahoma City Thunder might be looking for a trade involving power forward Serge Ibaka. When nothing happened through the first 10 picks in the draft, though, many assumed that wasn’t the case. That would’ve been the wrong assumption to the maximum degree.
Just as the Orlando Magic were making their pick with the No. 11 overall pick in the 2016 NBA Draft and announcing Domantas Sabonis as the pick, Adrian Wojnarowski of The Vertical reported that the Thunder will trade Serge Ibaka to the Orlando Magic in exchange for Victor Oladipo, Ersan Ilyasova, and then Sabonis:
Oklahoma City has traded Serge Ibaka to the Orlando Magic, league sources told @TheVertical.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 24, 2016
Orlando will send Victor Oladipo, Ersan Ilyasova and rights to Sabonis to the Thunder, sources said.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 24, 2016
Well what do you know—Sam Presti is not about to start playing around this offseason.
The Thunder have been the topic of this offseason for quite some time and for good reason. Kevin Durant is entering unrestricted free agency and the Thunder have to do what they can to either prepare for him to leave or to entice him to say.
I’d guess that this certainly works in both regards as they’re adding a former No. 2 overall draft pick in Oladipo and then a lottery pick with Sabonis.
Moreover, Sabonis will team up in the frontcourt with Steven Adams for what should be a wild frontcourt that is tough as nails.
Absolute chaos has been the name of the game in the draft right now, but this is the peak of it as of now.
For all your NBA Draft news, updates and more, stay up to date with the FanSided NBA hub.