Ibaka will get you a few points, but he is not a 2-way player. He will you about the same amount of points as other defensive specialists like Battier.
Ibaka will end up a much better offensive player than Shane. Not even close. He's too inconsistent and foul prone right now. When he started for Krstic earlier in the season, the Thunder did just fine. He needs more experience playing NBA basketball. And Ibaka is definitely a two-way player. He's carried them on defense some games. On offense, he has a good 15-17 foot shot which the Rockets learned about 2 weeks ago. Ibaka also has a "dream-shake" move that he's shown a few times. Just like Scott Brooks told him last season not to shoot the jumper, I think the leash is on his post moves for now. It cracked me up earlier in the season when Jon Barry acted so amazed after Ibaka drained two straight long jumpers in a game. He acted like Ibaka was Mutumbo and it showed he had no earthly idea what he was talking about.
They want another big to compete in the west....possibly a true 7 footer..Krstic doesn't rebound well enough.
I agree A3, ibaka has the mid range shot down. Alot of people who dont watch okc is surprised because he is such a developing player. i remember him playing for nenad, but it seemed like they played better when he played the 4 for the injured jeff green. It also seem like their defense isnt as good as it was last year.
The broader lesson here is when you have a relatively high lottery pick, you don't trade it for a role player you can get via a minor transaction, you use it to acquire upper echelon talent (like Ray Allen, one of the best shooters in NBA history). Also, for those saying that OKC needs another big, Collison's contract decreases by $10 million this year and Kristic expires. Look for Cole Aldrich, who was regarded as the best big in last year's draft, to see mins next season along with Ibaka and Collison. OKC will also have enough money freed up to add another impact player if available. Either way, they're gonna be good for years to come.
It's been reported OKC wants another big, as of these playoffs, to really make a singificant run. Sounds like they're willing to give up Aldrich in exchange as well.
They miss Ron Adams' constant harping, which is why their defense is down. OKC's best game-closing lineup is KD, Westbrook, Harden, Ibaka and Collison. Next season, you have to hope they get an improved big to take Collison's spot. Against smaller teams or when they are trying the run the ball, sometimes you can substitute Green for Collison. Based on his lack of playing time so far, I don't think Cole Aldrich will amount to anything.
His mistake was not using the cap room last year to absorb a more expensive contract via trade (as opposed to dicking around in free agency).
I strongly disagree with OP. 1: If Ray Allen wasn't traded away, there would be ABSOLUTELY NO WAY the Thunder would have gotten Russell Westbrook. 2: If Ray Allen wasn't traded away, Kevin Durant WOULD NEVER have developed into the player he is now as Ray Allen would have taken A SIGNIFICANT amount of touches away from him. 3: If Ray Allen wasn't traded away, they would have never gotten James Harden. James Harden is 100 times the fit Ray Allen ever was and would be for this OKC team. 4: If Ray Allen wasn't traded away, they would not have been able to take on Kurt Thomas and the Suns' two first rounders. One of the first rounders turned into Serge Ibaka and the other turned into Thabo Sefolosha. Both are all-NBA calibre defenders and great complimentary players to Durant and Westbrook. 5: If Ray Allen wasn't traded away, Durant would not be the player he is now, and neither would Westbrook. 6: If Ray Allen wasn't traded away, the Lakers would have their 2nd three-peat right now. Phew, its a huge relief the Fakers is not going to get their three-peat. That's just my opinion. Peace~
1. Most assertions about how Ray Allen would hamper young players' development are baseless. Rondo has grown to be the player he is today playing with Ray Allen, Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce. Kobe Bryant, Tim Duncan both became a superstar with senior superstars on their teams. 2. "James Harden is 100 times the fit Ray Allen ever was and would be for this OKC team."
Well its a simple question: Would you rather have Ray Allen? Or would you rather have WB, Green and cap flexibility? Trading Ray Allen was the right move, he's 35 years old and there's a high chance he would have left Seattle for Boston after his contract ran out. If he stayed, he would have made the Thunder much better, they would have missed out on both Westbrook and Jeff green.
its still reasonable to say they could've gotten westbrook with ray allen there. Ray allen was on the team before, and the still lost a lot, so that year he wouldn't have made that big of a differnece, they still would have been a lottery team. The finances w ray still gives them about the same cap room as well also. so you don't have to choose one or the other to be honest that said, the reports were the thunder were going after varejao this year who is like a poor man's noah, but he would've made them dangerous
Even with Ray Allen, they were so bad that they got the #2 pick in the lottery and drafted Durant. I wouldn't guarantee Westbrook being out of reach. Even if the Sonics dropped 2 lottery positions to the 6th spot, the Grizzlies would have the 4th pick. They seemed set on getting OJ Mayo, #3 pick, from Minnesota. The Knicks seemed to have been in love with Gallinari, even though it would be an unpopular choice with NY fans. As for Durant, he would have still been the same player he is now. It's like saying Tim Duncan would have been a better player, if David Robinson was traded. Robinson didn't hurt Duncan at all, but probably sped up his development and adjustment to life as a big man in the league Shaq didn't hurt Kobe's development. There is plenty of room for 2 stars. It's a different story with 3-4 stars. They won plenty of rings.
