Thunder extend Ibaka for 4 yr/ $40 million (now reported at $48 million)

[CelticsFan9]

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/nba--serge-ibaka-reaches-agreement-on-four-year-extension-with-oklahoma-city.html

Well, what does this mean for James Harden?

To me, this is a little much for a guy who is a good shot blocker.  Presti must be banking on him getting a real good post game from Hakeem.

[rondohondo]

Big Al makes max money , this is a steal for Thunder. He would have gotten at least 12 mil a year in free agency .

[crownontherocks]

Updating a previous report, Serge Ibaka's contract extension with the Thunder is worth $48 million over four years. Ibaka blocked 3.7 shots per game last season, far ahead of second-place JaVale McGee (2.2) and third-place Dwight Howard (2.1). On the strength of all those swats, he wound up being the No. 11 overall fantasy player last season (per-game value, nine categories) despite playing just 27.1 minutes per game. It will be interesting to see how his annual $12 million price tag affects OKC's efforts to extend James Harden.

Related: James Harden Source: Adrian Wojnarowski on Twitter

[Who]

Bargain

Even if Ibaka never improves one iota, he'd earn that contract. And Ibaka has bucket-loads of potential ... could easily be worth $15+ million halfway through that deal.

[Smutzy#9]

The scary thing is Ibaka is a 4th option on that team. So on a team where you have KD who is a freak, a PG who hefts up as many shots a game he can, and a 6th man of the year who likes to handle and shoot the ball he doesnt really need to be looked at on the offensive end.

In saying that, Ibaka does have a short and mid range game. If he gets some good post moves this season this deal could be quite possibly one of the best contract in the NBA. Ibaka's defence top 3-5 in the NBA. He is a physical specimen freak who if gets post moves, would be in an insane option for any teams offence. Ibaka could easily be 10/10/3 guy each night.

[fairweatherfan]

Kinda surprising, I figured the Thunder would try to secure Harden and let Ibaka walk.

But I agree that in this market that's a pretty good contract.

[flyofchange]

Kinda surprising, I figured the Thunder would try to secure Harden and let Ibaka walk.

But I agree that in this market that's a pretty good contract.

Yeah OKC were gonna go with harden but then came the olympics and they saw harden getting crossed up something fierce by nigerias PG  so they decided to go with Ibaka 

I heard there was also som dispute about the coaching staff not wanting to be around harden anymore because of illegal immigrants living in his beard...

[SCBirdman]

Kinda surprising, I figured the Thunder would try to secure Harden and let Ibaka walk.

But I agree that in this market that's a pretty good contract.

Before LA signed Howard I would have said OKC would amnesty Perk and re-sign Harden, but now, OKC HAS to keep Perk, as he is the best NBA defender of DH12. OKC still may decide to keep Harden and amnesty Perk, but it would be suicide now. LA is their main comp in the West.

They will probably trade Harden for young guys and picks to stay under the cap.

[fairweatherfan]

Kinda surprising, I figured the Thunder would try to secure Harden and let Ibaka walk.

But I agree that in this market that's a pretty good contract.

Yeah OKC were gonna go with harden but then came the olympics and they saw harden getting crossed up something fierce by nigerias PG  so they decided to go with Ibaka 

That PG was Tony Skinn, previously famous for missing part of George Mason's Final 4 run because he nutpunched a guy in the conference tourney.

So things could've gone worse for Harden there, is all I'm saying.   

[Moranis]

You can't pay your 4th option 12 million a year and your 5th option 8.5 million a year when you aren't the Lakers or Knicks. 

[flyofchange]

Kinda surprising, I figured the Thunder would try to secure Harden and let Ibaka walk.

But I agree that in this market that's a pretty good contract.

Yeah OKC were gonna go with harden but then came the olympics and they saw harden getting crossed up something fierce by nigerias PG  so they decided to go with Ibaka 

That PG was Tony Skinn, previously famous for missing part of George Mason's Final 4 run because he nutpunched a guy in the conference tourney.

So things could've gone worse for Harden there, is all I'm saying.   

Ive been punched in the nuts before so I know what thats like but I aint never been crossed up and humiliated like that on international tv so if I was harden i would rather take a flick in the nads dude 

[ronaldo943]

You can't pay your 4th option 12 million a year and your 5th option 8.5 million a year when you aren't the Lakers or Knicks.

You forgot the Nets.

[CoachBo]

Nice.

Danny, make that call and see if Presti's snockered and wants to move Harden.

LOL.

[saltlover]

You can't pay your 4th option 12 million a year and your 5th option 8.5 million a year when you aren't the Lakers or Knicks.

Assuming they'll want to keep Harden, I think Perk is amnestied next year.

That said, the Thunder have become very popular in OKC.  While it's not the largest market, they don't have to share it with any other sport, aside from some college football, and some of the energy expansion has added life to their economy.  Perhaps they blow past the cap for a couple of years to try to win.

[syfy9]

The fact of the matter is that Ibaka is not a one dimensional player. If you've seen him play, he utilizes shot fakes so well and up and unders. He also has a great mid range shot (Olympics?) to add to his great defense.


I agree that this is a bargain.