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Orlando Magic, Serge Ibaka hope to start long relationship

By Philip Rossman-Reich

Jan 17, 2016; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder forward Serge Ibaka (9) looks to pass the ball while guarded by Miami Heat forward Chris Bosh (1) during the fourth quarter at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 17, 2016; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder forward Serge Ibaka (9) looks to pass the ball while guarded by Miami Heat forward Chris Bosh (1) during the fourth quarter at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports /
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Serge Ibaka will wear an Orlando Magic uniform for the first time soon. If everything goes right for him and the team, this season won’t be his last.

The Orlando Magic’s trade for Serge Ibaka was certainly a symbol of the team’s intention to compete. The Magic have stated and are not hiding from Playoff expectations this year with the new roster they built.

The deal though that sent Victor Oladipo to the Oklahoma City Thunder for Serge Ibaka was a deal with major financial implications. Oladipo might have been set to enter restricted free agency without an extension by Oct. 31, seeking a max contract.

Orlando though acquired another player who could fetch a big paycheck this summer. And essentially both the Magic and Ibaka will audition for each other throughout the 2017 season.

As things stand on media day, both Ibaka and the Magic want a long-term relationship.

“I’m looking to stay here to play forever,” Ibaka said. “For as many years as possible. I’m not worried about my contract year or my long term, because one thing I learned playing for a good team, when a team wins and you make the Playoffs, everyone looks good. If we make the Playoffs, everything will take care of itself.”

Ibaka is on the final year of a four-year, $49-million extension. He is set to make $12.4 million this season. And surely with the new salary cap reality that will only increase.

Ibaka’s career though is at a bit of a crossroads though. His scoring and defensive numbers have been falling throughout the board. Several statistical projections seem to suggest Ibaka is somewhat on the decline. Even beyond basic statistics, his defensive win shares and defensive box plus-minus, while still very good, were at their lowest since the early part of his career.

Ibaka though showed throughout the Playoffs how valuable he can be defensively. His defensive box plus-minus rose from 1.0 in the regular season to 2.4 in the playoffs. This means in the Playoffs he was 2.4 points per 100 possessions better on defense than the average player.

This is the reason the Magic looked to acquire him this offseason. And believe he can turn things around this coming season with a larger role for a new team.

When it comes to his new contract, the Magic do not seem worried and are willing to let things play out.

General manager Rob Hennigan said the Magic acquired Ibaka with hopes of signing him long term. But how the season goes — both for him and the Magic — may determine whether he re-ups in Orlando.

For Ibaka’s part, he said he knows if he plays well and his team plays well, his future will take care of itself.

This is a new opportunity for him. And a chance to recapture what made him great a few years ago. And he is optimistic about what the future holds for this team with him there.

Next: Orlando Magic Position-By-Position Outlook

“I’m so excited,” Ibaka said. “Sometimes change is good. This change is good for me. A new team, a new coach too. It’s perfect timing for me. I don’t want to be like I’m the only one new here. We’ve got nice guys here. We have young players for the future. The exciting part is I’m on a team where I was on a team where we were dreaming to make the Playoffs and we did it a lot of years in a row. This is a new one too. It’s going to give me new energy and a fresh mind.”