Serge Ibaka to Clippers: How does the big man impact Kawhi Leonard’s title chances next season?

The Clippers and Serge Ibaka agree on a 2-year, $19 million deal which includes a player option for the big man.

The Los Angeles Clippers had a very anti-climatic finish to what was supposed to be ‘their’ year last season. Despite all the stars that the Clippers had acquired, they crashed and burned in the second round of the playoffs. This meant there were going to be changes, and changes there were.

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The first move the Clippers made was to part ways with long-time head coach Doc Rivers. They replaced him with Tyronn Lue. Then Montrezl Harrell shocked everyone in Clippers uniform, as he signed with the Lakers. Clippers did not wait long to sign a replacement for their big. They brought in Serge Ibaka on a 2-year deal.

How does Serge Ibaka fit with the Clippers?

Serge Ibaka is a 31-year old Forward/Center. He has played with Kawhi Leonard in the past when the two of them were in the Toronto squad that won the championship. There seemed to be no trouble amidst the two of them, so that’s always a good sign. Serge comes in as a strong rebounder/shot-blocker and he can also prove to be a good scoring option, something the Clippers really needed.

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This Serge Ibaka deal must have left a lot of teams disappointed, as there were a lot of teams willing to sign the big man.

The Clippers are solidifying their roster, like all the other teams in the league. Hopefully, the addition of a seasoned player would do good to the Clippers. Serge Ibaka has been making his way to the playoffs since his days in Oklahoma City.

With the two stars Kawhi Leonard and Paul George and a solid bench, the Clippers are once again looking like a great side, at least on paper. The real challenge is always once the team starts playing together, especially once they get to the post-season.