3 Bigs the LA Clippers Should Target in Free Agency

2. Serge Ibaka

This is the one that would either require a sign and trade for the LA Clippers. Serge Ibaka is a very productive big who just finished up a 3 year, $65 million contract.

Getting him onto the Clippers in free agency would mean he takes a new contract that’s 25% of his previous one. Given that he’s still very productive (15 points and 8 rebounds a game), that’s pretty unlikely. But a sign and trade is possible, especially if Masai Ujiri has eyes for Montrezl Harrell.

If he did join the good guys in LA, Serge would be a wonderful player coming off the bench. He brings a championship pedigree and the kind of toughness that the Clips could really use.

While he’s not the defender he was in Oklahoma City, he still knows what to do and how to contest shots, especially at the rim. On misses, Ibaka crashes the boards hard, pulling down 11 rebounds per 36 minutes with the Raptors last season, a career best.

Are you seeing a pattern here? Like Noel, Ibaka would contribute defense and rebounds to a Clippers bench that desperately needs both.

On offense, Serge would provide some fantastic versatility. He’s got a sweet stroke, shooting 39% from 3 on 4.4 attempts per game last year; he also shot 75% at the rim. If he were to replace Montrezl Harrell as the backup big, the Lou/Ibaka screen game could include some pick and pops that Trezz isn’t able to pull off.

Serge Ibaka has been mentioned quite often throughout Clipper Nation on social media, and for good reason. His combination of solid defense and versatile offense should have Clippers fans clamoring to acquire him.