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LA Clippers: 3 Reasons Why Signing Serge Ibaka Was Important

By Michael Hanich

OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA - JUNE 13: Kawhi Leonard #2 and Serge Ibaka #9 of the Toronto Raptors celebrates their teams victory over the Golden State Warriors in Game Six to win the 2019 NBA Finals at ORACLE Arena on June 13, 2019 in Oakland, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA - JUNE 13: Kawhi Leonard #2 and Serge Ibaka #9 of the Toronto Raptors celebrates their teams victory over the Golden State Warriors in Game Six to win the 2019 NBA Finals at ORACLE Arena on June 13, 2019 in Oakland, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) /
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LA Clippers Serge Ibaka Marcin Gortat Pascal Siakam
LA Clippers Serge Ibaka Marcin Gortat Pascal Siakam (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /

The Los Angeles Clippers have already made some solid moves to rebound from another blown 3-1 lead this time to the Denver Nuggets by signing Serge Ibaka.

After moving on from head coach Doc Rivers and power forward Montrezl Harrell, the LA Clippers needed to find some key players to create a new identity.

On November 22nd, the Clippers signed former Toronto Raptors power forward/center Serge Ibaka for a two-year deal worth $19 million. The second year in the contract is a player option. This signing comes one day after Clippers’ reigning sixth man of the year in power forward/center Harrel signed a two-year deal worth $20 million with the Los Angeles Lakers.

The Clippers are very much happy with this upgrade with Ibaka’s signing as he is a more versatile player and a much better defender than Ibaka. He is also consistent in shooting out of the paint and can even shoot three-point shots.

The Clippers were looking for players that can play well with superstars Kawhi Leonard and Paul George and create a new identity on the team. As it turns out, their new identity would rekindle an old but solid relationship with Ibaka and Leonard back as teammates.

In the lone season that Leonard was with Toronto after being traded from the San Antonio Spurs in the offseason of 2018, Ibaka and Leonard were solid teammates on-and-off the field. The 2018-2019 NBA season was the season where the Raptors, led by Leonard, won their first-ever NBA Championship. The following offseason, Leonard signed with the Clippers.

The biggest downfall of the Clippers in the 2020 NBA Bubble was the team dynamics and the chemistry. Most of the reports indicating that Harrell was involved with most of the chemistry problems. With Harrell now gone, the Clippers made a tremendous move that will help them out, not only this season with a potential title run but in the long run.

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