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LA Clippers: 1 reason Clips need to re-sign Serge Ibaka

By Evan Desai

WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 04: Serge Ibaka #9 of the Los Angeles Clippers in action against the Washington Wizards at Capital One Arena on March 04, 2021 in Washington, DC. 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 Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 04: Serge Ibaka #9 of the Los Angeles Clippers in action against the Washington Wizards at Capital One Arena on March 04, 2021 in Washington, DC. 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 Patrick Smith/Getty Images) /
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LA Clippers center Serge Ibaka has a player option for next year.

Hopefully Serge Ibaka picks up the option, because the LA Clippers couldn’t block shots without Ibaka healthy this year.

Ibaka has averaged two blocks per game in his NBA career, and that’s the reason the Clippers need to retain him. The Clippers were tied for the second-least blocked shots per game in the 2020-2021 season with 4.1 blocks per game. That was the worst in the Western Conference.

Ibaka still averaged over a block per game despite playing the second-least amount of minutes per game in his career (23.3) this season. The two-time NBA Block Champ and three-time All-Defensive Team member had a defensive rating of 105.7, which was second on the team amongst big men.

Ibaka has too much history, and recent history that is, as a shot blocker to be content with him leaving in free agency. Just two seasons ago, he had six blocks in one game in the NBA Finals.

He didn’t even start in the Finals that series, he just has the potential to have that kind of impact, even off of the bench. Ibaka has even swatted nine blocks in one contest before in the playoffs.

He was very young back then, so that’s most likely not possible. The point is, however, he has great experience as a lockdown defender in the playoffs. He not only averages two blocks per game in his career during the regular season, but also averaged two playoff blocks per game coming into the postseason this year.

He averaged 10 blocks per series in both the NBA Finals that he’s played in. Even if he can’t perform at that level anymore, that’s still very valuable experience to have in trying to develop a team that struggled to block shots this year.

He can still play at that level, however, as he averages 1.8 blocks per 36 minutes. It wasn’t that he regressed in his abilities, but just that he wasn’t getting the playing time this year. Battling back injuries also didn’t help.

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Ibaka is still a very productive player when healthy. If he doesn’t initially pick up his player option, the Clippers need to do whatever they can to lure him back to Los Angeles.