NBA, Team News / Analysis, Player News / Analysis, Oklahoma City Thunder, Serge Ibaka
Serge Ibaka and the Oklahoma City Thunder have agreed to a four-year extension worth $48 million. Considering the four-year deal that JaVale McGee received from the Denver Nuggest for $44 million and DeAndre Jordan received from the Los Angeles Clippers for $43 million, Sam Presti re-signed the 22-year old Ibaka for a bargain.
Not signing Ibaka to the max contract also leaves money left over to re-sign shooting guard James Harden. However, this inevitably means that the Thunder hit the luxury tax eventually; something they’ve never hit as an organization.
GM Sam Presti has proven to be one of the brightest General Managers in the league, but he knows better than anyone else that this is a superstar league. If the Thunder want to compete for a title, they know that they can only get what they pay for. Therefore, locking down one of the best shot blockers in the league was essential for the Thunder to remain contenders in the increasingly competitive Western Conference.
