[shipargosParticipant]

Anyone knows if Ibaka will play for the Thunder next year?
I saw his stats in the ACB page and looks he has improved a lot. There are also clips showing him competing in the ACB slamdunk Championship.

[suhombreParticipant]

I don’t know which will be his plans, but he hasn’t played a lot (near 16 mpg), he will have a more important role next year, despite the starting PF has a long contract and the starting center has renewed for 2 more years, so it will be good for him to stay. He has improved a lot but he is far from being a nba player right away.

I think Joel Freeland is much more ready, he could have some backup minutes, but, in my point of view, it will be interesting to him to stay also.

Acb players who went too early to the nba rarely make it as: Raul Lopez (injuries didn’t help also), Maciej Lampe, Sergio Rodriguez, Cheick Samb. Only players that were stars in the acb have had steady minutes in the nba: Nocioni, Gasol, Calderon, Scola, Navarro. So if i was an nba general manager I would leave Ibaka a couple more years and look the stars of the league: Tau’s Splitter and Mickeal, Barcelona’s Ilyasova.

[auberParticipant]

I’m sold on the guy. I think you let him learn the game from a team that could ease him into the nba. Staying not a bad idea, but the potential is definitely there.

[Pistol Pete. The PelicanParticipant]

llyasova was a bust and splitter isn’t coming because of money

[redblackParticipant]

Until Splitter is convinced to come to the NBA it’s not going to happen.
He makes much more money now vs. what the Spurs would pay.

Not all ACB stars would fit into the US style or want to come over. A money thing or sometimes just plain ol’ EGO.
For a good example of a Euro not wanting to play in the US, look at Fran Vasquez. The Magic wasted a lottery pick on him. After the draft he changed his mind and didn’t want to play here. Nice guy though… had a quick interview and said he was looking forward to being here…some guys are just fickle and don’t want to come, or just don’t want to play for the team who holds there rights.

That being said, I do agree, Joel Freeland could provide some minutes off the bench for Portland. Portland could think about signing him since Frye, Randolph and Ruffin will not be returning. That is not a guarantee that he will come this next year though.

Ibaka may be a year or two away from being able to do the same. I don’t see him coming over before the 2010-11 season.. How OKC would work him into the rotation is a different story, considering the players on the current roster and the several draft picks they hold. Betwen now and than the roster could have a large change. Figuring that out, well that’s a problem for Brooks if he’s still in OKC

[blackflash234Participant]

Post the link of the ACB slamdunk contest with Serge Ibaka.

[blackflash234Participant]

Post the link of the ACB slamdunk contest with Serge Ibaka.

[shipargosParticipant]

Ibaka is in red uniform, there is also prospect Victor Claver dunking-

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=52texkIM4rk&feature=related

[shipargosParticipant]

As you can see ibaka is super athletic, hi did Julius Earving free throw dunk, he must put up some muscle and tune his skills.

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