Clippers center/power forward Serge Ibaka will exercise his player option for next season, tweets Shams Charania of The Athletic.
Ibaka, 31, will make $9.7MM next season before becoming an unrestricted free agent in the summer of 2022. He signed a two-year, $19MM contract last November that included the player option in the second season.
Ibaka’s first season in L.A. was marred by injuries that limited him to 41 games during the regular season and two brief appearances in the playoffs. He was the starting center before back issues derailed his year, averaging 11.1 points, 6.7 rebounds and 1.1 blocks per night.
The decision by Ibaka virtually eliminates any thoughts the Clippers may have entertained about using the non-taxpayer mid-level exception this offseason, according to John Hollinger of The Athletic (Twitter link).
The Clippers, of course, are still waiting on another big player option decision, as Kawhi Leonard will have to decide whether to opt into a $36MM+ salary. Despite his ACL injury, the expectation is that Leonard will turn down his option to sign a more lucrative – and perhaps a longer-term – deal with Los Angeles.
As expected..
Clippers lucky to keep him. Clippers should sign McGee. A few teams should sign McGee.
Lucky? They are lucky to keep a guy who couldn’t stay healthy
Don’t know how much basketball you watched last season but that problem wasn’t exclusive to Ibaka….
Yeah those players just get hurt all the time. Let’s not sign any of them.
Injury possibility was the only reason for the player option really. It’s come to fruition, but Clips likely not to down about it. They can keep him longer term now even beyond next year. They have no other path to players (other than reupping their own) until at least one of their mega contracts expire or are traded.
He’s a fool. His body is ravaged and he wants another shot at glory? Settle down and live with yourself. This is a recipe for injury, I care too much to see him harm himself. Smdh…sad story seems like we hear too many of them in the nerba
Damn. Well, there goes my hopes on that one. Lucky situation for the Clippers to keep him, unless he wont be healthy
Let’s all root for the injuries. Why do you post here. Really. Do you not understand what HoopsRumors means.