Veteran center Serge Ibaka is ready for another run with the Milwaukee Bucks. According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, Ibaka agreed to return to the Bucks and has inked a one-year deal with the franchise.
Ibaka landed in Milwaukee in February as part of the four-team trade that included the LA Clippers, the Sacramento Kings, and the Detroit Pistons. The Bucks acquired the 32-year-old player to bolster their depth at the center position in case starter Brook Lopez isn’t ready to go for the playoffs. Lopez had surgery to deal with a back injury at the time.
It turned out that Ibaka was more of a luxury than a need, and it was reflected in his playing time. While he was a solid contributor in the regular season, averaging 7.0 points and 5.3 rebounds in 19 games, his impact in the postseason was almost non-existent. The two-time NBA blocks leader suited up for just six games during the playoffs and spent an average of 3.7 minutes on the floor.
Serge Ibaka is one of several veterans that the Milwaukee Bucks brought in this summer in an attempt to bounce back after a disappointing second-round loss to the Boston Celtics. Besides Ibaka, the Bucks also added shooters Joe Ingels and Wesley Matthews. Javon Carter returned on a two-year deal as well.
