By John Denton

Sept. 29, 2016

ORLANDO – Whereas it might have been only natural for Serge Ibaka to have balked at leaving a contending team for a rebuilding Orlando Magic squad, the power forward instead embraced the freedom and release that a new opportunity now presents.

In Oklahoma City, where Ibaka played for seven seasons prior to his trade to the Magic, the versatile forward was relegated to being – at best – a third option in the offense behind megastars Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook. Also, he seemed to have been pushed further and further from the basket each of the past four seasons – something that dinged his productivity and effectiveness on both ends of the floor.

Enter the Magic, which jumped at the chance to acquire the 27-year-old big man when he surprisingly became available in the days leading up to the NBA Draft back in June. The Magic have big plans for the 6-foot-10, 235-pound Ibaka, wanting to use him more as someone who flashes hard for duck-in looks at point-blank range and someone who rolls to the rim for lobs. Also, Ibaka is still able to space the floor with his deft shooting stroke – something that makes him even more valuable.

Defensively, Orlando wants Ibaka to anchor a defense that has the talent and potential to be the best unit in the league. The Magic believe that with more of a central role Ibaka will be highly motivated and someone who can get back to being the dominant difference-maker who once led the NBA in blocked shots each season from 2010-14.

All of those options sound like sweet music to the ears of Ibaka, who is eager to re-establish himself as one of the NBA’s most dynamic big men, while also helping Orlando get back into the playoffs.

``This chance has given me a lot of motivation and a lot of energy, and I’ve been working for seven years for this and I’m ready,’’ said Ibaka, who was scheduled to go through his fourth and fifth practice sessions with the Magic on Thursday. ``I’m excited because sometimes change is good and I think this change is good for me. New team and a new coach too, so perfect timing for me. … This team is going to give me a new energy and a fresh mind.’’

Watch Film Room Study of Ibaka's Offensive Skills

That’s just what the Magic want to hear considering that they have desperately lacked a rim protector like Ibaka for the past four seasons as they have tried to rebuild the franchise around youth. That plan – along with fan-favorite Victor Oladipo – was scrapped when OKC made Ibaka available and the Magic orchestrated a bold, blockbuster trade.

``I’ve loved Serge for a long time and we coveted his abilities because he has such a unique skill set,’’ first-year Magic coach Frank Vogel said. ``I remember draft night and being super-fond of Victor Oladipo, but I was understanding that we were getting a super talent in return.’’

The pessimist might point to Ibaka’s slide in production over the past three seasons and wonder if Orlando is getting a player on the backside of his prime. After all, the raw numbers paint a somewhat puzzling picture: From 15.1 points, 8.8 rebounds and 2.7 blocks a game in the 2013-14 season to 14.3 ppg., 7.8 rpg. and 2.4 bpg in 2014-15 and 12.6 ppg., 6.8 rpg. and 1.9 bpg. this past season.

Dig deeper, Ibaka says, and the real reasons for the drop off in production become clearer. With OKC determined to play Steven Adams and Enes Kanter more at center, Ibaka was pushed away from the rim more on both ends of the floor. And in many instances, such as the Western Conference Finals, Ibaka was often 25 feet from the rim as he used his tremendous lateral quickness to switch out onto Golden State guards Steph Curry and Klay Thompson.

Then, there was the matter of Ibaka’s steadily shrinking role in the OKC offense.

A whopping 70.1 percent of Ibaka’s baskets last season came off passes from Westbrook (197 assists) or Durant (95 assists). And because he was usually used as a pick-and-pop player or someone who simply spaced the floor for Durant and/or Westbrook, Ibaka took far too many of his shots from 15-to-19 feet (32.3 percent) and 3-point range (21.1 percent) instead of on back-to-the-basket moves (0.03 percent).

``In this training camp (with the Magic), we’ve been working more on the pick-and-roll and I like it and I’m getting back my feelings (around the rim),’’ Ibaka said. ``I’ll read it and sometimes I’m going to roll and sometimes I’m going to pop. But I still like to do both.’’

Vogel wants Ibaka to be the type of player who can put pressure on opposing defenses with the variety in his game. Already, the big man has told the coach that he wants to get more hard rolls to the rim, and that’s just fine with Vogel.

``He’s a big, strong guy and we’re going to put him under the basket a lot. We’re not going to dump it into the post 50 times to him, but our bigs are going rim-run, seal and play a physical brand of basketball,’’ Vogel said. ``So Serge’s hopefully going to be beating people up in the charge circle (restricted area) far more than in the past, but we’re certainly going to take advantage of his ability to shoot as well.’’

The Magic also want to take advantage of the skills that helped to make Ibaka a three-time All-Defensive Team player in the past. Vogel said the thing that truly makes Ibaka an elite defender is the fact that he can swat shots at the rim, while also being agile enough to check guards on the perimeter when they try and induce switches.

In Ibaka and new teammate Bismack Biyombo, the Magic have two players who can erase shots inside and smother guards on the perimeter. That kind of versatility has the Magic believing that they can be one of the NBA’s best defensive teams. And they can’t wait to see Ibaka strike fear into the hearts of foes this season with his diverse skill set.

``He can do it on both ends – changing shots and guarding on the perimeter and then knocking down jump shots. He’s definitely improved each year,’’ said Magic forward Jeff Green, who played with Ibaka in OKC during the 2009-10 and 2010-11 seasons. ``He’s a big addition to this team and what he adds you just can’t find it around the league.’’

Watch Film Room Study of Ibaka's Defensive Abilities

Having former OKC teammates such as Green and D.J. Augustin in Orlando helped ease his transition, as did the big man’s prior relationship with Magic GM Rob Hennigan. The two of them go back to 2008 when Ibaka was playing professionally in Spain and Hennigan – then a scout for the Thunder – dined together in Madrid. Hennigan ultimately recommended that OKC pick Ibaka in the first round of the 2008 NBA Draft (it did with the 24th overall pick).

Going from a contender in OKC to a team still building in Orlando took a level of trust from Ibaka, and he said that Hennigan has assured him that the Magic want to keep him around Central Florida for years to come. Ibaka can be an unrestricted free agent on July 1 – and potentially cash in on the influx on additional salary cap space for all NBA teams – and Hennigan has said that the recruitment of the talented power forward began the June night that the Magic traded for him.

Putting Ibaka in more of a primary role and making the playoffs in the spring are just two ways that the Magic can show him that his long-term future could be in Orlando. Again, that’s sweet music to Ibaka’s ears.

``I’m looking to stay here to play forever — for (as) many years as possible,’’ Ibaka said.

``I’m not really worried about my contract year or my long-term,’’ he added. ``One of the things I learned playing on a good team is when the team wins, when you make the playoffs, everybody looks good. So that’s what will be my focus right now. Because if we win and make the playoffs, everything will take care of itself.’’

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