Oklahoma City Thunder Trade Serge Ibaka to Orlando Magic

(photo credit: bleacherreport.com)

The Oklahoma City Thunder and the Orlando Magic have agreed to the first blockbuster trade on NBA Draft night.  According to reports by Adrian Wojnarwoski of The Vertical, the Thunder have traded power forward Serge Ibaka to Orlando in exchange for guard Victor Oladipo, forward Ersan Ilyasova, and the rights to big man Domantas Sabonis, who was drafted with the 11^th pick in the 2016 NBA Draft by the Magic.

 Ibaka was selected in the first round by the Thunder in 2008, who at that time were still the Seattle Supersonics. Ibaka signed a four-year contract extension with the Thunder in 2012. The deal was worth $48 million, and he is due to make $12.25 million in the 2016-2017 season. Oklahoma City likely traded Ibaka in order to create cap space for Kevin Durant, who will become a free agent on July 1, and Russell Westbrook who is set to become a free agent in 2017. 

Ibaka is a three-time NBA All-Defensive Player, as he led the league in blocks for four straight seasons, until he finished fourth in the category in 2014-15. Ibaka has also added some long-range shooting to his game, averaging 1.7 three-pointers last year, which was tied for second on the Thunder. Last season, Ibaka averaged 12.6 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 1.9 blocks per game. Oladipo was selected with the second pick in the first round by the Magic in the 2013 NBA Draft. 

Oladipo averaged 16.0 points, 3.9 assists, and 4.8 rebounds per game last season. Oladipo will likely start at shooting guard, as he brings more offense to the table than current shooting guard Andre Roberson. Ilyasova, the eight-year NBA veteran, averaged 10.4 points and 5.4 rebounds with the Magic last season. The Thunder also acquired the rights to Domantas Sabonis, who was the 11^th overall pick in the NBA Draft. In his sophomore season with Gonzaga, 

Sabonis averaged 17.6 points a game with the Bulldogs last season. Sabonis will likely replace Ibaka in the starting lineup, as he will join Steven Adams in the Thunder frontcourt. Sabonis is the son of Arvydas Sabonis, who played for the Portland Trail Blazers, and he is a Hall of Famer.