The Milwaukee Bucks have a new center on the roster following yesterday’s NBA trade deadline. First reported by ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, the defending champions acquired veteran big man Serge Ibaka in a mega-four-team deal on Thursday. The move was certainly a surprise, given that the center had not been linked to Milwaukee in any rumors before the trade was made. The deal is an interesting one, and let us take a closer look at it by breaking it down and giving it final a grade.
What the Milwaukee Bucks traded for in the Serge Ibaka deal
The Bucks traded for a quality big man in this deal that will temporarily help patch the issues they are facing their center position. Of course, starting center Brook Lopez has appeared in one game this season due to back issues, and the Bucks have explored many avenues to try and fill the void. Elevating Bobby Portis into the starting five has proven to be a winning formula, but the team has struggled to find a backup, with DeMarcus Cousins and Greg Monroe both spending time with the franchise. Ibaka is better than both players on impact.
While Ibaka is no longer the three-time All-Defensive honoree or two-time block champion that he once was, the 6-foot-10 center is just what the Bucks needed right now. Ibaka gives Milwaukee a household name that is a reputable defender to play the center position behind Portis. The center will provide another strong defensive body in the lineup, posing a threat as a shot-blocker that is imposing for opponents. Lineups with Ibaka alongside Giannis Antetokounmpo, Jrue Holiday, and Milwaukee’s other top-tier defenders will be fascinating to watch.
Ibaka’s defense is what stands out the most in this deal, but he is no slouch on the offensive end either, although he is having a down year by averaging 6.6 points per game. Thankfully, the Bucks will not be overly-dependent on Ibaka’s scoring, but his solid 3-point shooting could certainly be useful for this team. According to NBA.com/stats, Ibaka is shooting 22-of-56 (39.3 percent) on his catch-and-shoot threes this year, and he will get no shortage of those tries with the Bucks. If he can knock them down with the same consistency, it is icing on the cake for Milwaukee.
Getting Ibaka alone would have been sufficient for the Bucks, but they got some added pieces in this one that are intriguing. As reported by Wojnarowski, Milwaukee received two second round picks and cash in the deal, which makes this even better. Overall, it was an incredibly solid return, considering what the defending champions gave up.
What the Milwaukee Bucks traded away in the Serge Ibaka deal
As part of the four-team deal, the Bucks traded Donte DiVincenzo to the Sacramento Kings while sending Rodney Hood and Semi Ojeleye to the LA Clippers.
DiVincenzo is obviously the most significant outgoing piece for Milwaukee in this trade, and it was not exactly surprising to see the Bucks move him. HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto reported last week that the Bucks would trade the 25-year-old guard if the return helped them bolster their roster, which is just what this move did. Since returning from injury this season, the guard had struggled to carve out a role for himself in Milwaukee’s logjam of a two-guard rotation, and moving him for a big man, where the Bucks were previously lacking rotational pieces, is a reasonable move.
Although Milwaukee moved their best young asset, they got a much-needed piece in return. It was likely for the best with DiVincenzo set to hit restricted free agency after the season and the Bucks’ limited financial flexibility. Although Scotto noted that the Bucks toyed with the idea of re-signing him in the offseason, this trade makes much more sense. DiVincenzo will get a fresh start with a new-look Sacramento team rather than fighting for minutes in Milwaukee.
As for the other two pieces, they were simply throw-ins. Hood and Ojeleye both came aboard in free agency this past offseason, and neither player managed to find their feet. After being staples in the rotation to begin the year, both had fallen out of favor and found themselves glued to the sidelines recently. Not only did the Bucks manage to move them to help acquire a piece like Ibaka, but they also opened up a pair of roster spots by moving them. Only time will tell how the Bucks plan to utilize those, but general manager Jon Horst always has a plan.
All in all, the outgoing assets in this deal are beyond justifiable for Milwaukee, given their roster issues at the center position now.
The final grade and assessment of the Milwaukee Bucks trade for Serge Ibaka
This is a great move for the Bucks on all fronts. They traded one rotational piece and two veterans that were not getting consistent minnutes for a backup center they desperately needed, a pair of future second round picks, and cash. That is just some outright masterful work from Milwaukee’s former Executive of the Year winner.
Sure, Ibaka is not a needle-tipper for the champs, but he patches a bleeding hole in their roster at this point in the season. Although the Bucks are rumored to be optimistic that Lopez could be back in the lineup at some point this season, it is tough to speculate with back injuries, especially when it happens to a 34-year-old center. Ibaka has dealt with some injuries of his own over the past two seasons, but he appears healthy now. If he can simply be serviceable until Lopez’s hopeful return, Ibaka will be a great addition to Milwaukee’s frontcourt.
Not only was getting Ibaka great, but the picks and cash could come in handy down the road, and that goes without mentioning Milwaukee’s roster situation now. The Bucks had one vacant roster spot before the deal, and after sending these three out and acquiring Ibaka, they now have three open roster spots they can fill in the buyout market, which could heat up awfully fast. Depending on who Milwaukee brings in off a buyout, this deal could look better than it already does for them, which is saying something.
Welcome to Milwaukee, Serge!
BTBP Final Grade: A
Stay tuned for updates on what the Bucks will do in the buyout market over the next few days.