What is the status of Serge Ibaka with the Bucks? Has he been traded?

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Atanu Bera

Know what is the status of Milwaukee Bucks star Serge Ibaka. Is he on the team or is he traded?

Shams Charania of The Athletic has confirmed in a report that the Milwaukee Bucks and Serge Ibaka have agreed to part ways mutually. The letting go of Ibaka came after Serge requested a trade.

Serge Ibaka Bucks
Serge Ibaka warming up for the Milwaukee Bucks. (Image: © Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports)

Ibaka has been away from the team for quite a while due to what has been described as personal reasons. Now, Serge has requested a trade from the Bucks.

Serge Ibaka got no playing time with the Milwaukee Bucks

Notably, 33-year-old Ibaka has played just 16 games for the Milwaukee Bucks this season and is averaging a lowly 4.1 points per game and 2.8 rebounds per game. Also, all the 16 games of Ibaka are coming off the bench.

Further, Ibaka’s lack of playing time is most highlighted while playing for the Bucks. He has averaged only 11.6 minutes per contest.

Ibaka has largely been on the outside of Bucks head coach Mike Budenholzer’s rotation all season. There is a reason why Ibaka is not in the rotation and has got no playtime.

Bucks acquired Ibaka at last season’s trade deadline. Ibaka came to Bucks as a replacement to then questionable Brook Lopez. Last season, Ibaka played in 19 games, including two starts, and averaged 7.0 points and 5.3 rebounds in 17.8 minutes per game while shooting 51.9% from the field.

But now the scene has changed.

Brook Lopez is healthy and thriving, while Giannis Antetokounmpo and Bobby Portis are an important part of the team who are not to be replaced. With all these contributing factors, there is simply no playing minutes available for Serge Ibaka.

If Ibaka wants to playing time, he will simply need a new team.

Once a defensive powerhouse

Serge Ibaka is a 14-year NBA veteran who has been an important member of several contending NBA teams over time.

Ibaka even won an NBA championship with the Toronto Raptors in 2019 and helped the Oklahoma City Thunder contend in his first seven seasons in the NBA.

Furthermore, Ibaka has also played for the Orlando Magic and Los Angeles Clippers.

At the peak of his career, Ibaka was that rare big man who could protect the rim and shoot 3-pointers with high efficiency. However, with growing age and passing time, Ibaka’s game has declined, though he can still shoot from deep.

Once one of the NBA’s best shot-blockers, Ibaka has blocked only 14 shots across 35 games in Milwaukee over the past two seasons.

Nevertheless, Ibaka is still highly valued in the league and a team in greater need of a big man will give Ibaka a look between now and the deadline.

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