Serge Ibaka wants to play in NBA next season despite interest from European team

Despite some chatter out of Europe regarding his future, veteran Bucks big man Serge Ibaka, an unrestricted free agent this summer, intends to remain in the NBA next season, per Emiliano Carchia of Sportando.

Carchia notes that Italian EuroLeague club Virtus Bologna, winners of the 2021 Italian Serie A, would be interested in adding Ibaka, but never made any formal outreach to the 32-year-old. Before joining the league for the 2009-10 season, Ibaka played for two Spanish pro clubs: Bàsquet Manresa and EuroLeague powerhouse Real Madrid.

Last year while with the Clippers and Bucks, Ibaka posted his most modest numbers since his 2009-10 rookie season with the Thunder. For the regular season, the 6-foot-10 power forward/center averaged 6.8 points and 4.6 rebounds across 16.2 minutes per game. Ibaka played even more minimally in the postseason for Milwaukee. He appeared in just six of the Bucks’ 12 postseason contests this year, averaging 1.5 points and 1.7 rebounds in just 3.7 minutes per game when he did play.

There’s more out of the Central Division:

• The Bucks could look to the draft to build out their bench depth for the 2022-23 season. Eric Nehm of The Athletic assesses four point guard prospects who could fit for Milwaukee behind All-Defensive teamer Jrue Holiday, including Kentucky guard TyTy Washington, G League Ignite guard Jaden Hardy, Tennessee freshman Kennedy Chandler and 6-foot-7 Arizona prospect Dalen Terry.
• An ankle sprain prevented Ohio State guard Malaki Branham for a group workout with the Cavaliers, but the team was still impressed by the NBA prospect following a dinner with the front office, per Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com. Fedor adds that Cleveland intends to bring Branham back to its facilities for a workout ahead of the June 23 draft.
• Due to a flight delay, three Pacers prospects missed their workout for Indiana on Friday, per Scott Agness of Fieldhouse Files. Baylor forward Jeremy Sochan, Iraurgi Saski Baloia shooting guard Pavel Savkov and Urbas Fuenlabrada guard Ziga Samar were not able to participate in a team workout that also included G League Ignite prospect Dyson Daniels, Oklahoma guard Kameron McGusty and Villanova forward Jermaine Samuels. Given that most prospects have fairly busy schedules leading up to the draft, it is unclear whether this triumvirate’s Pacers workout will be rescheduled.