Thunder general manager Sam Presti said he is pleased with the development of Serge Ibaka, the 24th overall pick in last year's draft, who is playing professionally in Spain this season. Ibaka, a 6-foot-10 power forward, will join the Thunder's summer league team in July for further evaluation in his first NBA setting.
Ibaka is averaging 7.0 points, 4.4 rebounds and 1.1 blocked shots while averaging 16 minutes per game in 27 games for his Ricoh Manresa team. "The coaching staff and development team with his club in Manresa have done a really good job of bringing him along," Presti said. "And we're in communication with them and tracking Serge's progress weekly."
Presti said the organization hasn't decided whether it will bring Ibaka over for the 2009-10 season or let him continue his development one more year overseas.
"We're just continuing to evaluate how he's progressing," Presti said. "And we want to make a good decision, not only for our team but also for Serge at the appropriate time."
