http://sportstwo.com/NBA/Story/NBA/2515798 Sonics look to future with Conga's Ibaka at No. 24 Thursday, June 26, 2008 10:04 PM NEW YORK (Ticker) - Taking a pick that mirrors the fortunes of the franchise, the Seattle SuperSonics selected Serge Ibaka of the Conga with the No. 24 pick in Thursday night's NBA draft. With the future of the franchise in limbo while the team's owners and the city fight it out in court over a possible relocation to Oklahoma City, the Sonics went with an 18-year-old who likely is a couple of years away from seeing the NBA. Long and athletic, the 6-10, 220-pound Ibaka can run the floor well and is a good finisher in transition, but he still is ultra-raw and must improve on his low-post game. Although Ibaka has good range, especially for his size, and can knock down 15- to 20-foot jumpers, he must get stronger. He has not played against top competition for most of his career. Last year, he averaged 11.3 points, 8.2 rebounds and 3.0 blocks through 32 games for C.B. L'Hospitalet in the Spanish LEB Gold League. One of 17 children, he would be only the second player from the Conga (DJ Mbenga, Los Angeles Lakers) to play in the NBA.
George Hill was a player being projected around the Raps pick in the 2nd round (41). Interesting reach by the Spurs.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Denny Crane @ Jun 26 2008, 09:07 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Isn't the conga a dance?</div> lol, yeah.
Resent, fixed the spelling error http://sportstwo.com/NBA/Story/NBA/2515812 Sonics look to future with Congo's Ibaka at No. 24 Thursday, June 26, 2008 10:07 PM NEW YORK (Ticker) - Taking a pick that mirrors the fortunes of the franchise, the Seattle SuperSonics selected Serge Ibaka of the Congo with the No. 24 pick in Thursday night's NBA draft. With the future of the franchise in limbo while the team's owners and the city fight it out in court over a possible relocation to Oklahoma City, the Sonics went with an 18-year-old who likely is a couple of years away from seeing the NBA. Long and athletic, the 6-10, 220-pound Ibaka can run the floor well and is a good finisher in transition, but he still is ultra-raw and must improve on his low-post game. Although Ibaka has good range, especially for his size, and can knock down 15- to 20-foot jumpers, he must get stronger. He has not played against top competition for most of his career. Last year, he averaged 11.3 points, 8.2 rebounds and 3.0 blocks through 32 games for C.B. L'Hospitalet in the Spanish LEB Gold League. One of 17 children, he would be only the second player from the Congo (DJ Mbenga, Los Angeles Lakers) to play in the NBA.
