Report: Clippers' Serge Ibaka exercises $9.7M player option for 2021-22 season

Clippers center/power forward Serge Ibaka will exercise his player option for next season, according to Shams Charania of The Athletic.

Ibaka, 31, will make $9.7M next season before becoming an unrestricted free agent in the summer of 2022. He signed a two-year, $19M contract last November that included the player option in the second season.

Ibaka’s first season in L.A. was marred by injuries that limited him to 41 games during the regular season and two brief appearances in the playoffs. He was the starting center before being hurt, averaging 11.1 points, 6.7 rebounds and 1.1 blocks per night.

The decision by Ibaka virtually eliminates any thoughts the Clippers may have entertained about using the non-taxpayer mid-level exception this offseason, according to John Hollinger of The Athletic.