When free agency began last month, Serge Ibaka thought he would be re-upping with the Toronto Raptors, his team since February 2017. He loved his teammates, the front office, the fans, and the comfort he had developed with that organization.
But the Raptors had a different vision for their future, and that opened the door for Ibaka to find a different team. Cue the Clippers, and their recruiting pitch (video c/o of the Clippers, Mirjam Swanson on the question):
With a friend like Kawhi Leonard in Los Angeles, it was a no-brainer for Ibaka to make the move across the country.