The Indiana Pacers will now spend the entire offseason trying to figure out how to re-tool a roster they thought was already built to win a championship. After earning the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference, the Pacers were the favorite to take a title this season, until their run was ended yet again by the Miami Heat. So where does the team go from here? A trade might be the first move.
According to Marc Stein of ESPN.com, Hibbert has not requested a trade from the Pacers, but also would not turn one down. Stein writes that Hibbert's team believes a fresh start on a new team might be the better move for the center after he struggled heavily in the second half of the season and playoffs. Stein stresses that no one is requesting a trade, but the Pacers have been considering shopping Hibbert in order to get multiple players in return.
A trade for Hibbert will not be easy to come by. The center has two years and $30 million remaining on his current contract. However, the second year is a player option meaning he can opt out for free agency if need be. Hibbert would essentially be a one-year rental for a team in championship mode. His second-half downfall will have hurt his value, but not enough to hurt interest if he becomes available.
There are no confirmed teams interested in Hibbert at this point, but Bleacher Report offers some potential landing spots for the center. The Cleveland Cavaliers could have some interest in acquiring the big man. The Pacers could receiver Anderson Varejao and Dion Waiters, plus a first-round draft pick in exchange for Hibbert. Varejao is a double-double machine. Waiters could be a solid option if Lance Stephenson is not back with the team. He can start or come off the bench and play alongside Luis Scola. The move would also open up draft options for the Cavaliers since there would be no pressure to take Joel Embiid.
The deal with the Portland Trail Blazers could be a favorite. First, it gets Hibbert out of the Eastern Conference. Indiana does not want to face him again. The Pacers would receiver Robin Lopez who can start immediately. Meyers Leonard and CJ McCollum could also be included to help build for the future. Both players would help with depth and replacing Stephenson. There is always the option of a Boston Celtics, Rajon Rondo player swap.
Right now, all signs point to Hibbert staying with Indiana for the season. The Pacers could easily look past his playoff disappearance act if there are not any good deals to come by. However, the second a hint of availability comes out, teams will be picking up the phone trying to acquire Hibbert.
