The Indiana Pacers are rumored to be shopping center Roy Hibbert and would prefer to send the enigmatic veteran to a Western Conference team.
According to the SportingNews.com, the Pacers have “quietly sought out possible new landing spots” for Hibbert, who still has two years and $30 million remaining on the four-year deal he signed with the team as a restricted free agent just two summers ago.
“I would say they’ve been doing that, a front-office exec told website, adding team officials were immensely disappointed in the All-Star center half slump that extended throughout much of the playoffs, when Hibbert averaged just nine points and six rebounds.
After their five-year, $44 million dollar offer to free agent forward Lance Stephenson was rejected, the Pacers are thought to be trying to clear salary-cap space to perhaps extend the third-year forward a more lucrative offer.
“They’re open to making major changes, if they’re there,” added another unnamed GM. “I think they’d be disappointed to see that same core group back intact, so it is a matter of, how drastic can the changes they make be? Moving Hibbert for multiple pieces would be a pretty drastic change, but they’re asking.”
The 27-year-old Hibbert previously netted a max offer from Portland, which the Pacers matched, and the team has been linked to him at various other times, though making any deal for the six-year veteran right now might be even more difficult with the team focused on signing star forward LaMarcus Aldridge to an extension.
The Pacers have advanced to the Eastern Conference finals in each of the last two seasons, losing to the rival Miami Heat each time. Already this season the team has inked veteran swingman C.J. Miles to a four-year, $18 million as insurance in the event they lose Stephenson or as added depth should they prove able to re-sign him.
