Los Angeles Lakers: 2015-16 Season Outlook

Three Key Storylines (cont.)

2. Where Does Roy Hibbert Fit In With Rebuilding?

Hibbert is essentially a one-year rental, much like Jordan Hill was last year. However, Hibbert is a major upgrade from Hill in terms of what he brings to the table defensively. The Lakers were the second worst defense in the league last season, and if the team’s starting backcourt features a disinterested 37-year-old Kobe and rookie D’Angelo Russell, opponents are going to get to the rim.

Luckily, that’s where Hibbert will be with all of his seven-foot frame and verticality, posing a much larger threat at the rim than the Lakers had with Hill, Robert Sacre or Ed Davis last year. Los Angeles will still be a porous defense, but Hibbert’s skill set on that end should help improve the second worst team in the West from last year. He’s only one year removed from being a top Defensive Player of the Year candidate, after all.

The question is, what happens after this year?

Nabbing Hibbert was Plan B after missing out on top-tier free agents like DeAndre Jordan and LaMarcus Aldridge, which is why he makes so much sense as a one-year rental. But as we saw all summer long, a ton of cap space and the allure of playing in a prestigious basketball city is no longer enough to land star free agents; you have to have a solid roster too.

Let’s say Hibbert pays off in the final year of his contract and suddenly the Lakers build some buzz as a more attractive free agency destination. Doesn’t all of that momentum come undone the second it feels like Hibbert won’t be in Los Angeles past next summer?

I understand the importance of improving the Lakers’ on-court product, but I struggle to see how it will help them land free agents if Hibbert is truly nothing more than a one-year rental. Even if the Lakers do have long-term plans for him, he’s not exactly the kind of player teams would use to successfully lure free agents anyway.

Next: Storyline: Is This Kobe's Last Ride?