Are the Los Angeles Lakers fielding trade talk for Roy Hibbert?
February is right around the corner, and the chatter of player movement is soon to begin. With hopes of seeing a quick turnaround, rest assured that the Los Angeles Lakers will find a way to enter these discussions. There’s likely not a chance that they can nab the star they starve for, but young assets may also be available in the right exchange.
Speaking of young assets, the Lakers have likely intrigued teams around the league with their bunch, including Jordan Clarkson, Larry Nance Jr., Julius Randle and D’Angelo Russell. Just as the team boasts their talented youth, they also have some veterans that could add to a contending team’s depth. One of those veterans that come to mind is Roy Hibbert.
The effects of Paul George’s devastating leg injury sent a ripple effect into the entire Indiana Pacers franchise. Hibbert seemed to lose the confidence that once help battle-test LeBron James’ Miami Heat championship teams. As Hibbert struggled to fit into the NBA’s evolving game, he was left with a dilemma to look at reduced time, and be provided the opportunity to continue his career elsewhere.
The team’s heart and soul, David West, left for a chance at an elusive championship with the San Antonio Spurs. All of this also occurred without the presence of wildcard Lance Stephenson, who left in free agency.
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At the season’s end in 2015, it looked like all parties involved were in favor of the latter scenario. It’s safe to say that the past two years have been rough on the former All-Star, and he’s looked to start anew in Los Angeles. The biggest questions with Hibbert were going to be his fit with his new team.
In a lot of ways, Hibbert has gone through much of what the Lakers have experienced thus far. He went from serving as the anchor of one of the league’s emerging elite to a rebuilding franchise that has fallen from grace.
Things haven’t gone as planned thus far. The Lakers are the second-worst team in the NBA, and their flaws have elevated Hibbert’s decline even more. This season’s points per game average are Hibbert’s lowest of his career (6.6 per game). Hibbert’s staple of defense just isn’t there, as the Lakers rank last in defensive rating (110.0 this year).
Lots of people forget that Roy Hibbert was offered and accepted a maximum deal before max deals were cool. Currently he’s at the end of that $60 million dollar contract, and soon he’ll be looking for a new home. Right now, the Lakers are looking to assist Hibbert with that opportunity.
Recently, Hibbert’s name has surfaced in potential trade talk that’ll likely occur around the Feb. 18 trade deadline.
Roy Hibbert waived some of his trade kicker to land in LA... I was told Lakers trying to find him a playoff team. https://t.co/f0ulO2TqJB
— Steve Kyler (@stevekylerNBA) January 18, 2016
While the league has moved to mostly a pace-and-space game, big men still have a place in the league. Guys like Al Jefferson, Marc Gasol and Dwight Howard still exist, though it’s hard to compare those players to Hibbert because they have their unique set of skills.
But the fact still remains that they are the men in the middle for their respective squads. The value that Hibbert brings to the team will obviously be on the defensive end, still ranking in the top-15 in blocks per game. Maybe a reserve role offering rim protection will come in handy during those runs in the postseason for the right team.
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More important than his on-court ability, Hibbert’s professionalism has never been questioned. Teammates love his attitude and effort, despite what he may be limited to do on the court. If fans and possibly his new squad embrace those two things, maybe the old Hibbert could rear his head. If not, then there will have to be a hell of a turnaround for Hibbert to gain his relevancy again.