Pacers shopping Hibbert?

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>SN sources: Pacers 'quietly' shopping big man Roy Hibbert <a href="http://t.co/r3iTxODhO1">http://t.co/r3iTxODhO1</a></p>&mdash; Sporting News NBA (@sn_nba) <a href="https://twitter.com/sn_nba/statuses/485862890612592641">July 6, 2014</a></blockquote>
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After a flurry of rumors dating back a little more than a month, there has not been much to speak of when it comes to the possibility of Indiana moving center Roy Hibbert in a trade. But, according to multiple front-office sources, the Pacers have quietly sought out possible new landing spots for their enigmatic big man.

“I would say they’ve been doing that, but quietly,” one front-office source said.

The problem, of course, remains the two years and $30 million left on Hibbert’s contract, part of a max four-year deal he signed as a restricted free agent two summers ago. That is a weighty number for a guy who disappeared for long stretches in March and April, and continued to do so in the postseason, during which he averaged 9.3 points and 5.5 rebounds.

“They’re open to making major changes, if they’re there,” one general manager told Sporting News. “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.”

Portland originally gave Hibbert his max offer, and the Blazers have been intermittently linked to Hibbert. But the Blazers are focused on keeping star power forward LaMarcus Aldridge with a contract extension and making smaller tweaks to their bench. A source labeled a Portland deal, “unlikely.”

The Pacers have had the quartet of Hibbert, West, George and point guard George Hill together for three years. Stephenson became part of that group two years ago. Indiana has been to the Eastern Conference finals the past two seasons, losing to the Heat both times. The Pacers lost to Miami in the conference semifinals the year before that.

Some of what the Pacers plan to do, then, depends on what happens in Miami. If, somehow, the Heat are not able to keep together their core of LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh, Indiana’s hopes in the East could be somewhat revitalized by the breakup of their nemesis. That could cause team president Larry Bird to ease off his desire to shake up the roster.


http://www.sportingnews.com/nba/story/2014-07-06/nba-trade-rumors-roy-hibbert-indiana-pacers-larry-bird-lance-stephenson?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter