Headcase. Malcontent. Cancer. Right now Roy Hibbert's value is at an all-time low. This is a perfect time for a high risk/high reward trade that could actually make this team championship caliber. What have we been talking about the past couple days? Championship teams. We don't have a LeBron. We don't have a Kobe. Everyone wants to compare us to the Detroit Pistons, but we don't have a Ben Wallace either. That team had a DPOY caliber player. What is Roy Hibbert? He's a DPOY caliber center. So the big question is, why did Hibbert check out on the Pacers this season? He had a good year last season, and a great postseason, so what changed? Well, the Pacers were rolling along in the first half of the season, Hibbert was an All-Star, and he was on pace for another great year. Then things started to come off the rails. This article dropped at the end of March. http://www.cbssports.com/nba/eye-on...-after-recent-loss-some-selfish-dudes-in-here That quote came out and then Hibbert changed as a player. It's like he got pissed at how his team was playing and he checked out. Obviously that's not a great way to deal with things, but I can understand the frustration. I think if he was in the right situation, with the right teammates and the right system, he could flourish. Don't get me wrong. I love what Rolo does, but if you add Roy Hibbert and he plays like we know he can, this team could win a championship.
His contract could hamstring this roster way too much if he is checked out just cause he's paid. IMO the risk is too high for someone that fragile.
Contract doesn't bother me. He's an All-Star center. After next season we have to extend Rolo anyway, and I can guarantee he's going to get more than the piddly little 6 million he's making right now. Also, why do you think he's checked out because he's paid? He was paid last season and he put up his best numbers as a Pacer.
He's an all star center when he wants to be. A contract that high for someone who has a chance not to even show up worries me. I'm not sure that's why he checked out. I have no idea whether it's cause he's paid or cause bad teammates, or what... But that is too much of a question to give up whatever we (probably) would have to, to make salaries match IMO.
Championships Wheels. Sometimes you have to roll the dice. Do you think our team, as its currently constructed, could win one?
Nope I don't think so. But I wouldn't say the window to be able to add the needed pieces is almost shut. To me gambles like this, where you need to tear everything down if it doesn't work, are reserved for last chances at championship runs.
Also Hibberts numbers have started to decline since he's gotten paid it seems. Ppg, rbpg, and most troubling to me is field goal percentage. wtf Roy??? http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/h/hibbero01.html
Why do you think we would have to tear everything down? Hibbert has two years left on his deal, one of which is a player option. I don't think that's tearing things down. Let's say we trade Rolo and Wes to get him, both those players are free agents after next season. They're both due a bigger payday. I think you're overstating the risk. Sure, we gamble on losing a couple of talented guys, but Hibbert is a guy who can really change a game with his defense. Plus, he's a legit 7'2 center, monster of a man.
On paper Im with you, but I think its just such a gamble with our delicately built chemistry that I don't think I would do it though. I mean look at Indy they were successful largely because they had a special chemistry, kind of like us right now. Im not a big fan of anyone who deals with any situation by just "checking out", that's a huge character flaw especially on the NBA level, and I would worry that the same problems would arise here with him around. Add that to what we would probably have to give up to get him, Ive heard Mathews and Rolo, yuck there goes OUR heart players to be replaced with the biggest question mark in the NBA.
Maybe another reason for decline isn't that he's paid or a head case, is teams have figured out how to guard him then... I'm not sure, as nine of us are, but that to me just adds more questions.
Both of those players are unrestricted free agents after next season. We could potentially lose both of them for nothing.
Guard him or don't guard him, we would be bringing him in for his defense. Teams are going to be worried about Dame and LA, not Roy Hibbert. It's not like Robin Lopez was a huge part of our offense this season. There were stretches where we would go through him, but he wasn't one of our main options.
Fair enough. I thought he had more years. But to me it's still not worth it with those questions. Assuming we resign LMA to the max to keep this window open. If Hibbert is bad hibbert that means we have a ton of money tied into a 32 year LMA, and Lillard will need to get paid for sure. To me that's not a good enough "big 3" to go places and fill out the rest of the roster with vet FAs. What would be the combined shooting % of that big 3, 43%
I'm not saying he has to put up 20 a game. But you can't have no production at all from your starting center. Lopez when no plays at all are ran for him still had the effort and ability to get some production.
Potentially means maybe and if things blow up with Hibbert then we definitely lose LA. Besides I think we resign Rolo no matter what it takes, hes a cult hero here now and a pretty damn good center with room for growth. Before this season Hibbert was my dream center for us but now he just scares me, and for us I don't think he is worth the gamble. I think a team like the Pelicans or Lakers is better suited to gamble on a player like Hibbert.
Here's the thing, I guarantee we end up paying Rolo around 10 million a year to keep him. Wes is currently making 7 million a year. He'll at least get that. If Rolo is getting 10 million and Hibbert is getting 13 or 14 million, is it really that big of a deal?
I don't think Lopez has a lot of room for growth. I think this is pretty much what we're going to get from him, which is totally fine. I really like Rolo. I think he's a damn good player. I think he's going to get paid though, and I think Hibbert could be the kind of guy that could get us over the top. Rolo is a role player.
From a production standpoint if it still is mental with Hibbert (again I don't know)... Then absolutely yes it's huge.
