Report: Lakers, Pacers actively discussing a trade for Roy Hibbert
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If at first you don't succeed, try, try again. Or, if you're the Los Angeles Lakers, go ahead and throw caution to the wind while doing anything humanly possible to save yourselves from obscurity.
After failing to agree to terms with several high-profile free agents, the Lakers are turning their attention elsewhere as they actively discuss a potential trade to land center Roy Hibbert from the Indiana Pacers, ESPN's Marc Stein reports.
LaMarcus Aldridge intends on joining the San Antonio Spurs, all signs point to Marc Gasol staying with the Memphis Grizzlies, and trade talks with the Sacramento Kings to land DeMarcus Cousins have fizzled out.
Making a push for Hibbert, who recently opted in to his $15.5-million player option for the 2015-16 season, reeks of desperation on the Lakers part, but with little depth to surround Kobe Bryant during his final years in the league, it's a move team officials feel more inclined to do.
Hibbert's offense has been on a steady decline over the past six years, with his points per game average sinking to a new low in 2014-15 at just 10.6, and that's with All-Star swingman Paul George missing all but six games due to injury. He's still extremely effective as a rim protector, though, with opponents shooting just 42.6 percent at the rim against the 7-foot-2 giant last season.
The relationship between Hibbert and the Pacers has never been worse, with the team looking to get him out of town despite the 28-year-old picking up his option. A three-team trade involving the Dallas Mavericks and Los Angeles Clippers to send DeAndre Jordan to D-Town and Hibbert to the Clippers could come to fruition if talks with the Lakers fall through.
With Los Angeles' estimated $23 million in cap space, they would likely ask for more pieces from the Pacers to help justify paying Hibbert that much money during the final year of his deal.
On top of his 10.6 points, Hibbert averaged 7.1 rebounds and 1.6 blocks in 76 appearances for the Pacers.