Lakers' Kupchak hopeful fresh start helps Hibbert return to form
Roy Hibbert desperately needed a change of scenery following an abysmal 2014-15 campaign with the Indiana Pacers. The 7-foot-2 center's trade value diminished as the team ran with smaller lineups, although a shaky offensive game didn't help his cause.
Now with the Los Angeles Lakers after being dealt by Indiana this offseason, the 28-year-old hopes to find new life at Staples Center, where he will look to aid a defensive unit that finished 29th overall last season in efficiency (108 points allowed per 100 possessions).
General manager Mitch Kupchak would love to see a return to form from the two-time All-Star.
"I’m hoping he can get back to where he was two or three years ago," Kupchak said, according to the Los Angeles Daily News' Mark Medina. "That’s my hope.
"He has great size and he has great length. His wingspan approaches 7’8. He has great length. He’s on the last year of a deal and I know he wants to play well. That’s not to say that he didn’t play hard the last two or three years. I think he just needed a change of scenery."
With a cool $15.5-million remaining on the final year of his contract, Hibbert could earn himself another sizable free-agent deal with a turnaround season in Los Angeles. A potential offer could come from the Lakers, as Kupchak sees every opportunity in place for Hibbert to integrate himself into the team's future plans for its roster.
"If Roy has a good to great year, and we can bring him back at 28 years old," Kupchak said, "I don’t know why he can’t be part of that core."
The Lakers won't necessarily lean on Hibbert to score many points, as he's surrounded by a slew of guards all looking to get their fair share of shots up on offense - including a returning Kobe Bryant, reigning Sixth Man of the Year Lou Williams, as well as young upstarts Jordan Clarkson, and rookie D'Angelo Russell. This should allow Hibbert to focus more of his attention on defense, and maintain his elite ability to protect the rim.
In 76 appearances last season for the Pacers, Hibbert averaged 10.6 points, 7.1 rebounds, and 1.6 blocks, while shooting 44.6 percent from the field.