The Indiana Pacers are reportedly shopping All-Star center Roy Hibbert, and there several teams that expressed interest in acquiring the 7-foot-2 shotblocker, a source close to situation reported on Thursday.
After coming up short to the Miami Heat in the Eastern Conference finals for the second straight year, the Pacers headed into the offseason with a goal of retooling their lineup.
Though defensively formidable as a unit, the Pacers are not offensively efficient team - a weakness badly exposed through the final month of the regular-season and in the playoffs.
Pacers president Larry Bird is aware that things should be done in order to keep the franchise on track. Apparently, first in his priority list is to deal away Hibbert ($14.8 million due for 2014-15 season), who has been inconsistent throughout the team's postseason campaign.
Sporting News reported that the Pacers are quietly sorting out the possible landing spot for Hibbert. Western Conference teams such as the Portland Trail Blazers, Denver Nuggets and Utah Jazz have emerged as likely trade partners incase the Pacers decided to pursue trading away one of the key pieces of their roster.
"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," via Sporting News.
"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."
The Pacers might trade Hibbert in exchange for another rim protector such as Robin Lopez, JaVale McGee or youngsters like Derrick Favors or Enes Kanter.
Stephenson To Miami Heat?
Another problem Bird is currently trying to solve is how to retain the service of mercurial shooting guard Lance Stephenson. The 23-year old guard recently turned down a five-year, $44 million deal extension offer from the Pacers, believing he's due to get more money after averaging 13.8 points, 7.2 rebounds and 4.6 assists last season.
The Charlotte Hornets, Dallas Mavericks, Los Angeles Lakers and Chicago Bulls have all expressed intention to sign Stephenson, but latest report from Dan Le Batard of ESPN might shock everybody.
The Heat are reportedly now in the mix for the service of Stephenson, who became a nemesis to LeBron James during the Eastern Conference finals. Heat president Pat Riley must have high value on Stephenson because of his ability to make impact on both ends of the floor.
The inclusion of Stephenson to the Heat lineup is certainly intriguing, but his significance will entirely depend on James' free-agency decision.
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