The Indiana Pacers are reportedly shopping All-Star center Roy Hibbert in hope of upgrading the point guard spot, a source close to situation reported on Friday.
In a report by Pro Basketball Talk, the Pacers are seriously considering trading Hibbert after suffering another postseason collapse last season.
The Pacers controlled the top spot in the Eastern Conference standings for majority of last season before suffering a huge meltdown several weeks towards the start of the playoffs. Many analysts think Hibbert's lackadaisical play resulted to their collapse, making him a tradable piece in their line-up this offseason.
"Hibbert still has $30.4 million left on his deal and the Pacers have "quietly shopped him this summer in deals, but no trade is imminent."
The Portland Trail Blazers, Denver Nuggets, and the Philadelphia 76ers emerge as a possible destination for Hibbert.
However, not all in the Pacers executive office are sold to trading Hibbert, who has been training hard with Lakers great Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. Some of the executives are still confident Hibbert will have a bounced back year next season and produce the same output he had prior to his meltdown.
"Hibbert has been working out this offseason with a Hall of fame player and the team is hoping that he can add a bit to his repertoire if he stays in Indy, as he showed signs of being a dominant center over the past couple years," Sports World Report posted on Thursday.
Then again, the Pacers' need to add a better personnel at the point guard spot could force the team to make a gamble by trading Hibbert. ESPN NBA insider Marc Stein reported the Pacers are targeting a trade for Goran Dragic, who averaged 20.3 points, 5.9 assists and 3.2 rebounds per game to bag the Most Improved Player Award.
"Marc Stein also reports that the Pacers are "dreaming" about a trade for Goran Dragic, as they see him as a great upgrade over George Hill at point guard," via Hoops Rumors.
With the emergence of the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Chicago Bulls as title contenders in the Eastern Conference, the Pacers have to come up with a better output offensively to keep in the hunt.
Despite the loss of Lance Stephenson to free-agency, the Pacers are still a strong defensive team but they have to find ways to improve their scoring which ranked just 24th in the NBA.
"Last season the Pacers won 56 games and were the top team in the east and now they have some major competition with the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Chicago Bulls. The team was second in overall defense by points per game, but they were 24th in scoring and they need more on offense," according to Sports World Report.
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