The Boston Celtics are coming off of an impressive season that saw them make the playoffs despite not being given much of a chance throughout the year. Brad Stevens showed that he is truly one of the best coaches in the NBA, but there were still some issues that bit them against the Cleveland Cavaliers. Perhaps the biggest issue for Boston was the fact that they didn’t have a legitimate defensive-minded big man on the roster.
There are a few different options that the Celtics could explore this offseason in order to fix that issue, but there is one name in particular that would be an ideal fit.
Roy Hibbert is expected to be available on the trade market this offseason, and Indiana Pacers general manager Larry Bird does have a close friendship with Celtics GM Danny Ainge. It isn’t crazy to think that the two sides could talk about a potential deal. Indiana appears done with the Hibbert drama they have faced over the past few seasons, and he simply isn’t going to fit into the faster offensive tempo that the Pacers want to have next year.
While he hasn’t been the most consistent offensive presence with the Pacers, Hibbert has been one of the league’s most dominant rim defenders. He would fix the biggest hole that the Celtics had and could likely be acquired for a fairly small price. Simply getting rid of his contract would be a huge step in the right direction for the Pacers, although the Celtics would have to give up something of value.
If Boston offered the Pacers a first-round pick this year, that would be enough to entice Bird to seriously consider the offer. That being said, matching contracts would be a difficult thing to do with the Pacers not wanting to take on more salary.
During the 2014-15 season, Hibbert ended up averaging 10.6 points, 7.1 rebounds and 1.6 blocks per game. His numbers may not look too terribly impressive, but they were solid and defensively above average. Boston wouldn’t be asking him to come in and score a ton of points, but they would ask him to average around the two blocks per game area that he has consistently achieved.
At 28 years old, Hibbert still has plenty of good basketball left in his career. He is still playing at a very high level, although Indiana’s system simply doesn’t fit his skill set. Boston would be an intriguing fit for him, but a change of scenery could be exactly what he has been needing to turn the corner and reach his full potential.
Hibbert has become a fan favorite of many in Indiana despite the frustrations that those same fans have had. His potential alone has kept him around and in good favor, but that may very well be coming to an end.
Whether or not they get a deal done, it would certainly be a good fit for the Celtics as they look to take the next step. They would be getting a defensive center while also bringing in a player who has had quite a bit of experience deep in the playoffs. Stevens could do wonders for Hibbert’s game as well, which is another reason why the Celtics should seriously consider pushing for a trade.
Evan Massey is the Green Bay Packers beat writer for www.RantSports.com, and also contributes across the NFL, MLB and NBA portions of the site. Follow him on Twitter at @Massey_Evan and like him on Facebook.