The Indiana Pacers nearly pulled off the impossible during the 2014-15 season by making the playoffs despite having a depleted roster all season long. Injuries were brutal for the Pacers, and they missed superstar Paul George for all but the final six games of the regular season. Other key players like George Hill, David West, C.J. Miles, Rodney Stuckey and C.J. Watson missed meaningful time as well.
One key player whose future is very much in doubt with the Pacers is big man Roy Hibbert, who struggled through yet another season of inconsistency. Larry Bird has already hinted at the fact that the Pacers may not want Hibbert back next year. He mentioned during the postseason press conferences that he is wanting to play a faster offensive tempo next year, and that wouldn’t fit Hibbert at all. They would likely be looking to trade him, as he isn’t expected to opt out and test free agency this offseason.
During the regular season this year, Hibbert ended up averaging 10.6 points, 7.1 rebounds and 1.6 blocks per game. He shot 44.6 percent from the field overall and stayed at a solid 82.4 percent from the free-throw line.
Those numbers certainly aren’t impressive, and Indiana desperately needs to change up its core a bit. Hibbert hasn’t been very dependable over the past couple of seasons, and he has shown no signs of improvement. While he is a fan favorite, it is time to move on from him and start a new chapter at the center position.
At 28 years old, there would be a market for Hibbert if they decided to trade him. It isn’t likely that they would get anything too special in return for him, but the Pacers could get a piece or two to help them next season.
While Hibbert may not be a legitimate offensive option for the Pacers, he is still one of the best defensive centers in the game. Indiana has relied on him to protect the rim, which has been a key reason why they have been one of the league’s top defensive teams. Frank Vogel has prided himself on leading one of the best defensive teams, but playing up-tempo will make the defensive numbers go down either way.
It is going to be a very interesting offseason to keep track of the Pacers and their moves. George will be coming back at 100 percent from his broken leg, and the Pacers showed they have playoff talent this past year even without him. Trading Hibbert and getting a piece or two back in return to improve their depth would be exactly the type of move that could put the Pacers over the top and back into contention to win the Eastern Conference.
Evan Massey is a featured writer for www.RantSports.com, and contributes across the NFL, MLB, NCAA and NBA portions of the site. Follow him on Twitter at @Massey_Evan and like him on Facebook.