Roy Hibbert is having a bounce-back season after a huge collapse towards the end of last year's campaign. With their center apparently back to his old dominant self, will this be enough for the Indiana Pacers management to keep him for longer haul?
The answer to that question will entirely depend on the Pacers' performance in the first two months of the season. Hibbert, who is averaging 14.2 points, 8.2 rebounds and 3.2 blocks per game, has been the main man for a team that is missing the service of Paul George (out for a season with broken leg), George Hill and David West due to injuries.
In spite playing without their stars, the Pacers are still pretty solid defensive unit with Hibbert serving as its anchor. After a 1-6 start, Indiana is beginning to show the suffocating defense that made them successful for the past three seasons. Saturday's 99-90 victory over the Chicago Bulls has given them their third win in four games, as the Pacers improved their record to 4-7.
It's too early to tell if the Pacers are going to be a playoff or lottery ball club this season. Still, Larry Bird and his staff are expected to make some noise as the February 19 trade deadline draws near. And Hibbert, who has been the subject of trade chatter this offseason, is without their biggest trade chip they have right now.
It's not difficult to be skeptical on Hibbert's early showing after basically becoming a walking disaster in the final 30 games of the 2013-14 NBA season. Although it won't be shocking if the Pacers would try to keep Hibbert past the deadline, there are plenty of incentives to trade the big man now.
By dealing away Hibbert, the Pacers could somehow find a way to land the ideal point guard they have been searching for. There's no shortage of backcourt talent available on the trading block, but Reggie Jackson of OKC Thunder seems to be a perfect fit.
At $30M over the next two seasons, Hibbert seems a bit pricey for a small market Oklahoma City Thunder. However, Sam Prestti knows they have to win now or else face the consequences of losing Kevin Durant in 2016. With Hibbert anchoring the interior, the Thunder will finally have perfect defensive center to complement the scoring prowess of Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant. They would surely miss Jackson's production off the bench, but unlike James Harden, he's pretty much a replaceable talent.
It's going to be a nip and tuck decision for the Pacers, but sometimes sacrifices should be made to ensure long-term success. For Indiana, the time is now to get the job done.
