The Indiana Pacers could consider a Roy Hibbert trade this offseason to the Portland Trail Blazers this offseason and the team could look at a number of free agent options along with that, including Kyle Lowry, Isaiah Thomas, Rodney Stuckey, Thabo Sefolosha and Lance Stephenson, as some of those players could be targets fi Hibbert's salary is off the books.
Hibbert has been looked at as a trade possibility for a while now and it really started to pick up when the Pacers started slumping, as he was one of the main reasons for that. According to ESPN.com, many players on the Pacers were mad about how Hibbert went to the media about turmoil within the team and then afterwards he was just terrible in the playoffs and now the team could look at dealing him. The Blazers have been considered an option for him after offering him a deal two years ago that the Pacers matched and that could play out again.
Hibbert was looking like one of the best centers in the league before disappearing numerous times this season and while part of that was the way the Pacers played, he was terrible at times in the playoffs. Hibbert put up donuts numerous times and if the team wants to keep Stephenson, who has the potential to be a dynamic player if he can mature, they will likely need to move Hibbert. This past season he averaged 10 points and six rebounds per game and he needs to be much better than that.
The Blazers are in a tough situation with LaMarcus Aldridge and that could lead the team to try and deal for Hibbert. Aldridge is coming off of his best season, but he will be a free agent soon and he could reject a max contract to hit the market. Teams will be lining up for Aldridge and if he hits the market he could be on his way out of Portland and that could open things up for Hibbert in Portland. The team tried to sign him to a four year deal worth nearly $60 million and now he could be on his way out after the way he played last season and ESPN.com reported that Hibbert and the Pacers would both be open for a deal.
Stephenson has been a head case and he was one of the reasons why the Pacers blew up last season, but Larry Bird has always defended him and he may want to sign him back. Stephenson has developed into a very talented player and he played starters minutes last season and he is volatile, but he is also immensely talented. The Pacers won over 50 games again last season and got him court in the east, but it did not do the team any good against the Heat. Thabo and Rodney Stuckey could be lower level options for the team and there are a number of names they could go after if they lose Stephenson, including Lowry or Deng. The Pacers have the potential to be one of the best teams in the east, but they must improve from last year after losing against Miami for the second straight season.