All eyes are on the Indiana Pacers as they figure out what to do for the 2014-15 season. After the Cleveland Cavaliers acquire Kevin Love in a trade, the Eastern Conference got significantly more competitive and the injury to Paul George hurts the Pacers' chances of being contenders amongst the other teams. The direction Indiana goes following the loss could determine the future of other big named players on the roster and the first will be Roy Hibbert.
The Indiana center will have a decision to make come next offseason. Hibbert has a player option for the 2015 season worth just over $15 million. The Pacers have tossed his name around in trade rumors for the better part of a year especially after his disappearing act in the playoffs. Hibbert was expected to dominate the Atlanta Hawks and Miami Heat, but instead he put up zeros across the board in the boxscore, leaving the Pacers very unhappy with his performance. That could cause some questioning about a long-term relationship.
According to BasketballInsiders.com, there is growing belief that Hibbert will opt out of his contract at the end of the season and attempt to lockdown a long-term deal. That may or may not be giving by the Pacers. Depending on how well Hibbert looks this season, he could be in for a major pay day. At the start of the 2013-14 season, Hibbert appeared to be a lock for Defensive Player of the Year, but the final weeks of the season showed a different side of the center, one that was very unproductive. That inconsistency has led to questioning about his spot on the Pacers for the long-term.
This season will be a challenge for Hibbert with George and Lance Stephenson gone. Those were the two leaders of the team and now Hibbert along with George Hill and David West must step up and try and carry the load. If Hibbert gives any indication that he has no desire to head back to the Pacers, the team may trade him sooner rather than later.
Several teams will be interested in Hibbert if he is available next summer or possibly even during the mid-season trading people. The New York Knicks are an easy option with Amar'e Stoudemire and Andrea Bargnani off the board. The Dallas Mavericks lose Tyson Chandler. The Los Angeles Lakers will be making a last ditch effort to get Kobe Bryant a championship. The interest will be high. For now, Hibbert is the franchise star of the upcoming season, but 2015 could be a different story.