The Indiana Pacers have shopped a Roy Hibbert trade to the Detroit Pistons and Suns this summer and the team may have considered trades with David West or George Hill to help try and replace Paul George, but now those blow up deals are likely off, as the team has signed Chris Singleton and the team feels he can help make up for the loss George.
According to Pro Basketball Talk, the Pacers shopped Hibbert in trades this summer and while none of those deals ended up happening, it could lay the groundwork for a deal later. Hibbert had a tough playoffs last season, but that all came before the Paul George injury and now the Pacers may not want to blow things up. The team signed Chris Singleton and Rodney Stuckey in free agency this summer and while those players are not even close to as talented as George, they can at least help with the loss.
The team spoke with the Suns about Goran Dragic and the Pistons about Greg Monroe according to Pro Basketball Talk, but neither of those deals moved past that. Hibbert has plenty of talent, but he lost some of his edge last season and now the Pacers will try and find a way to get that back. The team lost George to that scary injury this summer and now he will be out for the year and this comes as the Pacers are about to enter play in the toughest division in the NBA.
The Pacers won the division last year, but now they have LeBron James, Kevin Love and the Cavaliers to worry about, while the Chicago Bulls are also improved. The Bulls are getting Derrick Rose back healthy, while Pau Gasol was signed in the offseason and he could be a huge addition as well.
Marc Stein wrote earlier in the offseason for ESPN.com that the Pacers "dream" of a Goran Dragic trade, as they are looking to upgrade from George Hill at point guard. Stein wrote earlier in the offseason that the Pacers were considering a deal and now that George is out for the season, there is a chance that they could push ahead with a move. Dragic is coming off of a strong year and he won most improved player for the 2013-14 season after averaging over 20 points per game. The Suns signed Isaiah Thomas and plan to keep Eric Bledsoe and after drafting Tyler Ennis, the team may be able to deal with life without Dragic.
The Pacers also reportedly looked into a deal with Dragic and Hibbert and that would have included Chris Copeland, but there hasn't been much movement there either. Adding Dragic would be a fine move for the Pacers, as they want an upgrade for George Hill at point guard and it also would give the team another solid offensive player to take over for George. The Suns are trying to sign back Eric Bledsoe and they have already added Isaiah Thomas and Tyler Ennis this offseason, meaning they could afford to deal with the loss of Dragic, who won most improved player last season.