Roy Hibbert has been mentioned in trade rumors all summer and now the Indiana Pacers could be looking at a deal with the Phoenix Suns, as Goran Dragic is a trade target and this could help Indy upgrade over George Hill at point guard and it also could help with the Paul George injury and Phoenix may look at the deal to get a veteran big man and this also could free up the team to get a deal done with Eric Bledsoe, as he remains on the market as a restricted free agent.
According to Pro Basketball Talk, the Indiana Pacers have looked into a potential deal with Roy Hibbert and Goran Dragic and while no trade is imminent, the two sides could pick up on things this summer or later in the season. The report says that Chris Copeland would have been part of the proposed deal along with some cash and while the Pacers may put this aside as they try to deal with the Paul George injury, this could be a way to help that and upgrade over George Hill at point guard.
Earlier in the offseason ESPN.com writer Marc Stein reported that the Pacers were interested in Dragic and that they saw him as a "dream" option to replace Hill at point guard. While no deal went down, the two sides clearly have some interest and this comes as the Suns are looking for a veteran big man. Last season the team was heavy into the Pau Gasol trade talk at one point and while a deal did not go down, the Suns still would like to add a veteran in the middle of their young squad.
Dragic has a smaller contract than Hibbert so that means more players would have to move, but the Suns have given themselves some insurance, as they now have Isaiah Thomas signed as a free agent. Thomas could take over for Dragic if he is traded and the team is also planning on signing back Eric Bledsoe and on top of that the team now has Tyler Ennis after picking him in the first round of the NBA draft. Dragic is on a team friendly contract right now and he has high value after winning most improved player last season. The Rockets also could be interested in Dragic and Pro Basketball Talk reports that the Pacers also spoke to the Pistons about Greg Monroe and a potential deal for Hibbert.
Last season Dragic averaged 20 points and six assists and that was a major improvement from the 14 points per game he averaged the previous season. Dragic played in 76 games and he has been relatively healthy over the pasty couple years with the Suns and while the team is not actively trying to trade him, they could afford to do it with the backcourt players they now have.
The Pacers want to upgrade over Hill, as that is one area where they feel they are weaker than other teams in the east and adding Dragic would be massive for that. Losing Paul George makes things tougher and he will be out for a year and that is one reason why the Pacers may look at a move like this with Hibbert after the way he played in the playoffs last season.
