Pacers, Cavaliers Talking Roy Hibbert Trade?

Dec 13, 2013; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Indiana Pacers center

(55) is guarded by Charlotte Bobcats center

(25) at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports

The Indiana Pacers have been open to trading big man Roy Hibbert this offseason, but they have yet to receive an offer that they felt was fair enough to accept. That may change in the near future, as reports are beginning to come out that the Cleveland Cavaliers and Pacers are talking about a potential trade that would involve Hibbert. Cleveland has been looking for a rim protector since acquiring Kevin Love, and this would be an ideal fit for them.

It’s very intriguing to think about a potential trade between these two teams, and what pieces would have to be involved to make it happen. More than likely, the two sides would have to bring in a third team to help facilitate the trade and make salaries work. Indiana doesn’t appear to be opposed to the idea of keeping Hibbert around, and trading him to Cleveland could end up biting them in the long run due to playing in the same division.

Hibbert ended up playing in and starting 81 regular season games last season with the Pacers, averaging 10.8 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 2.2 blocks per game. He has been one of the premier post defenders in the NBA over the last few seasons, and would be a huge upgrade for Cleveland. The Cavaliers are an imposing defensive presence away from being a complete all-around team.

This is certainly something to keep an eye on over the next few weeks, as it would make a lot of sense for both sides. The Pacers would likely be asking for Dion Waiters to be included in the deal, which might be an issue for the Cavaliers with LeBron James making it clear that he wants him on the roster. All of that being said, the possibility of playing with Hibbert might be just enough to convince James that Waiters can be given up.

As the report says, this deal isn’t imminent and it is in very early discussions. It will be interesting to see how these talks proceed, and whether or not the two sides are able to make any type of progress. The Pacers are more than willing to make a trade to clear some cap space and bring in young talent and picks, but they aren’t going to make a trade just for the sake of making a move.