The Los Angeles Lakers have yet to strike pay dirt in filling up their roster with the best available big men in NBA Free Agency.
The Lakers bombed out of the LaMarcus Aldridge sweepstakes after the center/forward opted to join the San Antonio Spurs.
The team also fell short of acquiring DeAndre Jordan, who eventually ended up with the Dallas Mavericks.
With most of their targets gone, the Lakers are now negotiating with the Indiana Pacers for Roy Hibbert, whom the latter are willing to unload because of his $15.5-million contract, and both teams are reportedly just ironing out the details.
The deal will reportedly include a player swap, though no Laker has so far been identified as included in the trade which may be consummated by July 9. There will reportedly be no money involved in the deal, although the Lakers may be giving up a second round draft pick for an undisclosed year.
Source on Lakers-Hibbert trade first reported by @ESPNSteinLine "it'll get done after the 9th"
— Ramona Shelburne (@ramonashelburne) July 4, 2015 " data-caption="null" data-credit="null">Lakers' price to acquire Indiana center Roy Hibbert: A future second-round draft pick, year undisclosed.
— Mike Bresnahan (@Mike_Bresnahan) July 5, 2015 " data-caption="null" data-credit="null">Once the trade is finalized, Hibbert will get a chance to resurrect his career in Los Angeles. Hibbert's performance in the past two years took a serious dip.
Pacers president Larry Bird has stressed since the end of Indiana's season that Hibbert was no longer in the club's plans. The Pacers were hoping that Hibbert would choose free agency this summer, but he decided to exercise his player option for the coming season, valued at $15.5 million.
If he stays, Hibbert will reportedly be demoted to a backup role since the Pacers intend to play small and apply a fast-paced tempo for the coming season.
Hibbert did opt in with the Pacers but apparently, it was with the understanding that the Pacers will offer him in a trade to other teams. And apparently that team is the Lakers.
Hibbert averaged 10.6 points, 7.1 rebounds and 1.6 blocks last season and has played solely for the Pacers since his entry in the league in 2008, when he was drafted as the 17th overall pick.
