Most Important Off-season Move - Roy Hibbert

[Dchuck]

I'd rather have McGee.

Same here, but at what price/value?

Asik for 5 or McGee for 12?

[the_Bird]

Pacers will match to the max.

That's the thing; if you believe Hibbert is or can be one of the league's real elite centers, the only way you're getting him from Indy is to offer a max-level contract.  Even then, I'm not sure they don't swallow hard and match.  Indy has struggled getting the fans back, they don't want to have to rebuild AGAIN.

As to Asik; I'd love him, but at $5M per, Chicago's not going to let him go.

That's the thing with legit centers that everyone wants to forget; you HAVE to "overpay" to get one (which means, really, you AREN'T overpaying; that's just market value).

[Dchuck]

Pacers will match to the max.

That's the thing; if you believe Hibbert is or can be one of the league's real elite centers, the only way you're getting him from Indy is to offer a max-level contract.  Even then, I'm not sure they don't swallow hard and match.  Indy has struggled getting the fans back, they don't want to have to rebuild AGAIN.

As to Asik; I'd love him, but at $5M per, Chicago's not going to let him go.

That's the thing with legit centers that everyone wants to forget; you HAVE to "overpay" to get one (which means, really, you AREN'T overpaying; that's just market value).

Not sure, but Chicago is over the luxury tax and unless they move Deng or Noah, they might not be able to match.  I hope they don't!

[LarBrd33]

not happening

[saltlover]

Roy Hibbert is a Restricted Free Agent (as we know.)  In order to get him, you're going to have to overpay, because if you don't, the Pacers will match.  It's that simple.  If he's on the Celtics, he will be "overpaid."

That said, I don't think it will be overpaying.  He's a very good (not great, but very good) center.  Those are rare, and mostly are not acquirable on the free agent market.  He's also young enough to likely not be someone you regret paying three years into the deal.  If the Celtics can get him, they should, because the alternative may be what we've had the last couple of years.

The challenge is offering him enough so that he accepts the offer, more than the Pacers are willing to match, and as little as possible.  But I'm sure whatever DA does will be wrong.

[arambone]

I'd rather draft Sullinger, Melo, or White to play center instead.

Despite their limitations, they are much better values than Hibbert at $16+ million a year.

Sullinger and White are very short for centers, but can hold their position very well, and bring more skills to the table than BBDavis.

White is looked at as more of a SF/PF, but he can easily get up to 270-275, and he moves very well for a center. Plus he loves contact.

Free Agent competition to overpay mediocre centers is a big reason I'd like to draft Melo and/or Sullinger and/or White.

Sullinger, White, Melo, Moultrie, and Nicholson should all have some center versatility, and save 13 million a year in salary to be saved for another position or next year.

[arambone]

Royce White has a higher standing reach than Tyler Zeller, and is much stronger.

Standing Reach

Zeller - 8'8"
Plumlee - 8'8.5"
White -  8'8.5"
Sullinger 8'11"
Nicholson 8'10.5"
Moultrie  8'10.5"
Ezeli     8'10"

[greenpride32]

Very average starting centers make $9-10m/year, so $15m/year is not a lot for Hibbert, comparatively speaking.  The market for centers is just a little higher because there aren't as many to choose from.  I'd be shocked if he gets anything less than $13.5m and would expect more like $14-15m+.

Nobody has a crystal ball to ever know whether he is worth it or not.  But that's his market price.

[tyrone biggums]

The most important off-season move Ainge needs to consider is how much to offer Roy Hibbert.

Hibbert has made huge strides in with his body and game in his four seasons in the league. Last year, he established himself as one of the best centers in the league.

Is he worth $15 million per season?

He's worth around 11 right now, but you have to consider that Indiana will match that deal right off the bat, hell they might even match a max contract, so do you want to take that risk? You could be looking at him as a free agent in two years or you could be looking at him regress in a new system in which you have bogged your team down with a max contract league average player.

The most important move of the off season besides KG is deciding what direction this team is going with their picks. If they use them plus other pieces to make a move for someone like Josh Smith then KG is probably coming back. He still will probably come back regardless but having a bench of Steamer, JJJ, Moore, the two picks, a 2nd rounder, and maybe Bradley (if Allen resigns) doesn't strike me as a bench that would be part of a title contender.

[BballTim]

The most important off-season move Ainge needs to consider is how much to offer Roy Hibbert.

Hibbert has made huge strides in with his body and game in his four seasons in the league. Last year, he established himself as one of the best centers in the league.

Is he worth $15 million per season?

He's worth around 11 right now, but you have to consider that Indiana will match that deal right off the bat, hell they might even match a max contract, so do you want to take that risk? You could be looking at him as a free agent in two years or you could be looking at him regress in a new system in which you have bogged your team down with a max contract league average player.

The most important move of the off season besides KG is deciding what direction this team is going with their picks. If they use them plus other pieces to make a move for someone like Josh Smith then KG is probably coming back. He still will probably come back regardless but having a bench of Steamer, JJJ, Moore, the two picks, a 2nd rounder, and maybe Bradley (if Allen resigns) doesn't strike me as a bench that would be part of a title contender.

  Bradley's a starter, but add Ray, Bass or Green and Pietrus and you have quite a bench. KG's the most important FA but he isn't the only one that will likely come back.

[tyrone biggums]

The most important off-season move Ainge needs to consider is how much to offer Roy Hibbert.

Hibbert has made huge strides in with his body and game in his four seasons in the league. Last year, he established himself as one of the best centers in the league.

Is he worth $15 million per season?

He's worth around 11 right now, but you have to consider that Indiana will match that deal right off the bat, hell they might even match a max contract, so do you want to take that risk? You could be looking at him as a free agent in two years or you could be looking at him regress in a new system in which you have bogged your team down with a max contract league average player.

The most important move of the off season besides KG is deciding what direction this team is going with their picks. If they use them plus other pieces to make a move for someone like Josh Smith then KG is probably coming back. He still will probably come back regardless but having a bench of Steamer, JJJ, Moore, the two picks, a 2nd rounder, and maybe Bradley (if Allen resigns) doesn't strike me as a bench that would be part of a title contender.

  Bradley's a starter, but add Ray, Bass or Green and Pietrus and you have quite a bench. KG's the most important FA but he isn't the only one that will likely come back.

If Allen comes back I disagree that Bradley starts...I think at best they split minutes at SG with the worst case scenario being Ray dominating the minutes

[Lawrence4]

you got it

[SHAQATTACK]

Love to have Hibbert on C's.  But, like Kevin Love , can't see them giving him up for any amount money.

Also , he is one of those guys that was raised as a child to hate the Celtics.  Not sure he could be talked into ever playing for the Celtics on his own accord.  I suspect . Like CP3 , he would have to be traded, or forced to show up in Boston.

I think the C's have better chnace of landing DH than Hibbert.

DH is a big question mark in my mind, until he proves his back is 100% , no way is he worth what he once was.

He comes back and moves slow and doesn't jump and leap like he used to, then his stock will plummet big time. Cause he isn't a shooter.