Pacers Rebuild

[nostar]

I know that a Hibbert trade has been floated here a bunch of times but I was thinking about the recent David West quotes and wondered if maybe they'd consider moving their front court for assets. Expiring contracts, pick(s) and maybe a young guy or two. I'd move KO and all of our expiring deals for Hibbert/West and I'd even do 2 first round picks though I would insist on them being the late 1sts due to both Pacers having player options (essentially expirings if things don't go well).

Would the Pacers rather try to build around Hibbert/George (West will be 35 when George returns next season) or take KO, the pick and have cap room to add another star player to George? I'm not sure what I'd do if I were them but Hibbert looked like a 3rd (at best) or 4th option basically all of last season. Not sure I give that guy the max deal he'll be wanting at the end of the season if I'm the Pacers.

Our situation is different. We have a star in a contract year, a young core of players on manageable salaries and a ton of assets. The Pacers have an injured star on a long term deal, few to no promising young players and only their own picks for the future. Unless they can attract a star guard soon I am not optimistic about their future.

So here is my offer:

http://espn.go.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=q348944

I know it says it failed but it's wrong, Thornton can be traded as of September 11th and the salaries work. Here is why it makes sense.

West is aging and wants to contend. The Pacers can't do that this season and he knows it. Indiana gets Olynyk for West and starts their rebuild with a promising young big who can shoot. Hibbert is very likely going to opt-out at the end of the year to get a longer and more lucrative contract. Indiana didn't get to the finals the last 2 seasons, got worse this year and watched the East get better around them. Unless a superstar has plans to set up shop in Indiana next season I suspect that trend will continue downward.

In exchange for Hibbert we give them $20M in expiring deals along with two (likely late) 1st round picks. It's more than Cleveland can offer and probably the most they'll get considering his faults and his inevitable decline of his player option next year. They get a good start on a rebuild (and probably a high lotto pick) and we get a core to contend this season and maybe next. We also increase the likelihood of resigning Rondo which is a plus in my book (opinions may differ).

Now this would put the kibosh on a tank effort for one of the centers in the draft next season but Hibbert is a really good center and he's Rondo's age. We also have a really good relationship with Hibbert's agent, David Falk. He represents Hibbert, Green, Sullinger and Turner.

This move would leave our 2014-15 roster looking like this:

Rondo/Smart
AB/Young
Green/Turner
West/Sully
Hibbert/Zeller

with Wallace probably seeing a lot of time on the bench (or more likely stretched to stay under the projected tax line of $81 million).

Call me crazy but I think that team is better than the Wizards and the Raptors. Defensively we'd likely to be one of the best teams in the league. Our 3pt shooting would need to be addressed but other than that I'd like our chances.

What do you guys think? Is this a reasonable offer for West/Hibbert?

[MBunge]

"Call me crazy but I think that team is better than the Wizards and the Raptors."

Is that the goal?  It's not crazy that Indy might consider it and Boston doesn't give away the entire store, so it's better than most trade ideas around here.  But do we really want to give away a good chunk of our assets and commit to paying Hibbert at least a near max deal just to be the 4th seed in the East?

Mike

[Csfan1984]

George and Hibbert should stick around. West I can see going on the block.  I can only see Pacers big rebuild if George can't recover.

[ImShakHeIsShaq]

I know people say you gotta take a top player if you can get them but I don't want any part of
West anymore! He probably cost us (himself) 1-2 chips! He didn't want us when we were a inch away from being good enough to win without him, I don't want him now! I like Hibbert but he aint all that right in the head and that's with Bird around to advise him!

[nostar]

"Call me crazy but I think that team is better than the Wizards and the Raptors."

Is that the goal?  It's not crazy that Indy might consider it and Boston doesn't give away the entire store, so it's better than most trade ideas around here.  But do we really want to give away a good chunk of our assets and commit to paying Hibbert at least a near max deal just to be the 4th seed in the East?

Mike

Yeah being competitive is a goal. Don't get me wrong, if I thought it were possible to trade for Anthony Davis, Kevin Durant and Lamarcus Aldridge I'd post something about that. Hibbery and West might be available and are talented.

I see this as a feasible trade that gives us a shot at contention. I also think that KO + 2 late firsts isn't a huge sacrifice for us to take a shot this season and maybe next. It would be unfortunate if KO became the next Dirk but the odds of that aren't great. This particular investment seems low risk enough I would do it. KO, 2 late firsts isn't a king's ransom. Then if both players opt out we have massive cap space and a bunch of picks still (6 over the next 4 years even after this trade). On top of that the picks I'm offering are late 1st rounders. I'd probably budge on that a little, not much though.

Not sure what seed we would be but playoffs is definitely a goal. Again, if there were a feasible trade that made us the favorite to win the title I guess I'd choose that one over this but I don't see it. Most of our current trade ideas are either moving Rondo and getting worse or begging all-stars to sign here in free agency. I like this idea better than either of those.

[Endless Paradise]

I don't see Indiana going for Olynyk and two late firsts.  West and Hibbert may not necessarily fit in their plans if they bottom out this season and decide to go for a rebuild, but I don't see them selling off those guys for cheap, either.  They're both still valuable, good players.

[Clench123]

I know people say you gotta take a top player if you can get them but I don't want any part of
West anymore! He probably cost us (himself) 1-2 chips! He didn't want us when we were a inch away from being good enough to win without him, I don't want him now! I like Hibbert but he aint all that right in the head and that's with Bird around to advise him!

My sentiments exactly

[MBunge]

"Call me crazy but I think that team is better than the Wizards and the Raptors."

Is that the goal?  It's not crazy that Indy might consider it and Boston doesn't give away the entire store, so it's better than most trade ideas around here.  But do we really want to give away a good chunk of our assets and commit to paying Hibbert at least a near max deal just to be the 4th seed in the East?

Mike

Yeah being competitive is a goal.

Boston could be competitive in just another year or two by doing nothing.  Does your proposal get the team better positioned to win a title?  Is is worth sacrificing all the potential moves Boston won't be able to make because of what they give away for West and Hibbert?

Mike

[SHAQATTACK]

I don't see Indiana going for Olynyk and two late firsts.  West and Hibbert may not necessarily fit in their plans if they bottom out this season and decide to go for a rebuild, but I don't see them selling off those guys for cheap, either.  They're both still valuable, good players.

I don't think Danny would trade KO for Hibbert .

Hibbert has issues of the brain ....concentration .....being assertive .....understanding the moment .....other hand ....the brain is KOs asset ...maybe his best basketball

Hibbert is a huge tall dummy.

[GetLucky]

I don't see Indiana going for Olynyk and two late firsts.  West and Hibbert may not necessarily fit in their plans if they bottom out this season and decide to go for a rebuild, but I don't see them selling off those guys for cheap, either.  They're both still valuable, good players.

I don't think Danny would trade KO for Hibbert .

Hibbert has issues of the brain ....concentration .....being assertive .....understanding the moment .....other hand ....the brain is KOs asset ...maybe his best basketball

Hibbert is a huge tall dummy.

[Nerf DPOY]

I'd absolutely do this deal but doubt Indy would go for it. If I'm them, I'd just lay low this season and try and trade the '15 pick for a piece to put next to Hibbert and George.

[JSD]

To me this would be more of a deadline deal where Indiana totally crashed and burned while the Celtics were on the cusp of a playoff berth. Other than that, I don't see this happening. Is definitely a solid trade idea though.

[freshinthehouse]

"Call me crazy but I think that team is better than the Wizards and the Raptors."

Is that the goal?  It's not crazy that Indy might consider it and Boston doesn't give away the entire store, so it's better than most trade ideas around here.  But do we really want to give away a good chunk of our assets and commit to paying Hibbert at least a near max deal just to be the 4th seed in the East?

Mike

This.  I'd rather rebuild than commit to being a 50-32 team with no future for the foreseeable future.

[Geo123]

Basically the Pacers would be trading West and Hibbert (arguably the best defensive center) for KO and cap space?  There is NO WAY the Pacers would do that.  You might get West for some combination o that package and thrown ins but not both...

[wdleehi]

I know people say you gotta take a top player if you can get them but I don't want any part of
West anymore! He probably cost us (himself) 1-2 chips! He didn't want us when we were a inch away from being good enough to win without him, I don't want him now! I like Hibbert but he aint all that right in the head and that's with Bird around to advise him!

My sentiments exactly

Is it his fault the deal that was related to his deal to go to the Celtics fell through?  Once that happened, the Pacers offered a better contract then the Celtics could as well as a team that could contend.