Smith: The curious case of Roy Hibbert
By TYLER SMITH
ISL Editor
(Photo by Pacers Sports and Entertainment)
As the NBA Finals inch closer, it means another busy off-season is just around the corner. The Indiana Pacers will be one of the more intriguing teams to watch this summer. For the Pacers, everything starts with their center, Roy Hibbert.
The question is, should the Pacers keep their core together with the return of Paul George, or should they make a few changes that could help in the long run?
Roy Hibbert is an overpaid basketball player, and very few people would argue with that. However, that doesn’t mean he’s not valuable. Just two seasons ago, Roy Hibbert was 20th in the entire NBA in plus/minus numbers. His defensive ability was a huge reason for the Pacers success prior to this season, even when his offensive numbers were more bipolar than Indiana’s weather.
Even this season, after losing elite defender Paul George for most of the year, the Pacers still finished 7th in the NBA in team defensive efficiency. Roy Hibbert deserves a lot of credit for that. But is that enough for the Pacers to want to keep him around?
Indiana’s head coach Frank Vogel, and team President Larry Bird made comments about wanting to play faster next season, and that IF Roy Hibbert is back, he may have a limited role. Did they really mean that? Or were those comments strategic, in hopes that Hibbert would opt out of his contract?
The reality is, Roy Hibbert would be losing money if he opts out of his contract. No team will even come close to paying him the 15.5 million dollars he’s owed next season. But if Hibbert doesn’t have the confidence of Bird and Vogel, it could make him think long and hard about remaining a Pacer or opting out.
Before the season ended, the Pacers announced that Roy Hibbert’s fan section, Area 55, would no longer be a part of Bankers Life Fieldhouse next year. Whether that has anything to do with Roy Hibbert’s contract situation remains to be seen. If nothing else, the timing of that decision makes you wonder.
Another thing worth mentioning: Roy Hibbert has changed a lot in the last few years. He used to be a very humble person, who worked extremely hard, was well-liked, and cared deeply about the fans and about winning. This past season, he still worked hard and at least appeared to care about his teammates. But he’s not the same guy as just a few seasons ago. At least from my perspective, and the perspective of numerous colleagues, Hibbert treated this past season like he was simply going through the motions of a job he wasn’t too thrilled to have. Maybe the losing played a role in that. Or maybe, Roy Hibbert is no longer happy playing in Indiana.
The Pacers’ hands are tied with this decision. It is completely up to Roy Hibbert. If he returns, I’m not convinced he will have a limited role. After all, playing “smash-mouth” basketball is what made the Pacers successful. If they change styles, who’s to say it will make them better? Paying a guy 15.5 million and then having him sit the bench doesn’t seem like a great formula for success. Larry Bird would probably love to use that money to make other moves. But if Hibbert returns, he probably needs to play.
I could see this going either way. Hibbert may return, be rejuvenated, and anchor the Pacers defense on way to a great season. Or, the marriage may be coming to an end in a very short time. In a way, it’s like predicting how Hibbert will play on any given night. You just won’t know until it happens.
Follow Tyler on Twitter: @TylerSmith_ISL
