The Los Angeles Lakers rumors are beginning to fly as the NBA Trade Deadline approaches and it appears that Roy Hibbert has been placed on the trade block if a playoff contender is interested.
According to a report from Steve Kyler on Twitter, the Lakers are attempting to trade Hibbert to a playoff contender. Making that happen won't be easy, but there is no question that Hibbert could be valuable as a piece in the middle for a few different teams depending on what the asking price is set at.
Roy Hibbert waived some of his trade kicker to land in LA... I was told Lakers trying to find him a playoff team. https://t.co/f0ulO2TqJB
— Steve Kyler (@stevekylerNBA) January 18, 2016
Hibbert simply hasn't fit well with the Lakers this season and the hope that he could resurrect his career in L.A. has obviously disappeared. Perhaps a midseason trade to a better fit would be something that could get him back on track. More than likely, the Lakers will be asking for a very small return.
Standing in at 7-foot-2 and weighing in at 270 pounds, Hibbert is still a very good shot blocker.
Throughout the 42 regular season games that he has played this season, Hibbert has started in all 42. He has averaged 6.6 points, 5.9 rebounds, 1.6 blocks and 1.5 assists per game. Hibbert has shot 42.2 percent from the field overall and has hit 83.5 percent of his free throw attempts.
At 29 years old, time is running out for Hibbert to turn things around and become the dominant player that he should have been. Things didn't work out in Indiana, although he did have a couple years where they certainly seemed like they could. Larry Bird was never a fan, however, which resulted in his trade to the Lakers.
Rumors will begin flying in the next couple weeks as the trade deadline approaches. Los Angeles is likely going to be fairly active on the market as sellers and it wouldn't be shocking to see Hibbert moved.
