The Cleveland Cavaliers might be close to making another big offseason splash: a trade for Indiana Pacers center Roy Hibbert. Cleveland reportedly contacted Indiana with an offer of guard Dion Waiters, center Brendan Haywood and a future first-round pick for Hibbert.
Cleveland's busy offseason continues. Cavaliers general manager David Griffin, apparently unsatisfied with making just one blockbuster trade this offseason, is reportedly after another big name: Hibbert. Tyler Spence of Sports Talk broke the news Sunday, and on Monday he confirmed his report as reliable.
"Following the Keith Bogans trade, the Cavaliers contacted the Pacers to inquire about Roy Hibbert. The Pacers would want Dion Waiters in return, however, the players that would be involved are not fully known," Spence told HNGN Sports in an email Monday morning. "Latest from a source was that Waiters, Haywood, and a 1st had been offered, however, they would need to add players or other teams to make salaries work. Cavs may be reluctant to give up Dion as well, so this deal is still far from imminent, but does have a realistic shot at happening."
Cleveland's reluctance to part with Waiters seemingly comes from superstar LeBron James giving the 2-guard his stamp of approval. The same could be said of forward Tristan Thompson, who's also routinely named in trade rumors. Anderson Varejao, the Cavaliers' incumbent starting center who has a history of injuries, is in the last year of his nonguaranteed contract and might be another piece included in the deal.
Bringing in Hibbert, however, solves Cleveland's biggest need by giving them a proven rim protector. Hibbert is a shot blocker and a defensive anchor, which would likely assuage any reluctance James - seemingly the team's de facto general manager - has about losing Waiters, Thompson or Varejao.
As for Hibbert, Cleveland would be an ideal situation. Most of the criticism Hibbert gets is for his inconsistent scoring. The Cavaliers, though, wouldn't need Hibbert to be a steady scorer. With Pacers star Paul George sidelined for the season, the Cavaliers also give Hibbert - who at times looked unhappy last season in Indiana - his best chance to win an NBA championship.
Like Spence reported, a third or a fourth team would be needed to facilitate the trade. Hibbert has a player option next season, which makes his long-term future in Cleveland somewhat murky with both James and Love potentially becoming free agents as well next summer.
