The Lakers may have struck out on the big name targets they were after — DeMarcus Cousins and LaMarcus Aldridge — but the front office is still trying to improve the team’s roster. They drafted D’Angelo Russell, who could very well be their point guard of the future. They also signed Brandon Bass as a backup for Julius Randle. Now they’ve traded for Roy Hibbert, who will likely start for them at center.
From the official report on NBA.com:
The Los Angeles Lakers have acquired two-time All-Star center Roy Hibbert from the Indiana Pacers in exchange for a future second-round draft pick.
The Lakers and the Pacers formally completed the trade Thursday.
When Roy Hibbert opted in with the Pacers, it was no secret that the team would try to trade him. The Pacers want to play small-ball next season, and they got their wish. Now that both starting members of their frontcourt have departed(David West jumped ship to contend for a championship in San Antonio), the Pacers kind of have to go small. This was a great trade for the Lakers. Hibbert hasn’t looked quite like himself for most of the past two years, but he’s still a legitimate 7-footer, and a defensive-minded one at that.
Hibbert might not be the center of the future for the Lakers, but he’s definitely solid, and he can step in and play right now.
