Lakers Set Up Trade To Get Roy Hibbert

First reported by Marc Stein of ESPN, the Los Angeles Lakers and Indiana Pacers have advanced in talks to finalize a trade that would send 7-foot 2-inch center Roy Hibbert to LA for cash and a future draft pick (or the rights to an overseas player). While the deal does not expect to be finalized before July 9, the deal is essentially done and the Pacers have notified Hibbert based on reports by Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports and Jeff Zillgitt of USA Today.

As Pacers-Lakers figure out details of Roy Hibbert trade, it looks like Pacers will get cash and future pick in return. Sorting it out now. — Jeff Zillgitt (@JeffZillgitt) July 4, 2015

Landing Hibbert is a massive relief for the Lakers, who had struck out on finding a big man in free agency. First, Greg Monroe overlooked the New York Knicks and the LA Lakers in favor of the Milwaukee Bucks. Then, DeAndre Jordan spurned both the Lakers and LA Clippers to join the Dallas Mavericks. Finally, on the morning of July 4, LaMarcus Aldridge announced that he would be joining the San Antonio Spurs. Three swings later, the Lakers had struck out.

With most second tier options off the board while the Lakers waited around for the top tier free agents to make their decisions, the Lakers' front office wisely chose to explore the option of a trade. Hibbert fills the Lakers' biggest need, which is a big body that can protect the paint. Entering the final year of his contract, the 28-year-old would provide the Lakers the ability to part ways with the center and salvage salary cap space a year from now. Also, players tend to perform at a higher clip when they enter the final year of their contract, so the Lakers could benefit from the improved production.

For the Lakers, the proposed trade for a true center is a bargain. Facing a league that has gone small, LA should immediately improve in rebounding and on limiting points in the paint. Further, the Lakers still should have about $5 million in salary cap space to fill other needs. Ed Davis would have perfectly fit into that niche, but Davis already signed with Portland while the Lakers waited around for Aldridge and Jordan to pick their respective Texas teams.

Despite going through the first four days of free agency without signing a single player, the Los Angeles Lakers appear to have recovered and filled their biggest need. With D'Angelo Russell, Jordan Clarkson, Kobe Bryant, Julius Randle and Hibbert, the Lakers appear to have a balanced lineup that has improved from a season ago. Add in a new signing and Nick Young coming off the bench, and the Lakers suddenly look like they could build a team that does not disgust the fan base.

Yahoo Sources: Pacers finalizing terms on a trade to send center Roy Hibbert to the Lakers. Hibbert's been informed he's headed to Lakers. — Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojYahooNBA) July 4, 2015

Ultimately, landing Hibbert appears to have salvaged an altogether inactive start to free agency for the Lakers.