Indiana Pacers want Roy Hibbert to find Hall of Fame mentor

The Indiana Pacers know that trading center Roy Hibbert won’t be easy.

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Sure, they could likely sell him to a team willing to absorb his extremely lucrative contract, but they’d get zero talent in return. So unless the Pacers simply want to rid themselves of Hibbert’s albatross of a contract, they’ll likely end up keeping the former Georgetown product.

If they do however, they want the former All-Star to work on his game however and to find a Hall of Fame mentor who can help him progress to the next level.

Speaking to ESPN, Pacers president of basketball operations Larry Bird hinted he wants Hibbert under the tool-age of a fellow legend.

“Roy’s never asked us to go bring someone in,” Bird, the Pacers’ president of basketball operations, said. “I always say big guys are different. I would encourage Roy to try to get with one of the greats. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is one of the best teachers. Bill Walton is great. They know how to play the position as well as anyone ever has. I would encourage that.”

Will it work? That remains to be seen. We’ve seen Hall of Fame players work with a multitude of players before and sometimes there’s a near instant, noticeable change. Other times it’s more gradual in nature while sometimes it doesn’t work at all.

Still, Hibbert’s just a season removed from being what many felt was a difference maker in the postseason and with a little motivation and guidance, it’s hard to think he can’t return to form.

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