NBA

The Portland Trail Blazers Offered Roy Hibbert A Max Contract, Trolled Pacers GM Kevin Pritchard In The Process

Indiana Pacers center Roy Hibbert is officially a restricted free agent, and the Portland Trail Blazers are targeting his services. They reportedly offered him a max contract, which should come as no surprise in light of his stellar performance in the NBA playoffs, both dominating offensively and defending the rim against the likes of LeBron James and Dwyane Wade. Even though Portland drafted Meyers Leonard to plug the hole at center, he’ll more than likely suffer from debilitating injuries that cut his career short.

Here’s more, from Sports Illustrated’s Sam Amick:

“A source with knowledge of the meeting said Indiana did not offer a max deal at the outset of the free-agent negotiating period and, unless that changes, Hibbert is leaning toward signing the Trail Blazers’ four-year, $58 million offer sheet. The Pacers would then have three days to match the offer and retain the 25-year-old All-Star.”

The Pacers would be crazy not to match – there just aren’t enough good centers floating around. Portland is more than likely aware that Indiana would be foolish to let Hibbert walk, but there’s no harm in trying, right? Former Trail Blazers and current Pacers GM Kevin Pritchard is acutely aware of the value of centers, and healthy ones at that, considering he was the one who drafted Greg Oden.

If you really analyze the motives here, it’s just a case of giant trolling. Portland knows there’s no chance in hell Indiana allows Hibbert to sign elsewhere. The Pacers might not have offered Hibbert the max with the hope that they could keep him for a less. But in waltzes Portland waiving a max contract around, and now they’ve got Hibbert’s attention. Indiana, now, has to match the four years and $58 million, which leaves us right where we started – except with more money in Hibbert’s pocket.

So, clearly, someone in the Portland front office is still bitter at Pritchard and trolled the shit out of him at his new job just for kicks.

[Sports Illustrated]

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