Los Angeles Lakers news 2015: Roy Hibbert was Kupchak's Back-Up Plan all along
There were many who believed that the Los Angeles Lakers were left settling for scraps with the recent acquisition of Roy Hibbert from the Indiana Pacers in exchange for a future second-round draft pick. But it seems such was not the case.
Either Mitch Kupchak was trying to save face or Hibbert was a target all along. Well actually more of a back-up plan.
With the Lakers bombing out of possibly hooking LaMarcus Aldridge, Greg Monroe or even DeAndre Jordan, Hibbert was allegedly part of a contingency plan had things not worked out with the high profile names.
Regardless if this were true or not, the thing is the Lakers were able to get the leftovers and overlooked names that could really help out the team's 2015-16 NBA campaign. Recall that the Lakers are trying to recover lost ground after failing to make the playoffs twice in a row now and hopefully Hibbert can provide a big lift.
Hibbert's arrival should beef up the center position, an area the Lakers are sorely lacking. And as mentioned by Marc J. Spears via twitter, head coach Byron Scott wants Hibbert to rebound and protect the paint.
Lakers coach Byron Scott has told newcomer center Roy Hibbert specifically that they need him to "rebound and protect that paint."
— Marc J. Spears (@SpearsNBAYahoo) July 11, 2015Hibbert along with Lou Williams and rookie D'Angelo Russell are the expected new faces to join Kobe Bryant, Julius Randle, and Jordan Clarkson next season, a fair mix of players that Scott can certainly work with.
For Hibbert, it will be another chance to redeem himself after taking a huge turn the past two seasons. Recall that had he stayed with the Pacers, Hibbert would have likely ended up on the bench as the Pacers shift to a new and fast-tempo style of play which would oddly ease him out of the mix.
Though he is not expected to be a heavy scorer, Hibbert is expected to provide that inside presence that the Lakers have been sorely lacking. With lots of scorers and shooters on the Lakers bench, Hibbert is not expected to be the first option on offense.
Could Hibbert recall that form that made him a two-time NBA All Star (2012 and 2014) and a member of the 2014 NBA All Defensive Second Team? Well here is Hibbert's chance at lost glory.
