Dallas has apparently learned a valuable lesson — having a big shot-blocking center in the paint is very important if you are into the whole “winning a title” thing.
They missed Tyson Chandler, so they may make a run at Pacers center free agent Roy Hibbert. Even though they will not get him.
This from Mike Fisher at Dallasbasketball.com (via Eye on Basketball).
Plan A remains to go after Deron Williams, the unrestricted free agent of the Nets, who happens to be a Dallas native. Williams will have options and could help the Nets move to Brooklyn if he thinks the team is moving in the right direction, or he could go to Dallas, or wherever else he can get a max deal.
Plan B is the restricted free agent, Hibbert.
Which is a great plan save for the part where the Pacers can match any offer, have plenty of cap room and are not about to give up their young All-Star Center. So while Dallas can make an offer, the Pacers will just match it and keep him.
Hibbert is going to get a nice pay raise next season. If DeAndre Jordan commanded $10 million on the open market last year, you would have to think Hibbert will get $12 million a year or more.