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Jul 02

Wells: 'My personal feeling is I think Roy (Hibbert) will be in Portland next season'

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By caseyholdahl

Mike Wells, the Pacers beat writer for the Indianapolis Star, was on The Sports Insider with Brian Berger this morning on 750 AM The Game to discuss Roy Hibbert and the max contract the Portland Trail Blazers reportedly offered, in principle, over the weekend.

Toward the end of the interview, which you can and should listen to in it's entirety here, Berger asks Wells to give his opinion on the likelihood of the Pacers matching the offer. Here is the response:

Wells: Let's just say there's a good chance Big Roy will be hanging out at the Nike Employee Store next season.

Berger: Why do you say that?

Wells: I just feel like $14 million, almost $15 million a year, I just look at it from the Pacers standpoint. I don't think they want to go that far with him. Obviously if they really wanted Roy they could have started at about $14 million but instead their offer was lower than that. That's why I don't think they're going to match it.

Berger: So you think Hibbert will be a Trail Blazer this season?

Wells: My personal feeling is I think Roy will be in Portland next season.

For what it's worth, Bob Kravitz, a sports columnist, also at the Indianapolis Star, said on "The BFT With John Canzano" today that there's a "80 to 90 percent chance" the Pacers match.

Previous Story: Haynes: Batum To Meet With Trail Blazers

Next Story: Wolfson: No Verbal Agreement Between Batum And Timberwolves, Sign And Trade An Option

11 Comments

I want to believe!

by Blazer rod on 7/2/2012 4:30 PM
I like how you have to put Hibbert in parentheses, lol. I really can't wait to see Hibbert and Aldridge together, makes me shudder at the posibilities, lol.

by newellbrian on 7/2/2012 5:04 PM
I hope Portland can sighn Hibbert up. Would be a good fit. And i hope they can keep Batum also. Would be a great trio!!

by jason0454 on 7/2/2012 7:22 PM
This is the season where we get to overpay a good player and have very little consequences because of it. We just drafted 3 rookies, 2 of their contracts will last throughout Hibbert's 4-year deal. It means We'll have 2 good players playing with the cheap rookie contract, so we can afford to overpay. Hell, we can pay Hibbert AND match the 50 million deal for Batum too if you trade away Matthews at some point

by Choong Huh on 7/2/2012 7:26 PM
Hope this works out but looks like we will have to wait til the last minute, with these two differing opinions from the Indiana side of things. Nice resigning and getting HIbbert would just be sweet, especially after this season's lows.

by Anees on 7/2/2012 7:26 PM
I think Lillard will be a star and average 16+ PTS 4+ asst. If Pacers dont match then we shud def match Batum.
Lillard -Smith
Wes -Barton/Ewill
Batum-Claver/Babbit
LA/Freeland
Hibbert/Leonard
This team can fight for the 7-8 seed in the west. if we can get some good role players than we could fight for homecourt

by Siccolo on 7/2/2012 10:15 PM
I think we land Hibbert. then we sign and trade Butum to the T-wolves for Pekovic and a 2013, 14, or 15 first rounder, then make offers to Illasova 4 years 20-25 million, Hickson 5 years 25 million, and a back-up pg like Delonte west 1 year 1-2 million.
then we have:
Lillard/West/Smith
E-Will/Barton/Matthews
Illasova/Clavier/Babbitt
Aldridge/Hickson
Hibbert/Pekovic/Leonard
trade all but 1 of (Freeland, S. Williams, Thomas, Smith, Matthews) and I think the 1 to keep would be Williams, only to let him pad his stats this year and trade him at the deadline.

by mbmurr1 on 7/2/2012 11:28 PM
-.- lol how do we sign and trade Batum , Sign Hibbert to a Max deal, Sign Hickson, and Sign Illyasova , AND Dwest

by Siccolo on 7/5/2012 9:45 PM
I kind of hope this doesn't go thru.... Just like batum i think it's wayyy too much $$ for what your' getting... I feel like Javelle McGee along w/ Leonard Meyers would be a better fit & more bang for your $$...... ; )
Even Kaman would give you a great big man, we could mentor Leonard alongside. I'm tired of Portland drafting, training & Never Using the talent they have!!!! It's ridiculous!! Team the veterans & new guys together, so u balance the energy & talent level, w/ wisdom & skill of the older.... ;
aka Boston, Clippers, Okc & others who put on a great show & have success! ;)

by Drummer05 on 7/6/2012 7:42 PM
We paid and cheered for Marcus Camby at 10.5? mil a season. He's almost 40...Hibbert is an allstar, young and worth the extra scratch. I think the offer was a brilliant move by Olshey and I'm sure LaMarcus would choose Hibbert over most centers to play beside for many years to come. It probably means we can't pay Hickson what he'll command next season. I like the youth movement and also want to see Freeland and Claver get a shot at a spot. Lillard, Leonard, Barton and Elliot Williams are going to surprise a lot of fans next season..that's my prediction. Go Blazers!

by riverman on 7/8/2012 6:08 PM
The last thing Paul Allen is worried about is money.

by riverman on 7/8/2012 6:30 PM