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Aldridge: Roy Hibbert Was "Blown Away" By Blazers GM Neil Olshey
Link
nba.com
David Aldridge of NBA.com reports that Indiana Pacers restricted free agent center Roy Hibbert was "blown away" by Portland Trail Blazers GM Neil Olshey, who reportedly agreed to extend a 4-year offer sheet worth $58 million as soon as the NBA's free agency moratorium lifts on July 11.
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Hibbert, acquired from [Toronto] on Draft day in 2008, had long expressed his desire to remain in Indiana, with the team that traded for him and helped him develop into an All-Star center. But the 25-year-old was apparently blown away by the presentation made Saturday in Washington, D.C., by the Blazers’ contingent, which included Portland’s new general manager, Neil Olshey.
The Pacers would still be able to match any offer for Hibbbert when the July moratorium expires, but teams generally work out deals for players who express a specific desire to be elsewhere once they become free agents.
The Pacers are still likely to match the offer, because Hibbert has become one of the league’s top centers and his skills as a passing big man are a rare commodity in the NBA these days. But a source indicated Sunday that the organization would have to take a look at the offer before making a definitive commitment.
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Olshey and Blazers president Larry Miller made Hibbert their first stop of the 2012 Free Agency period.
Hibbert, 25, just completed his fourth season with the Indiana Pacers, posting career-high averages of 12.8 points, 8.8 rebounds and 2.0 blocks per game. He played in 65 of Indiana's 66 games last season.
Hibbert, listed at 7-foot-2 and 278 pounds, is generally regarded as a top-5 free agent in this year's class and the best available center.
Follow along and discuss the latest NBA league-wide free agency rumors and reports in this post.
-- Ben Golliver | benjamin.golliver@gmail.com | Twitter

