Roy Hibbert (Photo : Photo: Twitter)
It's no secret that the Los Angeles Lakers are in a transition phase right now consisting of promising talents in Jordan Clarkson, D'Angelo Russell, and Julius Randle.
Of course there's still a guy named Kobe Bryant, whom fans might have heard was also a pretty good basketball player back in his day.
More than their tenacity on the ball, their sweet shooting touch from the outside, and their excellent footwork, these players have something other than these aforementioned qualities in common.
Clarkson, Russell, Randle, and Bryant are not really known for their defensive prowess.
Here's where a classic big man comes in handy for a basketball team like the Lakers that finished 29th out of 30 in terms of defensive efficiency.
As Laker fans might recall, the purple and gold failed miserably to acquire the services of LaMarcus Aldridge last summer.
The team instantly went to their plan B and traded for 7'2" center, Roy Hibbert, in exchange for practically nothing.
On paper, Hibbert and Aldridge may not be in the same universe as far as offense goes, but the former is the more defensive-minded among the two.
Yes, LaMarcus Aldridge is a franchise caliber player, but Roy Hibbert offers a different dynamic to a team that badly needs balance on both ends of the court.
He provides an anchor down low that has the capacity to hold the fortress and be the last line of defense night in, night out.
Recently, Roy Hibbert's off-season plan to step up his game seems to be paying off as he's dropped from 282 to 268 pounds with the help of a nutritionist.
This impressive weight loss is an effort to improve his mobility, as well as have the motor to run with his predominantly younger and faster teammates.
It was also pointed out by Lakers head athletic trainer, Tim DiFrancesco, that Hibbert was one of the team's most frequent weight room visitors.
However, as the off-season progresses, a lot doubts still bombarded the former All Star center.
Can Hibbert defend the pick and roll effectively?
If so, will this improve the Lakers' 21 wins from last year?
Who knows, right?
These hypothetical questions linger the minds of basketball pundits around the world.
But that's just that: speculative, imaginary queries.
Roy Hibbert is a legitimate presence in an era when 24-foot-shooting big men are much favored over low post behemoths. He presents more than a practical, band-aid solution to a struggling team.
At the end of the day, this commitment is a step in the right direction, a piece of a puzzle for a Los Angeles Lakers team that looks to give something real to cheer about this upcoming 2015-16 NBA season.
