The Memphis Grizzlies could opt to trade for a big man before the deadline with All-Star center Marc Gasol out indefinitely. One possible candidate is Los Angeles Lakers center Roy Hibbert.
The Grizzlies' postseason hopes are in limbo after Gasol suffered a broken foot that would put the Spaniard in the shelves for an indefinite amount of time, reports Ronald Tillery of the Commercial Appeal.
The timing of the injury is bad for the Grizzlies, who are currently holding the fifth spot in the West with a 31-22 record and have won 11 of their last 15 games.
But the Grizzlies still have a chance to fill that void this season by trading for a big man. ESPN's Marc Stein reported last month that one available name on the trading block is Hibbert, who has been reported to be looking for a playoff team to join with.
According to David Murphy of Bleacher Report, Hibbert could be the Grizzlies' "short-term replacement" for Gasol. And while their production are not of the same level, Hibbert still offers the "traditional half-court style" Memphis plays.
In Murphy's trade scenario, the Lakers send Hibbert to the Grizzlies for Jeff Green and Brandan Wright, which works in ESPN's trade machine.
The Lakers' rebuilding efforts are already in full effect, so trading away their assets would probably require expiring contracts in return.
Green is playing the final year of his four-year $35 million contract, which makes him a likely candidate for a trade this season. Meanwhile, the 28-year-old Wright still has three years in his contract, but could be a vital piece in Lakers' rebuilding plan.
There is a growing sense that the Grizzlies would pull off such deal, with the team looking to win now because of Mike Conley's impending free agency.
Hibbert would serve as a solid defensive big man for Memphis, although he could hurt the team on the offensive end.
The Grizzlies would surely want someone who could at least bring the same type of play Gasol gives to Memphis. But with the team having limited assets to deal, Hibbert seems a decent bargain for the Grizzlies.