The Indiana Pacers are not expecting to hear from Roy Hibbert or David West regarding whether they will opt in or out for next season prior to Thursday’s NBA Draft.
“We won’t know until after the draft,” Pacers General Manager Kevin Pritchard said Wednesday.
They’d like to because knowledge is power and the more information gathered ahead of drafting a future player or two would be beneficial. To the players, however, perhaps they are waiting to see who the front office brings in.
Kevin Pritchard says draft work such as trade calls — made and received — begin to heat up the day before the draft.
Both Hibbert (for $15.5M) and West (for $12.6M) have until Monday, June 29th to exercise their player options.
In speaking with two people on Tuesday who are close to Hibbert, neither was sure what the Pacers’ center was thinking.
“I would tell you this also,” Pritchard continued. “When you’re in the draft — it sounds like a cliché but it’s very true — we got to pick the best player available. And it’s even more true now because of the way teams are playing. They’re putting five guys out there that are real playmakers. It’s getting less position-less. Even now, more than ever, it’s not like you’re going after a quarterback or a point guard. You’re seeing the teams that really succeed put five guys that can really make plays out there.”
[Pacers 2015 pre-draft workout attendees]
Team President Larry Bird and coach Frank Vogel want to play smaller and at a faster pace next season, matching how some of the most successful teams in The Association are playing. Hibbert is 28 and West is 34, and both are better suited in a half-court offense. But, it’s also unlikely the two frontcourt players could receive similar offers elsewhere.
“We respect those guys so much that we’re going to let them make their decisions in their time, not our time,” Pritchard said.
Pritchard said he has not had any contract with them recently but he believes the training staff has. Each summer, the medical staff travels to wherever each player is to check up and evaluate them, and to help in any way possible. It’s another way for the team to protect their investments.
In the meantime, team officials have prepared model scenarios for whatever those two decide. When pressed further about the situation and how he sees it playing out, Pritchard said he had “no clue.
“I’m focused on tomorrow and that’ll take care of itself right after that.”
(Listen to what Pritchard had to say in the embedded media player below, or click here.)
[audio:http://www.vigilantsports.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/2015-06-24-Kevin-Pritchard-Pacers-pre-draft-availability.mp3|titles=Pacers GM Kevin Pritchard prior to the 2015 NBA Draft]