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Lakers finalize trade with Pacers for Roy Hibbert, details remain unclear

The Lakers wound up with an All-Star center after all!

Thomas B. Shea-USA TODAY Sports

The Los Angeles Lakers have acquired big man Roy Hibbert in a trade with the Indiana Pacers, reports Jared Zwerling of Bleacher Report. This is a big acquisition for the Lakers, who watched nearly every free agent sign elsewhere through the summer. That patience, however, kept LA's salary space intact, and opened up this opportunity.

Details of what the Lakers and Pacers will exchange beyond Hibbert remain unclear. The Lakers might be sending cash and future draft considerations, according to Jeff Zillgitt of USA Today Sports. Another report indicates Ater Majok might be the piece heading to Indiana. The trade is not expected to be official until July 9, according to Ramona Shelburne of ESPN. It's unclear if the Pacers will send any additional assets along with Hibbert.

This trade functioned as a salary dump for the Pacers, who weren't interested in paying Hibbert $15.5 million along with the luxury tax implications. Indiana was ready to move on to a new direction after drafting Myles Turner, and the Lakers provided a simple solution with their available cap. Roy's contract is also expiring, maintaining the Lakers' financial flexibility next summer.

Hibbert should provide the kind of defensive presence the Lakers have been seeking throughout the summer. Making him the team's frontcourt anchor is good idea with such a young team, particularly with Julius Randle as his partner at power forward.

We'll update this post with details as they come in, but Roy HIbbert is headed to Los Angeles. Now let's celebrate Parks and Rec style:

UPDATE: According to Mike Bresnahan of the LA Times, the Lakers will send Indiana an undisclosed future second round pick in exchange for Hibbert.

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