Pacers don't expect Hibbert, West to decide on options until after draft

While players such as Goran Dragic and Kevin Love have made their decisions earlier than necessary on their contract options for next season, the Indiana Pacers don't expect to have the same luxury when it comes to Roy Hibbert and David West.

Both big men hold player options for next season, with no clear indication either way what their intentions are. According to general manager Kevin Pritchard, the team won't know until after the draft.

Pritchard also said that regardless of any free agency intentions, the Pacers have a simple philosophy for the draft: take the best player available. Via Scott Angess of Vigilant Sports:

"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."

That's factually accurate, but keep in mind: Everything that a front office member says this time of year is at least something of a smoke screen. There's too much at stake to give away anything resembling actual information.

(h/t Vigilant Sports)

Photo Credit: Brian Spurlock/USA Today Sports