It has always paid to be tall. Take it from me, a guy who isn't. In today's NBA though, where players like Patrick Ewing, Hakeem Olajuwon, and even a step down to the Brad Daugherty's of the world are long since retired, it really pays to be tall. Especially if you can couple even a little bit of skill with said height. 

Indiana Pacers big man Roy Hibbert has always been tall. Seven feet and two inches tall to be specific. In addition to that though, he's also demonstrated both the willingness and ability to work at his game and develop a skill set similar to what we once considered an NBA Center to possess. Ever since he was a big man at Georgetown, Hibbert has taken strides each year to improve his game, and he has continued that development process through his first few seasons in the NBA too.

Hibbert hasn't taken any one single leap that would jump off the page as far his improved productivity in the NBA is concerned, but his upward trending has been steady. He's improved from 12 points and 7 rebounds per game guy last season, to a 14 points 10 rebounds per game guy so far this year. This after starting as a 7 point and 3 rebound per night player in 14 minutes of work as a Rookie back in the 2008-09 campaign.

He's about to get paid as a result of all that work too. Hibbert is eligible to sign a contract extension with his Indiana Pacers by tomorrow, but his agent David Falk indicated this week that he doesn't expect that to happen. Even though Roy says he'd like to still sign with the Pacers eventually.

This according to Ken Berger CBS Sports:

Roy Hibbert wants to stay in Indiana, but is unlikely to agree to an extension by Wednesday's deadline to re-sign 2008 draft picks, his agent, David Falk, said Monday.

"There's no rush," Falk said. "I think it’s unlikely that we’ll come to agreement this week. It doesn’t mean in any way that he's not happy in Indiana. We've had very friendly discussions, and both sides recognize that the discussion is probably premature."

If I was speculating as to why he wouldn't want to sign that deal, especially if he genuinely does want to stay in Indiana, I would start off by writing a sentence that began with if I was speculating as to why he wouldn't sign this deal. Then I'd make a joke about it that may or may not have been funny, followed by said speculation. Which would be that I gotta think Hibbert, even as a restricted free agent, is going to get an offer - or three - higher than what Indiana is offering him right now.

I'd also think, that opposed to meaning anything about Hibbert's loyalty to the Pacers or whatever, this is just an example of allowing the open market to dictate what a 7'2 Center who's 25 years old and averaging career highs in points (13.9), rebounds (10.0), assists (2.1), and field goal percentage (.542), is actually worth. According to Nene, DeAndre Jordan, and even Mikki Moore a few seasons back, I gotta think that number as it will pertain to Hibbert is going to be a whole heckuva lot too. Especially if he keeps playing like this.

Like CC on Facebook

Follow CC on Twitter