[David Aldridge] Grizzlies Open to Dealing Thabeet

I remember a radio interview of Morey, where they were saying the Rockets where extremly high on Thabeet. And that they spoke with him and had an interview because they like to be in good terms with players that aren't in their reach draft-wise because they can later in there career (FA) already have an established contact with the player.

 

We are dumb...take advantage.

 

I don't want the Rockets to spend a plugged-nickel on this loser. They shouldn't take him if the Grizzlies gave him away for a bag of chips because I bet they cut him after the season. No way they should pay out that contract for such a worthless player.

I had this guy pegged as a bust before the draft. He was just grateful to be drafted and sign his contract. He doesn't have the motor to be anything in the NBA for more than 2-3 games at a time.

Seems like a nice guy and has a great story. My harshness is strictly limited to his NBA worth.

 

I won't believe this until it happens. If it's true, I hope Morey gives it a shot.

 

We have a TRADE Exception that could absorb his contract....come on DM, this is the kind of low risk high reward you are known for....get R done.

Get Les to pony up to pay the Lux tax.

At the very least he and Yao could have a true big to go up against in practice.

DD

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6cb1iIZWCIE

check out his throwing form. no wonder he can barely dribble a basketball.

 

Do you think he has a future in the league? They say it takes big men three years to develop. If I was Memphis, I certainly wouldn't be giving up on a #2 draft pick this early.

 

You can fix all of that, look at how much better Jordan Hill is looking after working with CD.....Thabeet has size and athleticism, he can become a very productive NBA player, just needs to be with an organization that can handle bigs.

COME ON DM...do it !

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DD

 

jordan hill and thabeet are on different stratospheres in terms of athleticism.

 

Wow, Memphis giving up already

I'd take him for the right price, as everyone said, big man with athleticism is hard to come by, and most big men develope slowly

 

You have to stop thinking of Thabeet as the #2 pick last year and look at him strictly for what he is. The guy just isn't cut out for the NBA grind, which requires hard work, focus, some amount mental toughness and the ability to overcome opposition. When you add in his utter lack of skills, he DOA.

 

How old is he? Come on, he is still 7'3" tall and left handed....

Yeah, I would take the 2 year shot on him......what have we got to lose? At least he is healthy.

DD

 

I understand that -- I'm not saying he's worth a #2 pick or even a top 10 pick. But a fan of the team he's on is clearly upset with the decision to shop him, so I figured I'd ask for his opinion on his possible development.

I don't think many of us Rockets fans watch the Grizzlies on a consistent basis or have seen Thabeet much in the league/D-League -- I'd value a guy like MemphisX's opinion over someone who assumes he sucks because he isn't playing.

A lot of the criticism that you're laying on him was also said about Beasley.. sometimes it just takes the right situation to bring it out of the guy. Additionally, as DD alluded to, the Rockets have a history of developing big men. You can't teach height, so I'd be more than intrigued in looking into him as a possibility. I wouldn't want to give up anything of significant value, of course.

 

We could get him for the trade exception, or Jeffries if they want an expiring asset, we could maybe toss in someone that doesn't really fit here like Taylor to make them happy, maybe even Ish.....

But to me, you take a shot on a guy like this....at the very least he is a shot blocking big, that can protect your backcourt of Kmart, AB, Kyle and Lee...at the rim.

DD

 

Would you consider a deal of Kevin Martin & Ish Smith (or JT) for OJ Mayo and Thabeet?

The Grizzlies moved Mayo to the bench because they were looking for more points off the bench. I think Martin would be pretty appealing to them in that regard.

Of course, it also makes Houston really young and might symbolize the first stumbling blocks of rebuilding or retooling, whichever you want to label it.

 

yeah if he can come cheap enough i think he's worth a shot. after watching those highlight reels you can see his upside. he needs time on the floor first and foremost, and we have a logjam in the front court right. i hope we can figure out some way to blow up this team and tank for this year and next year while taking a chance on a guy like thabeet then i'd be happy.

i'd be curious to get a scouting report from memphisx too.

 

well if we get thabeet then we need to at least move miller. thabeet needs time on the court.

 

Great point. I honestly feel like Presti was excellent during the rebuilding phase, but doesn't realize the team is well ahead of schedule and with 1 or 2 moves can possibly win it all today. I feel like they were a Tyson Chandler/Okafor type big man away from knocking off the Lakers last year. Should have picked up Chandler at the trade deadline last year when they had the chance.

 

Your first point is valid. I haven't seen much of Thabeet this season (but neither has anyone else because he's only played about 150 mins). A hometown fan of the Grizzlies would have more knowledge on the situation.

Your second point is complete nonsense. Comparing Thabeet to a skilled and talented player like Beasley is crazy and insults Beasley. It also insults Thabeet to compare him to a such a nutty, irresponsible flake. The two guys couldn't be more different. One is a very gifted scorer with his head screwed on backwards. The other is unskilled, doesn't work hard and hasn't shown much of anything.

As far as the Rockets so-called history of developing big men, what happened over the last 20 years doesn't apply much to today. Rudy, Moses, CD, JVG are all gone. The main big men "developed" by the Rockets were totally sold-out to the game of basketball during the season AND during the offseason. That wasn't the Rockets. It was all about what was inside Hakeem & Yao.

I know situations matter sometimes, but it kills me to hear this excuse overused as a crutch so often.