If he doesn't have the desire to put in the work and make himself a consistently good player, it won't matter. That's the question with Thabeet, right? How much does he care about improving?
This might go down as one of the wort moves DM has done so far... Sorry guys but I'm on the total opposite side of the spectrum when it comes to Thabeets potential... Basically it's Battier for a #1 pick (What yr, What kind of #1 pick)
There's nothing out there yet, but I can offer you this little tibbit I wrote earlier: [rquoter]Draft picks? Memphis traded their 2011 1st rounder to Minnesota, so the next pick they'd be able to trade would be their 2013 first rounder at the very earliest (the pick they send to MIN is lottery protected, so it would have to be the 'first allowable' draft pick) Now that pick might actually more valueable than their 2011 first rounder (mainly because this years draftclass is pretty bad), but it could turn out just like NY picks. Is that worth Thabeet occupying capspace in 2012? I think not. Just my opinon though.[/rquoter]
I agree it would make me vomit seeing Battier in purple and piss yellow. I believe Morey would rather take a chance at the Celtics 2013 or 2014 first round pick, and also pick up a Turkish 7 footer in the process. I agree thats a better option if the Celtics are open to it.
Man i'm praying you are right. Josh Smith has become available in Atlanta and Gerald Wallace is still out there. We can still reload this team just not sure if Morey has anymore pixie dust left up his ass to get it done.
Not sure why people dislike Thabeet so much. How do you even know how good he is? The kid has never gotten the chance to play. If we're committed to rebuilding then a buy low high upside project like Thabeet is exactly the kind of player we need to be trading for. Yeah of course it's a gamble, but how else are we going to get what the team needs than by taking gambles on guys like Thabeet, T-Will, Hill, Lee, and on the list goes? Some of them won't pan out. That's for certain. But you trade for them and play them for the chance that one turns out to reach his ceiling and become a core player we can build around.
Yeah I don't really like the trade, just looking for anything positive. And I think you have about as much game as Thabeet, so why not..
He actually idol'd hakeem when he lived here in houston, and he wears #34 in honor of hakeem. The guy has a ton of respect for hakeem. If we manage to set him up with some practices with Hakeem, he'd probably obsorve all the information hakeem has to offer like sponge! And for everyone's information, one of the strengths for Hasheem coming out of the draft was his work ethic. The kid does have the motor to get better, the only thing he was missing in memphis was the teachers. Lucky for us we have two teachers associted with the organization that can do wonders with this kid in Hakeem and Dikembe.
That is a good point that you brought up. We would have to be getting that pick from a third team because it could be a long time before we see that pick from Memphis. T'Wolves receive the Grizzlies' 2011 first-round pick, via the Jazz (Ronnie Brewer trade) (top 14 protected in 2011, top 12 protected in 2012, top 10 protected in 2013, top 9 protected in 2014 and 2015, if pick is not conveyed to the T'Wolves by 2015, the T'Wolves will instead receive cash considerations from the Grizzlies
Exactly. Morey has some leverage here, in that Shane is highly coveted right now. The Celtics and the Lakers have inquired about him (if any rumors can be believed, and why wouldn't those teams want him?) So he can ask for the draft pick. Morey can say, "Look, we want to make the playoffs, too, but trading Shane for Thabeet straight up can't happen. Thabeet's a major project. We'd take a huge step backward here." And the Memphis GM: "But...but...Thabeet was the 2nd pick in the draft." "Yes, he was, but if he were worth such a high pick, you wouldn't be trading him now." "I don't know if we want to hand over a 1st rounder for a rental." "A rental that might help you make the postseason, Rudy still being out. Look at it this way. You'll clear 5 million of cap room for next year. Might help you re-sign Gasol. You want to risk losing Gasol over a 1st rounder? Hell, it'll be lottery protected. I think it's a good deal." And Morey can turn and deal for Gerald Wallace once he has the draft pick and availability at the "3" spot.
Thanks for the research. -ehh... cant say Im too hot about that pick, but again, your banking on Memphis being bad in the future, or using it as leverage for another trade. A first round pick is a first round pick though I guess. Always have value and dont eat up cap space.
With a pick, I'd definitley do this deal. Send Hasheem down to D-League immediately, and get as many private workouts with Hakeem as possible. Kid needs to develop his own game before trying to make it in the NBA.
Thabeet makes around $4.8M this year and Battier makes less than $7.4M. That's a difference of a little over $2.5M. I'm starting to guess this deal is "more" attractive to the Rockets because they may be able to use it to get under the lux tax. Anyone have the latest number? I thought it was about $3+M over. I'll have to go back and check.
"Rockets-Grizzlies discussions on Battier-for-Thabeet plus pick, reported by Commercial-Appeal, "definitely has legs," source in talks says." Wojo
$3,446,370 according to Wyn Douglas. But Battier for Thabeet doesn't work straight up anyway. The Grizzlies need to add more salary (min. $1,262,900)
