[JoeWolf1]

  Hasheem Thabeet- prediction 23 mpg, 6.7 ppg 7.8 rpg 1.8 bpg 

Thabeet’s rookie year was baby steps, as he was getting used to the NBA game.  That wasn’t a shocker, but his stint in the D-League made headlines as he became the highest picked rookie to play a stint in the minors, but he produced.  He was dominant, rather than that breaking his confidence he played noticably better when he cam back to the league.  I don’t know if he’ll ever live up to the title of being a #2 pick, but I think this year, in a larger role, he will really showcase the rebounding and shot blocking that he was drafted for.  He also has no injury history and superb athleticism for a 7’3” player, He’s not Dwight Howard nor will he become so, but I feel his potential is a 10 ppg 11-12 rpg 3.5 bpg player and someone who changes opponents offense just being near the goal.

[mikeyvthedonParticipant]

I do not see how he is going to get those kind of minutes unless they either make significant moves or Gasol gets injured. I never really saw a Gasol/Thabeet twin towers working, and I still don’t. He is definitely a presence defensively and you can not ignore his potential given his height and athleticism, but he is still so slight, he can be overpowered by most bigs. Marc is a very skilled player, but he is not and will never be Pau, which means his playing the PF spot is probably slightly farfetched, especially on defense. I see Thabeet having a tough time getting minutes and probably hovering slightly above the numbers he put up last year. The guy can block shots, but in no way is he a shut down defender and I do not know if he will ever be even close to one of the better rebounders out there. You have to wonder how much longer Zach Randolph will be in there future plans, but as I stated earlier, I do not think Gasol/Thabeet is a winning combination. I think the Grizzlies did indeed go with need on this pick, as they figured they drafted a PG two years earlier in Mike Conley and were set at the wing. Seeing as though they were not going to get Blake Griffin, who they more than likely were salivating over to fill their woes at the 4 since Pau was traded, they took Hasheem thinking that he and Marc would cause match-up nightmares. It did not make sense than and makes even less now. Hasheem could indeed improve, but he still seems to be a long ways away and I just think their front court would be far to slow to be defensively feasible. Than, once they got Zach Randolph, it seemed like it would take Thabeet even longer to have a role. Hindsight is 20/20, but a lot of people at the time really thought Rubio was a lock for 2nd pick. Of course, Tyreke Evans, Stephen Curry, Brandon Jennings and James Harden all look to have brighter futures ahead as well. It will still be a few years before we see if it would have been a better choice than Thabeet, but I am guessing Mike Conley will no longer be a Grizzly by than, and who knows where Thabeet will be in his career. He is definitely an impressive athlete for his size, and his length definitely can be a force defensively, but I just do not see him being a Center that makes the Grizz a contender. I think that you are correct in saying he could indeed put up a double double eventually, but his numbers next year I think could be a couple below those you have predicted, with his minutes being somewhere between 16-20. Also, if he does play as many minutes as projected, I would more than likely expect the Grizzlies not to be competing for the play-offs at the level they did last year. Thabeet is very raw in his basketball abilities and I think is at least a year or two from competing at a higher level than most Centers.

[paint intruderParticipant]

I’m not sure if Zach Randolph is quicker than Gasol. So it wouldn’t be a disadvantage to play Gasol and Thabeet together, once Randolpf decides to leave or gets traded. It would even make them better defensively because with Thabeet they’d finally have a legit shotblocker.

[JoeWolf1]

 See, I disagree with you as far as Thabeet not getting minutes, he averaged 20 mpg in March and April last year and my prediction was only 3 minutes more than his role with the team during the end of the season.  I would think a team would find a few extra minutes for a player picked so high, in order for him to develop further.

I realize Gasol was injured thus allowing more minutes for Thabeet in April, but in March Thabeet was getting 20 mpg while a healthy Gasol was in the lineup. I think he will continue to relieve Gasol and they will explore how they work together.  I agree with you, I’m not sure how that will work out or if it will, but I think Thabeet’s help side shot blocking in the post will give him a little slack while he gets his body stronger and works on his one on one post defense. 

[Mr. 19134Participant]

 The things you’re saying about Thabeet are the same things that people were saying about Chris Kamen his first 2 years in the league.  Thabeet will eventually be a productive player and a dominant rebounder and shot blocker.  Though his upper body is not built up he actually got an unusually strong base similar to a young Yao Ming in terms of lower body build.  The guys listed at 267 lbs guys he’s not a tooth pick.

I hated the pick too and I didn’t think it made any sense because I thought they have a franchise center in Marc Gasol.  Not only that I was really hoping Thabeet went to the Thunder because I thought he was the missing link.  Imagine a Thunder lineup of Westrbook, Sefalosha, Durant, Ibeka, Thabeet?  Man thats some length and defense right there!  

I’m just as confused as anybody in terms of wondering if Gasol and Thabeet can play together but I think they could.  Thabeet might be athletic enough to guard some power forwards on defense.  But I think that Marc Gasol could start at power forward if he had an off season to prepare for it.  If he lost a few pounds and just worked on his lateral quickness and got in better defense shape he might be able to pull it off.  I mean Troy Murphy is a start PF and are they really that much different athletically?

[RUDEBOY_Participant]

i meet Thabeet at a department store in memphis 2 months ago..i asked him what he think he needs to work on to get better? i thought he would say he want to work on his post game ,footwork or developing a shot out to 10 feet..

He said he there are alot of things he wants to work on..2 things were at the top of his list..they were working on getting stronger and increase both his upper & lower body strength..
becuz not only were big guys pushing him around in the paint..
Smaller players were stopping him from maintaining position in the post….

He said he was surprise at how strong some point guards were…Plus he was saying while he was at UConn he was so focused becuz he knew he was a main part of the team..the team even looked to him on offense..and he felt comfortable..and he just played..
But when he got to the NBA he knew he would be Yanked if he made a mistake..Plus sitting for so long and not getting minutes,his mind wasn’t into the game as much as it was in college..He said he thought focusing on defense would help him get minutes..but he would get over aggressive and committ silly fouls.
He said when he heard talk of being getting sent down to the D-League ..It hurted him..Hollins told him the team was at a disadvantage on offense playing 4 against 5..That confused him..Becuz He said he was told when he was drafted the team wanted him to just focus on defense and rebounding..So thats what he was trying to do..he was Shocked when they told him they wanted him to work on his offense…But getting the playing time boosted his confidence..He said going there was the best he felt since college…

[ghrghrParticipant]

I’m a Grizzlies fan and I didn’t like the Thabeet pick when it was made and I don’t like it now. I saw plenty of games last year and he did play well sometimes, but considering the amount of talent that was available at number 2, I simply couldn’t see why draft Thabeet. Memphis probably didn’t think Gasol would improve so much and thought Conley would improve more than he did. I can’t see Gasol and Thabeet playing together either, a slightly faster than average power forward would just beat them on every play.

Having said that, I’m pretty sure he’ll have a better year, and if he worked on his weaknessess during the offseason he’ll be a good backup center. He seems to have good work ethic, and with his size that’s pretty much all you need to become a good player.

[jdstormParticipant]

 i think the logic behind the thabeet pick was that it was a very week draft. So if All they could get at pick 2 was a 7ft 6 foul starting defensive capable center they were going to take it.

Remember Before the draft people were saying that steph curry was a 6’1/ 6’3 SG depending on where you found your information, who couldn’t pass or play D and was most likely going to end up coming off the bench, as a shooter for some team. 

Tyreeke evans was going to become a poor mans larry hughes, because of attitude issues, and ball hogging tendancies. 

Brandon jennngs was a dumb thug who skipped college for europe and that was just too unamerican to take that high.

James Harden had just completed a massive tourney choke job, and memphis already had oj mayo 

And Ricky Rubio said he was never leaving europe if he got drafted by memphis.

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