MEM sends Thabeet to D-League

[Who]

I like Marc Gasol a great deal but I think Memphis might be best off trading him. He'll have terrific trade value and will be able to bring back a talented player.

Hasheem Thabeet, on the other hand, I'm not convinced teams will give up a major asset for him. Not after the 10mpg he's received this season. I think they'd be better off keeping him and developing him. He'll offer more value down the road than what I reckon they could get in a trade.

Considering Wallace's reputation around the league as a sucker (deservedly earned or not), I imagine Memphis would get very little for Thabeet right now.

The biggest problem with trading Gasol is the Grizzlies lack of contracts above $5 million. Only Zach Randolph. That is a sizable complication. Could make the Grizzlies life difficult when matching salaries. Limit them to rookie scale players. Or force them to make a larger trade.

Still, I have to believe there would be a lot of teams very interested in a player who's putting up a very efficient 15ppg + 9.5rpg. Also, a good passer and a combined 2.7 blocks + steals per game.

Memphis should be able to find a good trade despite that complication.

[Lucky17]

I know the "bust" label gets thrown around a lot. And I know you're not saying Thabeet is there yet, Dons.

But I gotta believe that some of the blame falls as much on the team as it does on the player. For instance, I have no doubt that in a parallel universe where Thabeet was drafted by the Celtics, he'd have a completely different career than the one he's currently embarked on.

Who's mentoring this kid? What resources are at his disposal? We're blessed with having Clifford Ray, who I think has been instrumental in Perkins' development (thankfully, Perk also possesses the work ethic and drive to do something with Ray's input).

I feel sorry for Thabeet. The kid went to a great college program, had a collegiate career of modest success, and got drafted too high by a crappy franchise. I hope his NBA career (whatever it may end up being) doesn't suffer for it.

You're grossly overestimating a coach's worth on a player. To put it simply, some players have it, and some players don't. Thabeet doesn't. The sad part is just about everyone already knew this except Memphis.

And yet Thabeet had a pretty great collegiate career, under one of the top coaches in NCAA history, in a powerhouse conference where he was named conference DPOY twice. He also earned 2nd team All-America honors and National DPOY in his final year.

[KungPoweChicken]

I know the "bust" label gets thrown around a lot. And I know you're not saying Thabeet is there yet, Dons.

But I gotta believe that some of the blame falls as much on the team as it does on the player. For instance, I have no doubt that in a parallel universe where Thabeet was drafted by the Celtics, he'd have a completely different career than the one he's currently embarked on.

Who's mentoring this kid? What resources are at his disposal? We're blessed with having Clifford Ray, who I think has been instrumental in Perkins' development (thankfully, Perk also possesses the work ethic and drive to do something with Ray's input).

I feel sorry for Thabeet. The kid went to a great college program, had a collegiate career of modest success, and got drafted too high by a crappy franchise. I hope his NBA career (whatever it may end up being) doesn't suffer for it.

You're grossly overestimating a coach's worth on a player. To put it simply, some players have it, and some players don't. Thabeet doesn't. The sad part is just about everyone already knew this except Memphis.

And yet Thabeet had a pretty great collegiate career, under one of the top coaches in NCAA history, in a powerhouse conference where he was named conference DPOY twice. He also earned 2nd team All-America honors and National DPOY in his final year.

Those are rather mundane credentials for a second pick, especially considering how much of a project he looked like out there.