Rumor: Battier to Grizz for Thabeet...Any chance its a 3 way?

[jsilva982]

If Battier is heading towards Memphis for Thabeet what are the chances, in combination with Semih's possible tweet, we could have a 3 way trade?

Thabeet going to Houston to replace Yao
Semih going to Memphis to replace Thabeet
Battier coming to Boston

I know this doesnt work salary wise but I am sure kicking around with trade checker something could be drawn up.  Maybe one of them would take Nate?  Especially if HOU trades Brooks?

Just a thought...feedback?

Here is the Thabeet-Battier rumor from RealGM:

Shane Battier may be on his way back to Memphis.

The Grizzlies and Rockets have entered serious discussions on a proposed deal that would sent Battier to Memphis for young center Hasheem Thabeet.

The deal appears to hinge on Memphis including a first-round pick to re-acquire Battier. The Grizzlies may try to enlist a third team to avoid dealing their own selection.

The Grizzlies' own first-round pick is owned by the Jazz, but it is lottery-protected.

Read more: http://basketball.realgm.com/wiretap/211362/Rockets_Offering_Battier_For_Thabeet#ixzz1EsjrBibu

[Rondo2287]

This kinda takes some traction out of semih's tweet i think.  But really Thabeet for Battier?  thats pretty darn risky on Houstons end i think

[jsilva982]

Agreed but throwing it out there.

Do the Grizz consider themselves contenders with Gay out for maybe the rest of the year?  Maybe Battier gets bought out (unlikely given trade value...at least I thought...if they give him for Thabeet maybe not...). 

[Fafnir]

Agreed but throwing it out there.

Do the Grizz consider themselves contenders with Gay out for maybe the rest of the year?  Maybe Battier gets bought out (unlikely given trade value...at least I thought...if they give him for Thabeet maybe not...). 

I think this deal only makes sense if Memphis is gearing up for a playoff run.

[jsilva982]

Maybe...or it could be a salary dump with Thabeet?  Only 1 year left before team options but still.

[jsilva982]

...or more depth I guess with Gay out. 

[Dr H]

I thought Houston was looking for a young center with potential? That's why they had interest in Erden, it would make sense they're looking at Thabeet if they passed on Erden/couldn't agree to a trade with Danny.

Other then that, could they make the playoffs without Gay? Could they make it with Battier in place of him? That's a lot to ask for considering Gay can and does score more than Battier.

[Who]

Excellent trade for Houston if this goes through.

Thabeet can be their long term replacement at center. Provide that defensive presence and rebounding that the club sorely needs. Give him 12 months to smooth out his game and that Rockets team could become a 50 win caliber squad.

[PosImpos]

Excellent trade for Houston if this goes through.

Thabeet can be their long term replacement at center. Provide that defensive presence and rebounding that the club sorely needs. Give him 12 months to smooth out his game and that Rockets team could become a 50 win caliber squad.

Really?  At this point it looks like it'll be something if Hasheem Thabeet ever develops into Kwame Brown, let alone a decent starting center.

[Who]

Excellent trade for Houston if this goes through.

Thabeet can be their long term replacement at center. Provide that defensive presence and rebounding that the club sorely needs. Give him 12 months to smooth out his game and that Rockets team could become a 50 win caliber squad.

Really?  At this point it looks like it'll be something if Hasheem Thabeet ever develops into Kwame Brown, let alone a decent starting center.

I still believe Thabeet can be a Samuel Dalembert level player.

[Celtics4ever]

Thabeet has been "beat" a lot in his NBA career.  

1.2 RPG in 8.2 Minute per game
1.2 PPG
.43% FG not exactly blazing for a 7-3 guy

Even projected over 40 min he doesn't exactly wow.  I Hakeem is probably there to tutor him they are thinking.  But Hakeem was a lot better than this folks.  But he has size but is really raw.  You can't teach height.

I just don't see Chris Wallace making that solid of a move.  I mean this is the guy who traded Gasol for Kwame Brown.

[PosImpos]

You also can't really teach grace and coordination, though, and I'm not convinced those are things Hasheem will ever have.  Semih is more skilled and coordinated than Hasheem is.  I'd rather have Semih on my team than Thabeet.  All Thabeet can do at an NBA level is block, and he gets a ton of fouls.

[KGs Knee]

Memphis can only trade a conditional 1st round pick this year.  If they make the playoffs, Utah gets their pick.  Subsequently Memphis then could not trade their next 1st for 2 years (subject to change based on new CBA).

[Evantime34]

You also can't really teach grace and coordination, though, and I'm not convinced those are things Hasheem will ever have.  Semih is more skilled and coordinated than Hasheem is.  I'd rather have Semih on my team than Thabeet.  All Thabeet can do at an NBA level is block, and he gets a ton of fouls.

I wouldn't say Dikembe was either graceful or that coordinated but he did very well in the league.

[PosImpos]

You also can't really teach grace and coordination, though, and I'm not convinced those are things Hasheem will ever have.  Semih is more skilled and coordinated than Hasheem is.  I'd rather have Semih on my team than Thabeet.  All Thabeet can do at an NBA level is block, and he gets a ton of fouls.

I wouldn't say Dikembe was either graceful or that coordinated but he did very well in the league.

Dikembe was an exception to the rule...he was also extremely talented.  The dude put up 16.6 pts and 12.2 reb per game in his rookie season.  Thabeet is nowhere close to being in the same league.

Dikembe is an all-time great who clearly had a lot of natural talent that he knew how to use at least to a large extent as soon as he got into the league. You can't say anything of the sort about Hasheem.  Hasheem did well in college only because he was so much taller than everybody else and he could get lots of garbage baskets.  Whenever he was faced with a legitimate NBA-caliber big man (e.g. DeJuan Blair or Blake Griffin), however, Hasheem was dominated. 

Going to a Memphis team that already had a starting center in place and a slew of players not particularly known for their ability to create easy scoring opportunities for others, it's no surprise that Hasheem has accomplished nothing in the league so far.  At this point, I'll be surprised if he ever does.  Houston also lacks a good passing point guard, so I don't think they'd be a good fit for him, in any case - especially given their run and gun style.