ROFL Thabeetdown!

[duhoh]

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=4946483&campaign=rss&source=NBAHeadlines

Thabeet headed to D-League

By Marc Stein
ESPN.com
Archive (http://search.espn.go.com/marc-stein/)
The Memphis Grizzlies (http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/clubhouse?team=mem) are sending No. 2 overall pick Hasheem Thabeet (http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/players/profile?playerId=4016) down for a stint in the D-League, the team announced on Thursday.
http://a.espncdn.com/i/headshots/nba/players/65/4016.jpg
Thabeet
Two sources close to the situation confirmed Thabeet's impending D-League assignment to the Dakota Wizards to ESPN.com earlier Thursday.
Thabeet is the highest draft pick ever sent to the D-League by an NBA team. Players can only be assigned to D-League duty by their NBA teams during their first two seasons as a pro.
Thabeet's assignment to the Wizards -- Memphis' North Dakota-based affiliate -- was first reported by the Web site RidiculousUpside.com, which covers the D-League extensively.
Although the Grizzlies acknowledged that Thabeet was a long-term project when they selected him with the No. 2 pick in June over the likes of local collegiate star Tyreke Evans (http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/players/profile?playerId=3983), Memphis was hoping that the 7-foot-3 center could survive as a backup in his first NBA season. But Grizzlies coach Lionel Hollins announced earlier this week that second-year center Hamed Haddadi (http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/players/profile?playerId=3478) of Iran would begin receiving Thabeet's minutes behind starting center Marc Gasol (http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/players/profile?playerId=3206).
The Grizzlies, according to NBA front-office sources, offered Thabeet and second-year guard O.J. Mayo (http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/players/profile?playerId=3450) to the Golden State Warriors (http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/clubhouse?team=gsw) for Warriors guard Monta Ellis (http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/players/profile?playerId=2751) before the Feb. 18 trade deadline but were turned down.
Thabeet, 23, is averaging just 2.5 points and 2.9 rebounds in 10.3 minutes per game for the Grizzlies and will supplant Portland's Martell Webster (http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/players/profile?playerId=2795) -- who played eight games for the now-defunct Fort Worth Flyers in the D-League in 2005-06 as the No. 6 overall pick in the draft -- as the highest draftee ever to play in the NBA's official minor league.



- Dude what nice analysis by them draft scouts. I thought it would take at least 2-3 seasons before a team would cut that kid before he was drafted. Wasn't expecting the cut so soon! :lmao

Memphis FO FTW! :lol

[IronMexican]

That must be embarrassing.

[dirk4mvp]

Memphis FO FTW! :lol

Is this a joke? They've been making great moves lately.

[The Gemini Method]

Wow...that's paltry numbers for such a high pick...Imagine if the Griz took Tyreke Evans instead?

[duhoh]

Is this a joke? They've been making great moves lately.

Yes, yes, but I speak of the times from last summer and before. They have made decisions that are much improved, but the draft was a :lmao moment for me and my buddies watching it.

[vander]

damn I thought this guy was going to be awesome, the next Greg Oden :lol

[mogrovejo]

Ego shot.

I didn't like him out of college, but I've been favourably impressed by him this season.

[Scola]

LOL Thabust! :lmao

7+ ft stiff guys never work out, at best they turn out to be Shawn Bradley. I knew this guy had "bust" written all over him. He got out rebounded and outplayed by a 6"7 pf... should of been a major warning sign.

[timtonymanu]

has any other top 10 pick been sent to the d-league?

imagine how good memphis would be had they gotten evans or jennings.

[Scola]

imagine how good memphis would be had they gotten evans or jennings.

Its like the draft where Detroit passed on Carmelo, Wade, Bosh, etc, and took Darko.

[EmantheSpursFan]

The grizz with Tyreke Evans would've have been right up there with thunder as teams of the future, in my book.

[Rip-Hamilton32]

everyone knew Thabeet was going to be a long process and no one expected him to be great in his first year, give him some time

[gaKNOW!blee]

always take the BPA....sick of this big man shit

[Chieflion]

Despite the criticism from the fans, I hope the Grizzlies believe in Thabeet and keep pushing him to become great. If he can develop into a prime Theo Ratliff or Mutumbo, he would be a real legit center. You can't teach shot blocking instinct, which is what Thabeet has.

[panic giraffe]

so is he now like the ian of the griz?

[Lukor]

great use of a #2 pick.

[noob cake]

lol Grizzlies; you don't use #2 pick to draft projects.

[ffadicted]

OJ Mayo + Tyreke Evans = *drool*

[mystargtr34]

Beaten out by Hammad Haddadi.

Damn.

[alamo50]

The guy has been playing basketball for about 5 years now.

[duhoh]

Its like the draft where Detroit passed on Carmelo, Wade, Bosh, etc, and took Darko.

only darko is still in the big leagues :downspin:

[nkdlunch]

Memphis is loaded in the front line. I don't see the problem here. Thabeet is gonna get minutes which is what he mostly needs right now.

He'll be back next season and contribute.

LOL at ppl calling him a bust already

[DMX7]

Dejuan Blair PWNS this fool.

[Allanon]

On the other side, Haddadi seems to have finally showed up.

[lefty]

Highest draft pick ever to be sent down :rollin

[ezau]

On the other side, Haddadi seems to have finally showed up.

Haddadi is actually a very good player and I'm not surprised if he's playing well lately. I was thinking that the Spurs should have tried to get him off the Grizzles this trade deadline. People tend to forget that he was the leading rebounder of the 2008 Olympics.