(06-26-2009 12:24 PM)Tigerx3 Wrote:  http://www.associatedcontent.com/article...zlies.html


Some experts say thabeet was a 4 out of 5 pick. Nice article.

and here

"Analysis: Size, shot-blocking skill, upbeat personality and home continent says this is another Dikembe Mutombo. Needs work offensively, but at least Memphis didn't pick (or trade for) a point guard for the first time in four years. A rare draft-night victory for common sense. -- Dan Wetzel

(06-26-2009 12:27 PM)Tigerx3 Wrote:  

(06-26-2009 12:24 PM)Tigerx3 Wrote:  http://www.associatedcontent.com/article...zlies.html


Some experts say thabeet was a 4 out of 5 pick. Nice article.

and here

"Analysis: Size, shot-blocking skill, upbeat personality and home continent says this is another Dikembe Mutombo. Needs work offensively, but at least Memphis didn't pick (or trade for) a point guard for the first time in four years. A rare draft-night victory for common sense. -- Dan Wetzel

And this from Hoopsreport.com

". Hasheem Thabeet 7’3 Jr. Center UCONN 13.2 PPG, 10.6 RPG, 4.3 BPG, 64 % FG
Changes the game with his size and length. Has unlimited upside and has gotten better every year. Excellent defender with an improving offensive game.

(06-26-2009 12:29 PM)Tigerx3 Wrote:  

(06-26-2009 12:27 PM)Tigerx3 Wrote:  

(06-26-2009 12:24 PM)Tigerx3 Wrote:  http://www.associatedcontent.com/article...zlies.html


Some experts say thabeet was a 4 out of 5 pick. Nice article.

and here

"Analysis: Size, shot-blocking skill, upbeat personality and home continent says this is another Dikembe Mutombo. Needs work offensively, but at least Memphis didn't pick (or trade for) a point guard for the first time in four years. A rare draft-night victory for common sense. -- Dan Wetzel

And this from Hoopsreport.com

". Hasheem Thabeet 7’3 Jr. Center UCONN 13.2 PPG, 10.6 RPG, 4.3 BPG, 64 % FG
Changes the game with his size and length. Has unlimited upside and has gotten better every year. Excellent defender with an improving offensive game.

And this from NBADraft.com
Hasheem Thabeet

"Imposing physical specimen who protects the basket."

(06-26-2009 12:30 PM)Tigerx3 Wrote:  

(06-26-2009 12:29 PM)Tigerx3 Wrote:  

(06-26-2009 12:27 PM)Tigerx3 Wrote:  

(06-26-2009 12:24 PM)Tigerx3 Wrote:  http://www.associatedcontent.com/article...zlies.html


Some experts say thabeet was a 4 out of 5 pick. Nice article.

and here

"Analysis: Size, shot-blocking skill, upbeat personality and home continent says this is another Dikembe Mutombo. Needs work offensively, but at least Memphis didn't pick (or trade for) a point guard for the first time in four years. A rare draft-night victory for common sense. -- Dan Wetzel

And this from Hoopsreport.com

". Hasheem Thabeet 7’3 Jr. Center UCONN 13.2 PPG, 10.6 RPG, 4.3 BPG, 64 % FG
Changes the game with his size and length. Has unlimited upside and has gotten better every year. Excellent defender with an improving offensive game.

And this from NBADraft.com
Hasheem Thabeet

"Imposing physical specimen who protects the basket."

Or this one from SI. RAted a 9 out of 10
2
Hasheem Thabeet - Memphis Grizzlies - C
Connecticut - HT: 7'3" WT: 263 - SI GRADE: 9
Once lacking a center, the Grizzlies now have options. Marc Gasol is coming off an encouraging rookie season and Thabeet is a potential impact player on defense and easily the best prospect at the position in the draft. His progression on offense will bear watching.

My fear is Thabeet is another big body with very limited ability ---- not to mention big men today cant stay healthy!!!!!

(06-26-2009 12:42 PM)Memphis_Alum Wrote:  My fear is Thabeet is another big body with very limited ability ---- not to mention big men today cant stay healthy!!!!!

See above!

Great draft by the grizz!!! Couldn't be any better!

(06-26-2009 12:42 PM)Memphis_Alum Wrote:  My fear is Thabeet is another big body with very limited ability ---- not to mention big men today cant stay healthy!!!!!

I would have rather seen them trade the pick for a lower pick and pick up some next year; or package it for a Stoudamire or go lower.....

I stick to this nothing the Grizz did has created excitement for the team. They need to create that excitement along with building a better team and Thabeet and Carroll arent the players to do that. They could have done a lot with the second pick -- drafting Evans or Curry and then keeping or trading him (i.e. like GS is soon to do)

(06-26-2009 12:47 PM)Memphis_Alum Wrote:  

(06-26-2009 12:42 PM)Memphis_Alum Wrote:  My fear is Thabeet is another big body with very limited ability ---- not to mention big men today cant stay healthy!!!!!

I would have rather seen them trade the pick for a lower pick and pick up some next year; or package it for a Stoudamire or go lower.....

I stick to this nothing the Grizz did has created excitement for the team. They need to create that excitement along with building a better team and Thabeet and Carroll arent the players to do that. They could have done a lot with the second pick -- drafting Evans or Curry and then keeping or trading him (i.e. like GS is soon to do)

Apparently they wanted to deal but nobody was offering enough to make it happen. If Evans or Curry becomes available now they have picks for next year and some expiring contracts to help out some teams that might have a better shot with Free agent market.

Thabeet may not be exciting but I think he will make a difference. This comes from a guy that tried to sell veryone on Rubio.

The more and more I think about this pick, the worse it sounds. Conley shouldn't start for any team in this league. We have two players. Mayo and Gay. Everyone but Mayo should have been shopped.

This team blows, sucks, slurps, and anything else you want to throw in.

Thabeet = Pau Gasol

Saying this, Im mainly referring to the physical nature of their play. When some quality guys that are much shorter and sometimes smaller than you can push you around and get the position at will then you need to beef it up. I just have a striking feeling that hes gonna get manhandled in the NBA. The good news this time is that we have Marc Gasol that can bang around with the big guys so hopefully Thabeet can develop and become an integral part of the franchise.

All in all - This was the smartest pick and hopefully the best pick the Grizz could have made with the #2 slot because the next three were all point guards or combo guards ('Reke, Rubio, Flynn). The real wildcard was the Thunder taking James Harden. Great player all around but with the #3 pick seems like a stretch. And Im not even going to comment on Hansbrough going 13th. Thats like the Lions drafting a WR every year, what were they thinking?

(06-26-2009 12:54 PM)BuffaloT Wrote:  The more and more I think about this pick, the worse it sounds. Conley shouldn't start for any team in this league. We have two players. Mayo and Gay. Everyone but Mayo should have been shopped.

This team blows, sucks, slurps, and anything else you want to throw in.

Gasol might or might not pan out, he at least has upside. But this is why I thought Evans was a no-brainer. He has all-star potential, and would have given us a legitimate NBA backcourt. Evans, Mayo, Gay is a nice lineup.

Thabeet? Jeez. We want to play faster and pick up scoring so we pick a lumbering center with no offensive skills. Of the other two, maybe they stick, maybe not, but this team won't approach 30 wins next year as is.

(06-26-2009 12:54 PM)BuffaloT Wrote:  The more and more I think about this pick, the worse it sounds. Conley shouldn't start for any team in this league. We have two players. Mayo and Gay. Everyone but Mayo should have been shopped.

This team blows, sucks, slurps, and anything else you want to throw in.

+1

Gay is the next Marbury. He needs to be dealt before the rest of the league figures it out.

And now, we just drafted a center with limited offensive ability and not known for his rebounding.

So many people felt the team needed help rebounding and we draft a guy that's not all that good at rebounding.

There are two other players to watch for in this draft other than Griffin and Thabeet is not one them. Stephen Curry and Tyreke Evans will be the hits of the NBA. To be honest for the Grizzlies sake and Memphis I hope I am wrong about Thabeet. He has one to three things you need to be a good center and that will not cut it in the NBA.

As someone whose watch Thabeet play for 3 years. I can tell you he has improved immensely every years he's played at uconn.

Year 1: got owned was absolutely useless. Uconn the team was pretty that yeah after the great exodus of 2006 but this guy looked like junk. Looked like he had no idea how to even play basketball.

Year 2: Got at lot better the 2nd half of the season along with the rest of the Huskies. Still limited offensely and fouled to much.

Year 3: Became the most dominate defensive player I've seen in college. Not as a one of one defender though but as a self contained zone. Put him up against a good big man and he got beat sometimes(like that one game against Blair everyone brings up) since he's not a great one on one defender. He is an amazing help defender. The best I've ever seen in college. His offense is still raw as hell but much better than his first two years. Plus being a 70+ percent shooter on the charity strip is a great thing for a big man.

There is no reason to believe Thabeet has stopped improving considering he went from a bum to a decent player to a great player in three years. The fact that he's only play basketball for such a short amount of time is actually a good thing cause it means he's nowhere near his ceiling.

personally, I think the Grizzlies did fine and did what they had to do. I also don't think they're done with reshaping the roster for next year.

P.S., thank you mods SCC, HLT and Derby for both allowing and keeping these threads about the draft on the main forum. It's a slow time I know, but judging from the posts, also a passionate subject to many Memphians.