Report: Grizz in talks with Rockets on possible Thabeet-Battier deal

According to Ronald Tillery of The Commercial Appeal, the deal right now is resting on Memphis's willingness to include a future first-round pick.

Also, all offers for Randolph and Mayo have been spurned, according to the article.

Sounds like Memphis is trying to make moves to better the team right now, which is good news.

On the Thabeet-Battier proposal, is a future #1 worth it? Sound off in the comments...

about 1 year ago Griffin Gotta 15 comments 0 recs |

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Pull. The. Trigger. Can you imagine what bringing Shane home would do for ticket sales? That guy was literally the king of Memphis. No disrespect to Jerry Lawler…and Elvis.

by thenightstallion on Feb 24, 2011 10:50 AM CST reply actions

no no no

We have enough wing depth as it is, especially if we don’t trade OJ. Allen is fine as a defensive specialist, why do we bring in another? Not only that, this gives the front office no leverage this offseason when having to renegotiate with the overrated Gasol. Grizzlies make this move and then end up giving the flopper 10+ mil per year after giving Z-Bo a huge deal. I hate it hate it hate it.

If anything, I think Houston is getting a steal. Thabeet might look like a bust right now, but how many chances has he really gotten? Look at how Lionel has handled Vasquez, Thabeet, and Henry. Give your young guys a chance to grow!

by H2Beau on Feb 24, 2011 10:52 AM CST reply actions

He had plenty of chances last year.

And Xavier got hurt early, don’t put that on Lionel.

Lionel is DEFENSIVE coach and Battier is a shut down defender, plus he has the three ball. Can you imagine running out Tony and Shane at the same time? Plus ticket sales will increase because of how popular this guy was. Think J-WIll times two.

by thenightstallion on Feb 24, 2011 11:01 AM CST up reply actions

You really believe Xavier had a “sore knee” for 2+ months? And at the end of the day, WINNING is what brings ticket sales, not gimmicky moves to bring in an old fan favorite. In the times I’ve seen Thabeet actually get a chance this year, he’s had moments where he was productive. He might not have the offseason game, but he can still change things in the interior and grab up rebounds. How do fans get so behind a guy that gives you 10 and 5 on a lot of nights? Do you really believe giving Marc over 10 mil per this offseason is the answer for this team? Giving up Thabeet is basically sealing your fate.

by H2Beau on Feb 24, 2011 11:06 AM CST up reply actions

I didn’t say a word about Marc Gasol, so you can settle down on that one. And yeah, I believe he had knee problems for that long, when you mess up your knee, it lingers, and its difficult to bounce back from, ask Brandon Roy. To just sugar coat it by saying its a “sore knee” is a disservice to him.

And winning does increase ticket sales at the end of the day, and one way to help us win is to bring in a guy like Battier. He is a really good defender, on a team now built around playing good defense, he’s a fan and front office favorite, and he shoots a high percentage from beyond the three point line, an area we struggle at. Its a good fit.

by thenightstallion on Feb 24, 2011 11:22 AM CST up reply actions

And in regards to how Lionel handled Vasquez, the guy was playing decent minutes every night! We even cut Acie Law and made him the back up point guard at the beginning of the year. Do you honestly feel he was mistreated?

by thenightstallion on Feb 24, 2011 11:24 AM CST up reply actions

He was getting decent minutes I agree, but his minutes are now being cut for another short term solution (J-Will). I want this team to make the playoffs just as much as anyone, hell I might even camp out in from of the FEF to get tickets if they make it, but I don’t want our future sacrificed for the short term fix.

My rant about Gasol is still from my standpoint that if we trade Thabeet, we have no leverage in contract talks with Gasol. The guy is going to demand a huge payday (unwarranted might I add) and there is nothing the front office can do about it. There’s no other option to play center, unless you trade Mayo for a big. But even then, Mayo is also a fan favorite and one of Heisley’s own favorites.

I can agree that trading Thabeet for Battier is fantastic for the present future of this team, but I think it hurts the Grizzlies later on.

by H2Beau on Feb 24, 2011 11:39 AM CST reply actions

His minutes were being cut because he wasn’t playing well. Grant it, I’m on your side that not playing doesn’t do anything to cure not playing well, but I think watching J-will may do him some good.

I’m not sure how much leverage we need over Gasol. We are an up and coming young team, with lots of really good talent. He likes playing here. And as far as being overrated goes, you have a solid argument, but when you look at the fact that Randolph is so dominant, it diminishes it. If Randolph weren’t on the team, and he were still putting those kinds of numbers, it would be a completely different story.

by thenightstallion on Feb 24, 2011 11:50 AM CST up reply actions

I understand that point but at the same time though, can we not get that same level of production from someone cheaper? Do we really have to pay that much for a guy that gives 11 and 7 a night this season?

And my final point about Thabeet. He’s played pretty terrible most of the time and has looked a step behind most of the time, but it’s hard to ask anyone, especially such a young raw player, to come in for such minimal minutes each game and immediately be in the flow of it. Thabeet has had his moments where he looked like he was turning the corner but still hasn’t been given more chances to prove just that. To me, there is just too much invested in this guy to move for a 7th or 8th man. Already passed on Evans, Curry, Jennings, etc., why admit defeat this early? It’s not like there is much to lose.

by H2Beau on Feb 24, 2011 11:58 AM CST up reply actions

If there’s a cheaper guy out there, send him my way. True centers are so hard to come by anymore.

I’m a little biased towards Thabeet, because I’ve always hated him, even in college. I will admit that he’s had moments where he has shown to be an adequate player, but the majority of the time, he’s just not. I have said this before, and I’ll reiterate, if he ever becomes even a league average player, I’ll be happy to eat my words, but I just don’t ever see that happening.

On the plus side. We have all ten comments here….consider yourself co-biggest fan

by thenightstallion on Feb 24, 2011 12:10 PM CST up reply actions

Looks like a no go. All I’m hearing is that Rockets are looking to send Battier with Brooks to Portland with Camby. Poop.

by thenightstallion on Feb 24, 2011 1:59 PM CST reply actions

And as soon as I say that we don’t, I get the update that we’ve pulled the trigger. Nice. I really like this trade.

by thenightstallion on Feb 24, 2011 2:25 PM CST up reply actions

Espn just reported oj got traded to Indy for mcroberts and a pick. Thabeet trade I didn’t like but could handle. Now this though I absolutely hate.

by H2Beau on Feb 24, 2011 2:42 PM CST via mobile up reply actions

The way I look at it is this, we save salary and made out even, sort of.

Shane Battier: Good scorer, good defender
Thabeet: Never used, salary dump
Pick: Late pick in a poor draft class.

Josh McRoberts: $900,000 contract, 6’10, free agent after the year
Pick: Earlier pick in a poor draft class
OJ Mayo: Great scorer, poor defender.

In the end we saved salary to make a run at Gasol, Randolph, and either Allen or Young. I don’t love it. But I understand it.

by thenightstallion on Feb 24, 2011 2:45 PM CST up reply actions

OJ Mayo to the Indiana Pacers for Josh McRoberts and a draft pick.

by thenightstallion on Feb 24, 2011 2:41 PM CST reply actions

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