Memphis to send Thabeet to D-League

[kibaxx7]

Story by ESPN... he would be the highest draft pick ever to be sent to a D-League assignment... wow.

[Andrew]

It's no surprise though, given how raw he is. Hopefully both he and the Grizzlies benefit from it.

[JaoSming]

I just sent Thabeet down to the D-League in my 2k10 association

[J@3]

I think he could still be good. He blocks shots and rebounds in the ultra limited opportunities he gets, that is essentially what they drafted him for. Just fouls too much.

[air gordon]

It's no surprise though, given how raw he is. Hopefully both he and the Grizzlies benefit from it.

this is an unprecedented move. how is this not a surprise?! With the exception of Webster (who was coming out of high school), has there been any other lottery picks that have been sent to the D-League??

[benji]

Joe Alexander and Patrick O'Bryant.

There may be more.

EDIT: From Patrick O'Bryant's demotion:

O'Bryant became the first NBA lottery pick to be sent down to the Bakersfield Jam of the D-League on December 30, 2006. On February 19, 2007, he was recalled from the Jam. Warriors head coach Don Nelson had critical words for him: "I told him if he goes down to the D-League and isn't a dominant player, there should be red flags all over the place, and he should be the first to notice. He's not only not dominating, he's not playing very well. He's a long-term project. I really liked him the first week of training camp, but I assumed there would be great progress. [...] He hasn't gotten better one bit."

EDIT: Also Mouhamed Sene. Luke Jackson has wound up there but it took two years.

[Andrew]

It's no surprise though, given how raw he is. Hopefully both he and the Grizzlies benefit from it.

this is an unprecedented move. how is this not a surprise?! With the exception of Webster (who was coming out of high school), has there been any other lottery picks that have been sent to the D-League??

I'm not saying I expected it to happen, but seeing as though he's playing just ten minutes a game and is still extremely raw, it doesn't particularly shock or surprise me that he's become the highest draft pick to be sent to the D-League. Just because it's an unprecedented move doesn't automatically make it surprising, especially when the person in question is a viable candidate. If Derrick Rose or Kevin Durant became the highest draft picks to be assigned to the D-League then that would be a different story as you wouldn't think it necessary or expect the Bulls and Sonics/Thunder to even consider it. Not so much with Thabeet.

[benji]

Strange considering he's probably their best bench player. And outside of Gasol the only guy on the team who does anything defensively. (Tinsley doesn't count because he's so horrific on offense.)

[Martti.]

Grizzlies coach Lionel Hollins announced earlier this week that second-year center Hamed Haddadi of Iran would begin receiving Thabeet's minutes behind starting center Marc Gasol.

What the hell?

[Kenny]

apparently the stint is for 10 days. It was always going to take time for his game to develop in the league. He wasn't going to be the next Mutombo overnight. I'd really like to see him develop for Memphis' sake.

[J@3]

Apparently he sucked in his first D-League game.

[The X]

Apparently he sucked in his first D-League game.

No surprises there. I laughed when I saw Grizzlies take him at number 2. He's no Mutombo, that's for sure

[benji]

Joe Alexander and Patrick O'Bryant.

There may be more.

EDIT: From Patrick O'Bryant's demotion:

O'Bryant became the first NBA lottery pick to be sent down to the Bakersfield Jam of the D-League on December 30, 2006. On February 19, 2007, he was recalled from the Jam. Warriors head coach Don Nelson had critical words for him: "I told him if he goes down to the D-League and isn't a dominant player, there should be red flags all over the place, and he should be the first to notice. He's not only not dominating, he's not playing very well. He's a long-term project. I really liked him the first week of training camp, but I assumed there would be great progress. [...] He hasn't gotten better one bit."

EDIT: Also Mouhamed Sene. Luke Jackson has wound up there but it took two years.

Add Earl Clark to the list.

[Laxation]

Better he goes down to the d-league for some game time rather than losing all his confidence in the pros.

That said, if he stinks it up in d-league its not a good sign...

[Axel The Great]

What were the Grizzlies thinking when they drafted him?

[shadowgrin]

Where to go for dinner after the draft.

[Andrew]

That they could afford to take a gamble on a big man because they're already got Marc Gasol, and obviously not that they could've/should've upgraded at point guard. And where to go for dinner after the Draft.

[Axel The Great]

Thabeet is back with the grizzlies and he started yesterday against the Rockets, but he is still a bit raw.

[Andrew]

A few weeks in the D-League isn't going to make him into a superstar, but hopefully for his sake and the Grizzlies it will have been a positive experience and he'll be able to flesh out his game.

[Stress Fracture]

A few weeks in the D-League isn't going to make him into a superstar, but hopefully for his sake and the Grizzlies it will have been a positive experience and he'll be able to flesh out his game.

There's still improvement on him. Let's just wait.

[Axel The Great]

A few weeks in the D-League isn't going to make him into a superstar, but hopefully for his sake and the Grizzlies it will have been a positive experience and he'll be able to flesh out his game.

I wasn't expecting him to be a superstar, but I wouldn't have put him in to start.

[Andrew]

He probably wouldn't be starting if not for Marc Gasol being unavailable due to injury.

[Axel The Great]

Oh, so that's the reason he started. Maybe this is an opportunity for him to gain more experience.

[TheOriginalCandyMan]

The only knock that I see glaring on Thabeet's game is him commiting too many fouls
That limits his presence on the defensive end
Hes a good shot blocker
But if matched up against a quick center/ power foward, he's in trouble
and his post game is average, but he doesnt seem confident at times
Hes a replacement starter when hes at his best, but I see him as a career role player, but fan favorite
Hes not really a bust guys because the Grizz knew what they were taking
But did the Grizz gamble too much?
Yes because they could have picked up a nice point guard ( Evans, Curry, Jennings)

[Dee.]

They didn't know hes THAT bad.