Tillery: Grizz after Battier; Thabeet included

I Am Awesome-O · Post #1 » by **I Am Awesome-O** » Thu Feb 24, 2011 6:06 am

The Grizzlies had serious discussions Wednesday with the Houston Rockets regarding a proposed deal that would swap second-year center Hasheem Thabeet for forward Shane Battier.

A deal would hinge on Memphis’ willingness to also include a future first-round draft pick in its bid to reunite with Battier. The Griz failed in their initial attempt to acquire Battier earlier this year and may try to enlist a third team to avoid sending the Rockets a pick.

Battier, who was Memphis’ first draft pick in 2001, played five seasons for the Griz, averaging 10.5 points and 4.8 rebounds. He was traded to the Rockets in July 2006 in the deal that brought Rudy Gay to the Grizzlies.

Memphis’ 2011 first-round selection — albeit lottery protected — is already owed to the Utah Jazz as compensation in a trade for Ronnie Brewer last season.

Future Coach · Post #2 » by **Future Coach** » Thu Feb 24, 2011 7:04 am

I'm sure the Bulls would be willing to help make this work if Mayo is included.

Maybe something like
Battier and Korver and one of the Bulls 1sts to Memphis
Thabeet and one of the Bulls 1sts to Houston
Mayo and Young to Chicago

Works cap-wise....

worthwhile??

edit - I'm sure you would rather move Carroll instead of Young, but if so how about a 2nd round pick or two instead of a 1st? A little more balanced if Young's not involved.

- Memphis gets 2 rotation players, both of which can shoot, and you know Korver will be back next season. Maybe a 1st or a couple 2nds.
- Houston gets a big man and a 1st
- Bulls get their SG.

ThreeYearPlan · Post #3 » by **ThreeYearPlan** » Thu Feb 24, 2011 7:23 am

I hear Mike Miller is available, trade for him then sign Antonio Burks and bail Stromile Swift out of jail.
I wouldn't do it, throwing away picks for a half year rental is dumb to me

HeartFoundation · Post #4 » by **HeartFoundation** » Thu Feb 24, 2011 8:11 am

Future Coach wrote:I'm sure the Bulls would be willing to help make this work if Mayo is included.

Maybe something like
Battier and Korver and one of the Bulls 1sts to Memphis
Thabeet and one of the Bulls 1sts to Houston
Mayo and Young to Chicago

Works cap-wise....

worthwhile??

edit - I'm sure you would rather move Carroll instead of Young, but if so how about a 2nd round pick or two instead of a 1st? A little more balanced if Young's not involved.

- Memphis gets 2 rotation players, both of which can shoot, and you know Korver will be back next season. Maybe a 1st or a couple 2nds.
- Houston gets a big man and a 1st
- Bulls get their SG.

Go away with that suck trade!

GrizzledGrizzFan · Post #5 » by **GrizzledGrizzFan** » Thu Feb 24, 2011 1:45 pm

Attention Bulls fans - please shift your focus to Anthony Parker and Courtney Lee. Your baubles and trinkets won't land you OJ.

This is all.

jefe · Post #6 » by **jefe** » Thu Feb 24, 2011 1:45 pm

ThreeYearPlan wrote:I hear Mike Miller is available, trade for him then sign Antonio Burks and bail Stromile Swift out of jail.
I wouldn't do it, throwing away picks for a half year rental is dumb to me

True, but our front office has demonstrated that they can't really do anything with draft picks in the first place - if you know what I mean, and I think you do.

dark-child · Post #7 » by **dark-child** » Thu Feb 24, 2011 2:34 pm

If D. Morey (Houston GM) goes for that deal, he and Wallace must be really good friends. I mean this deal is one of those Kevin McHale & Danny Ainge specials.

dark-child · Post #8 » by **dark-child** » Thu Feb 24, 2011 3:24 pm

Another thing to consider since Wallace & Morey are close is that they are helping each other drive the price up for each individual by having other teams think both Thabeet and Battier are moving elsewhere. Remember Oklahoma City had interest in Thabeet only if the cost was minimal. If they can now be hoodwinked into thinking that Thabeet could land us Battier, than possibly they move from potentially offering Mullens or Aldrich to Collison and Cash.

Guy986 · Post #9 » by **Guy986** » Thu Feb 24, 2011 4:20 pm

dark-child wrote:If D. Morey (Houston GM) goes for that deal, he and Wallace must be really good friends. I mean this deal is one of those Kevin McHale & Danny Ainge specials.

Whats wrong with Thabeet?

SpiritGuardiaN · Post #10 » by **SpiritGuardiaN** » Thu Feb 24, 2011 4:57 pm

please! i want our shane back! but yes oj is still untouchable IMO

jefe · Post #11 » by **jefe** » Thu Feb 24, 2011 8:01 pm

http://twitter.com/chrisvernonshow

Vernon says its a done deal

BREAKING: Grizzlies trading H. Thabeet and 1st Rdr for Shane Battier

SpiritGuardiaN · Post #12 » by **SpiritGuardiaN** » Thu Feb 24, 2011 8:26 pm

he also talk about possible mayo = mcroberts + pick trade, please dont

dark-child · Post #13 » by **dark-child** » Thu Feb 24, 2011 9:01 pm

Okay we now know that there is Sith Jedi living in Memphis and his name is Chris Wallace, BABY, BABY!

Downtown · Post #14 » by **Downtown** » Thu Feb 24, 2011 11:09 pm

So the second pick in the 2009 draft, plus another first round pick equals Shane Battier. I guess they did as good of damage control on that gaff as they could.

Battier, combined with Tony Allen should really give that veteran leadership and experience we talked about needing to make a playoff team out of this bunch.

It's hard to think that they didn't do well on this one.

Oh, and can anyone confirm the rumor that Memphis got Ishmail Smith as well? I read it somewhere but I think it was just a fan making it up.

Shemy · Post #15 » by **Shemy** » Thu Feb 24, 2011 11:32 pm

Grizz sent out Demare, and got ish smith coming their way

good to see Shane back in memphis....what a disaster with the thabeet pick though

ThreeYearPlan · Post #16 » by **ThreeYearPlan** » Thu Feb 24, 2011 11:41 pm

People need to get rid of their boners for Battier, trading draft picks for a 2 month rental of a 30+ year old playing at a position where you were stacked at is dumb. He was never that good anyways

jefe · Post #17 » by **jefe** » Fri Feb 25, 2011 4:59 am

ThreeYearPlan wrote:People need to get rid of their boners for Battier, trading draft picks for a 2 month rental of a 30+ year old playing at a position where you were stacked at is dumb. He was never that good anyways

For what it's worth, Tillery has reported that the Grizz want to extend Battier so that he can retire in Memphis. Also, look at how the Grizz have used their draft picks - not exactly the best eyes for talent (at least with Heisley running the show).

Also, Battier is the second best defensive player on the Grizz's roster right now - agree or disagree?

Regarding what Battier was or has been during his career to this point - I'm not even going to try to change your mind - but in my opinion he was "good," and that's an understatement IMO.

ThreeYearPlan · Post #18 » by **ThreeYearPlan** » Fri Feb 25, 2011 5:16 am

jefe wrote:For what it's worth, Tillery has reported that the Grizz want to extend Battier so that he can retire in Memphis. Also, look at how the Grizz have used their draft picks - not exactly the best eyes for talent (at least with Heisley running the show).

Also, Battier is the second best defensive player on the Grizz's roster right now - agree or disagree?

Regarding what Battier was or has been during his career to this point - I'm not even going to try to change your mind - but in my opinion he was "good," and that's an understatement IMO.

No way they resign him, he's probably will help the Grizz make the playoffs but they want that expiring to give absurd contracts for Marc and Z-Bo over the summer. Only way Battier stays is if they overpay him because they lost out on one of the big men, in reality he'll bolt to a contender to win a ring because he's an old guy who's completely past his prime.
Right now he's the 2nd best defensive player on the Grizz, he'll move down to #3 Gay returns. Doesn't really say much though, the individual defense of the rest of the players is below average.

DeeJay · Post #19 » by **DeeJay** » Fri Feb 25, 2011 9:02 am

Yeah so much for a 2nd pick, that turned out horribly. Not a huge fan of Battier but he will provide good D and leadership. Ishmael Smith could be good, although would he see any minutes behind J-Will and Vasquez?

jefe · Post #20 » by **jefe** » Fri Feb 25, 2011 3:15 pm

ThreeYearPlan wrote:
jefe wrote:For what it's worth, Tillery has reported that the Grizz want to extend Battier so that he can retire in Memphis. Also, look at how the Grizz have used their draft picks - not exactly the best eyes for talent (at least with Heisley running the show).

Also, Battier is the second best defensive player on the Grizz's roster right now - agree or disagree?

Regarding what Battier was or has been during his career to this point - I'm not even going to try to change your mind - but in my opinion he was "good," and that's an understatement IMO.

No way they resign him, he's probably will help the Grizz make the playoffs but they want that expiring to give absurd contracts for Marc and Z-Bo over the summer. Only way Battier stays is if they overpay him because they lost out on one of the big men, in reality he'll bolt to a contender to win a ring because he's an old guy who's completely past his prime.
Right now he's the 2nd best defensive player on the Grizz, he'll move down to #3 Gay returns. Doesn't really say much though, the individual defense of the rest of the players is below average.

I agree that Gay has the ability to be a better defender than Battier; but night in, night out, Battier will be a more consistent defender than Gay. Also, I forgot to point out that at 39.1%, Battier is now the Grizz's best 3 point threat - slightly, and probably negligibly so, better than Conley.

So, we've established that Battier is currently the 2nd (or 3rd) best defender on the Grizz and the best (or 2nd) 3 point shooter on the Grizz. You can downplay this all you want by pointing out that it "doesn't really say much though" due to the current players on the Grizz roster; but I think it's the other way around, due to the current players on the Grizz roster, Battier is clearly a player that's going to contribute in ways that the other players can't or won't and help the Grizz in doing so.

Relative to whether Battier will resign, I'll leave it to you to read his mind. I never claimed that I had that ability - I only pointed out what Tillery reported regarding the front office's thoughts on the subject.