Hasheem Thabeet Trade Remains Grizzlies’ Top Option, According To Report

Hasheem Thabeet remains the Memphis Grizzlies' most likely option to be traded before the Feb. 24 NBA trade deadline, according to Ronald Tillery of the Memphis Commercial-Appeal. Tillery reports that while the Grizzlies are open to trading recently suspended wing O.J. Mayo, they are more aggressively trying to use the second-year Tanzanian center in the trade market.

Mayo will return to action on Tuesday after serving a 10-game suspension for testing positive for a banned substance. Memphis has gone 8-2 in that stretch to pull within one game of the eighth and final Western Conference playoff spot. Mayo has been supplanted in the rotation by heavy doses of Sam Young and Tony Allen, and it remains unclear how willing coach Lionel Hollins will be in mixing up the rotation.

But Thabeet's minutes have been limited all season, and it remains to be seen what sort of package he could draw. The No. 2 pick in the 2009 NBA Draft hasn't panned out to date, while guards taken after him, including James Harden, Tyreke Evans, Stephen Curry and Brandon Jennings excel. Mayo was the No. 3 pick in the 2008 NBA Draft; that neither of the Grizzlies' ultra-high picks are contributing as Memphis rises is a bit telling, and disheartening. How could would the team be with Russell Westbrook (No. 4 in 2008) and, say, Harden (No. 3 in 2009)?

The Grizzlies could use point guard help for Mike Conley and another center. Darrell Arthur, a low first-round pick in 2008, has played well of late, but is a true power forward. The only center earning consistent minutes for Memphis is starter Marc Gasol. Like Thabeet, Hamed Haddadi has had trouble getting off the bench.