Grizzlies Owner Heisley Admits Thabeet Trade Could 'Come Back to Haunt Us'

Filed under: Grizzlies, Rockets, NBA Rumors, FanHouse Exclusive

Conventional basketball wisdom dictates you usually don't trade a 7-footer taken with the No. 2 pick just 1 ½ years after he's drafted.

The Grizzlies did that at Thursday's trade deadline when center Hasheem Thabeet was sent to Houston in a deal that bought back to Memphis popular forward Shane Battier.

It's true the 7-3 Thabeet wasn't playing much for the Grizzlies and already was being regarded by many as a bust. But Memphis owner Michael Heisley admitted in an extensive interview with FanHouse he has reservations about dispatching Thabeet.

"I don't know whether it's a mistake (having drafted Thabeet),'' Heisley said. "I look at (giving up Thabeet) with great concern. ... I think Houston needs a good center and I think that Thabeet could come back to haunt us. ... Absolutely, it's hard for us (to trade Thabeet). It's extremely hard. ... If he develops, he's going to be a big factor in this league and we might be eating our words.''

Heisley, though, said Memphis brass determined the risk was worth taking for several reasons. The Grizzlies have a strong center in Marc Gasol, limiting how much Thabeet has been able to play, they believe Battier can help their playoff run and Battier is extremely popular in Memphis, having played for the Grizzlies from 2001-06 before being shipped to Houston.

"To tell you the honest truth, we wanted Shane,'' Heisley said of the trade made between two teams in the Southwest Division. "So you can't have everything you want in this world. We had other options (in trading Thabeet), but we wanted Shane. ... (Battier is) probably one of the most popular players we've ever had.''

Heisley said Battier was dealt with Ish Smith for Thabeet, forward DeMarre Carroll and a lottery-protected future first-round pick. Thabeet had played in high school in Houston.

 

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Source: http://nba.fanhouse.com/2011/02/24/grizzlies-owner-heisley-admits-thabeet-trade-could-come-back-to/

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