NBA Draft Profile: Hasheem Thabeet

(Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)

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After UConn superstar Hasheem Thabeet entered in this year's NBA Draft, talk about him becoming the next Dikembe Mutombo (who recently retired) swirled around the league. Possible homes for Thabeet include OKC, Sacramento, Washington, Los Angeles, and Minnesota.

The 7'3" Thabeet averaged 13.6 ppg, 10.8 rpg, and 4.2 bpg in his final year as a Huskie, leading his team to the Final Four despite the injury to key role player Jerome Dyson. In his final NCAA game against Michigan State, Thabeet scored 17 points and ripped down six rebounds in the emotional loss.

As I said, Thabeet looks to a fellow African, Dikembe Mutombo. One reason is his superb shot-blocking abilities. Averaging 4.2 per game at the college level as I mentioned briefly in his stats, Thabeet's tall figure, long arms, and enormous hands make him an effective player on defense down low, rejecting close to every opponent that tries to penetrate the paint.

After a quick background on Thabeet, let's move on to some of the teams that Thabeet could go to, and why he could help improve their team.

Sacramento Kings

The Kings had an embarrassing year this season, having the worst record in the league (17-65). With little to no star power, there was really no reason for fans to go to the game, yet they continued to attend the games in hope for a rare win. Thabeet gives fans and followers a reason to believe that the Kings could be contenders in the future, and also, a reason to continue to appear at the games.

The Kings need a presence down low, after the departure of Brad Miller. Ever since, the only effective big man down low has been Spencer Hawes, who averaged 11.4 points and 7.1 rebounds in the regular season. Thabeet would allow teammates to become more pugnacious and less conservative on defense, knowing that if their man blows by them, they have the monstrous center behind them to block the shot.

Washington Wizards

After multiple injuries this year, the Wizards suddenly became one of the league's laughing stocks, finishing the season with an atrocious 19-63 record, last in the Eastern Conference. Now, with the return of Gilbert Arenas, a.k.a. "Agent Zero," and center Brendan Haywood, Washington hopes to start off next season with a bang.

They have good depth down low, which includes Haywood, forward Antawn Jamison, and center Etan Thomas. Jamison is the primary scorer down low, but can also give support on the boards alongside of Haywood and Etan Thomas. They also have good role players, with Darius Songalia and JaVale McGee coming off the bench to give the Wizards a rebounding boost and a certain defensive poise down low.

Putting aside the fact that the Wizards aren't in need for a center, Washington's locker room environment is not exactly place for learning rookies.

Sure, Jamison and Butler are good vets to have around the young'uns, but with the media surrounding the flashy Gilbert Arenas, and Haywood and Thomas likely throwing punches at each other 24/7, it's hard to keep the clubhouse under control—especially with a new coach in town (Flip Saunders).

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