Hasheem Thabeet: You Are in the Wrong League!

Recently, I read a report that potential No. 2 pick Hasheem Thabeet recently pulled out of a workout with the Grizzlies with a ‘shoulder injury’ that is widely being speculated that is fake in an efforts to avoid being drafted by them. (I understand Thabeet is a U.S. player and generally goes against what I’ve already said but I wanted to comment on it anyways.) 

Thabeet is one of the many question marks in this years draft and if he was smart he would have gone to the workout or at least met with owner Michael Heisley, which is something that has not been done to this point.

If Thabeet thinks that avoiding the Grizzlies will get him to a ‘better’ team he needs to realize that most teams attempt to draft for need instead of the ‘best player available.’

So if the front-court starved Grizzlies do not select him Thabeet could find himself being selected as a mid-late first-round pick sacrificing millions in guaranteed salary and a potential to start for a team that is lacking a defensive presence instead of some contender that will likely have him on a career path of a backup or benchwarmer at best.

Who is Hasheem Thabeet? This is a player that only has started to learn the game of basketball and is by no means a bona-fide NBA All-Star waiting to happen. Here is a player who is in the best draft as there are no real centers, and he is one of the few front-court defensive types available.

This, however, does not mean that he has the right to make a mockery of the draft process by getting ‘injured’ and not taking to the owner who would ultimately sign his paycheck if he was chosen?

Can you imagine not talking to a prospective employer for a job you wanted and faking a cold to get out the interview and they hire you anyways? Even Allen Iverson in all of his glory quietly went to Philadelphia to play for the Sixers.

Hasheem Thabeet doesn’t posses any of Iverson’s flair for the dramatic, and even the Dikembe Mutombo comparisons are a reach especially if fellow draftees DeJuan Blair, and Jordan Hill have had their way with him physically already, despite Thabeet being their physical superior.

Some rookies walk around with a sense of purpose like they belong before they accomplish anything. In the real world if you don’t like your job you cant just leave, even if you have a unique skill you have to stay until another opportunity comes along.

In the NBA, you just never know, especially with Wheelin’ and Dealin’ K-Pritch (Kevin Pritchard the Portland GM) around looking to deal players and or draft picks. So my advice to Mr. Thabeet: Even if you are picked by the Clippers or Lakers you are in a better position that most of us are and you will get to achieve wealth and experience most of us could only dream of...suck it up work on your strength and your offense when you prove your self and head to free agency then you can be a diva not before then.