Hasheem Thabeet

The second pick of the 2009 draft has not been able to translate his 7-3 frame into NBA productivity. He did have a few decent games for the Thunder (including a double-double in November), but he is only a fantasy asset in the deepest of fantasy leagues.

Thabeet signed a two-year deal with the Thunder this offseason, his fourth team since being drafted second overall by the Grizzlies in 2009. In three seasons, he's continually seen his role diminish, but Thabeet is 7-3 and still only 25. If Kendrick Perkins, whose out through the preseason, isn't healthy, Thabeet could get extended minutes. In that case he could be a good source of blocks and rebounds. All he has to do to make that happen is beat out Cole Aldrich, no great feat.

Despite his excellent size (7-3, 263) and athleticism, the 2009 No. 2 overall pick is still a project. There's little doubt about his shot-blocking ability, but Thabeet is so raw offensively, it's hard to find minutes for him. Of course, if he turns the corner there, his upside is Dikembe Mutombo.

Perhaps there's some logic to taking underskilled big men early in the draft. If there is a logic, it's not immediately clear. While perhaps not as notable a flop as Darko Milicic, Thabeet displayed similar limitations to that other infamous No. 2 pick-most notably in his inability to warrant real playing time. As of now, Thabeet is a block machine (3.6 per 36 minutes), but a liability in almost every other capacity. He could improve with time, but center Marc Gasol, who averaged 35.7 minutes per game last year, is the better talent right now.

Many fans in Memphis clamored for one of the draft's elite guards, but the Grizzlies instead selected the big man out of Connecticut. Thabeet's game is defense; he averaged 4.5 blocks in his final collegiate season, and he changed many others that did not get recorded in the box score. Thabeet runs very well, and he can defend the perimeter as well as the post. Notice how we have not talked about his offense yet? There's a reason. His decencies on that side of the court, especially his post-up game, were his biggest knock coming out of school, and some analysts wonder whether his offensive game will ever develop. Thabeet will likely sit behind Marc Gasol at the five, but he should still be a resource for blocks and boards.