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Former number two overall pick in the 2009 NBA Draft, Hasheem Thabeet, will participate in five-on-five scrimmages with the New York Knicks next week and has a second workout scheduled with the Milwaukee Bucks, according to Ian Begley of SNY TV.
Hasheem Thabeet, a former No. 2 overall pick, will play in 5-on-5 scrimmages again with the Knicks next week, agent Jerry Dianis says. Thabeet is also scheduled to work out for a 2nd time with Milwaukee from 9/8-9/12, Dianis says.
— Ian Begley (@IanBegley) August 30, 2019
Thabeet last played in the NBA as a member of the Oklahoma City Thunder in the 2013-14 season. He logged minutes with four NBA teams across his previous five seasons of play, including with the Memphis Grizzlies (who drafted him), Houston Rockets and Portland Trail Blazers. Notably, Thabeet was drafted ahead of future MVPs James Harden (No. 2) and Stephen Curry (No. 7) as well as perennial All-Star DeMar DeRozan (No.9).
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At 7-foot-3, scouts were high on Thabeet coming out of UConn, as he was a preeminent defender and vaunted All-American player for the Huskies.
Across three seasons with UConn, Thabeet averaged 4.2 blocks per game, using his 7-foot-6 wingspan to routinely reject and affect shots around the rim. Thabeet was such an impactful shot-blocker and interior defender that he's still fourth all-time in the Big East in blocks with 417, per Sports Reference. That number also ranks top-20 in the NCAA all-time.
However, Thabeet’s lanky frame, poor hands, and overall lack of comfort with the ball led to him being out of the league after only five seasons. Of course, now with interior shot-blockers with impressive length at a premium, Thabeet could perhaps find a home in New York or Milwaukee on the bottom of a roster.
