Battier returning to Memphis for Thabeet
The Houston Rockets have traded Shane Battier to the Memphis Grizzlies for former No. 2 pick Hasheem Thabeet and a first-round draft choice, league sources told Yahoo! Sports.
Battier was drafted by the Grizzlies with the No. 6 pick in 2001 and spent his first five seasons there. Memphis traded him to the Rockets for Stromile Swift and the draft rights to Rudy Gay before the 2006-07 season.
Battier, 32, gives Memphis a quality defender and 3-point threat to help compensate for the loss of Rudy Gay. Gay is expected to miss the next five weeks after he injured his left shoulder, and the Grizzlies are thick in the Western Conference playoff hunt.
Thabeet, 23, had a limited role in his two seasons in Memphis and has spent time in the Development League. He is averaging 1.2 points, 1.7 rebounds and a little more than eight minutes in 45 games this season.
