Hasheem Thabeet (Photo : NBAE via Getty Images)
Kevin Durant may have hinted to the Golden State Warriors a solution to the only weakness the team has this season.
It is no secret that the Warriors' current lineup needs a big man who can crash the boards and protect the rim. Losing Andrew Bogut and Festus Ezeli this past summer have left a gaping hole that the likes of Zaza Pachulia and David West have a hard time filling in.
But while it would behoove the Warriors to add defensive big man, trading for such talent would likely cost them a key player down the rotation, which Golden State cannot afford after already losing a bunch of key pieces in the offseason. However, Kevin Durant may have unintentionally proposed a viable option for the Warriors.
In an interview with Marc J Spears of The Undefeated, Durant expressed his insights about former OKC Thunder teammate Hasheem Thabeet, who is still looking for a team to give him a second chance in the NBA. Durant said he believes Thabeet would find his way back into the league, which has always been the case for talented big men like the 29-year-old Tanzanian.
"Hasheem knows that no one feels sorry for him, so he's not feeling sorry for himself," Durant told The Undefeated. "He's one of the hardest workers and by far one of the best people that I know. He's one of the best teammates I've ever had."
"He'll get a shot again. He's being patient. Rim protectors always come back around. He'll get a shot."
Thabeet played a total of 89 games with the Thunder, who signed the 7-foot-3 center in the summer of 2012. Thabeet, a former No. 2 pick, was then traded to the Philadelphia 76ers only to get waived followed by another short-lived stint with the Detroit Pistons. Thabeet last played for the Grand Rapids Drive of the NBA D-League, where he averaged 8.6 points and 6.2 rebounds a game.
Thabeet only averaged 0.8 blocks per game in the professional league, but those numbers were just accounted for 10.5 minutes per contest. It does not seem like Thabeet would earn a major role if the Warriors decide to sign him, although his ability to excel on the defensive end should see him play quality minutes.
It is still unclear whether the Warriors would be interested in recruiting Thabeet, but it is a move worth considering if the Dubs continue to develop the need of a defensive big man.
Video courtesy: YouTube/nbadleague
