The Houston Rockets have traded Shane Battier to the Memphis Grizzlies for Hasheem Thabeet and a first-round pick.
Memphis originally selected Battier with the sixth overall pick in the 2001 draft. He played five seasons in Memphis, helping the Grizzlies to three playoff appearances, before he was traded to the Rockets in July 2006 for Stromile Swift and the draft rights to Rudy Gay.
Battier has started all 59 games this season and averaged 8.6 points and 4.8 rebounds. He’s also the team’s top active shot blocker and its third-best 3-point shooter (39.5 percent).
The 32-year old is valued as much for his play and leadership as for his contract. He will make about $7.4 million this season.
The Rockets were also in deep discussions with the Philadelphia 76ers to send Battier to Philadelphia for power forward Marreese Speights and sharp shooter Jason Kapono.
The 7-foot-3 Thabeet has disappointed since Memphis took him with the second overall pick in the 2009 draft. He’s to make about $4.8 million this year and $5.1 million next season and has a team option for the 2012-13 season. Thabeet is averaging just 1.2 points and 1.7 rebounds in 45 games this season.
But the Rockets have been desperate to add size since Yao Ming went down early in the season with a stress fracture in his left ankle. Chuck Hayes, at 6-6, is the shortest starting center in the NBA and 7-foot Brad Miller, acquired in the offseason to back up Yao, missed 15 games with a knee injury.
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