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SInce Hasheem Thabeet entered the NBA in 2009, he has failed to live up to the acclaim that comes with being the second overall pick. He has played for four different teams in five season, posting career averages of 2.2 points, 2.7 rebounds and 0.8 blocks in 224 games. Thabeet has only started in 20 NBA games, 13 of which came in his rookie season.
Thabeet spent the 2013-2014 campaign with the Oklahoma City Thunder but was traded to the Philadelphia 76ers this offseason, on August 26th. The 7-foot-3 center was soon waived by the 76ers and it wasn't until nearly a month later that the Detroit Pistons signed him to a non-guaranteed deal, giving him a chance to make the team in training camp.
Although the Pistons cut ties with Thabeet before the 2014-2015 regular season kicked off, ESPN's Marc Stein reported on Thursday night that he has turned down overseas offers to stay with franchise's D-League affiliate, the Grand Rapids, in the hope of returning to the NBA soon.
Former No. 2 overall pick Hasheem Thabeet has passed on European interest to commit to new Grand Rapids franchise in @nbadleague
— Marc Stein (@ESPNSteinLine) October 31, 2014
Thabeet will play for former Orlando Magic GM Otis Smith with expansion Grand Rapids Drive in hopes of playing his way back to the NBA ASAP
— Marc Stein (@ESPNSteinLine) October 31, 2014
Thabeet has played in 12 D-League games throughout his career. In 2009-2010, he appeared in six games with the Dakota Wizards; in 2010-2011, he played in six games with the Rio Grande Valley Vipers. In those games, he put up 11.9 points, 9.6 rebounds and 2.9 blocks.