Grizzlies Blog: Gasol's Injury Gives Team Ability To Evaluate Thabeet

Marc Gasol's neck injury is obviously unfortunate, but it will also be an opportunity for No. 2 draft pick Hasheem Thabeet to show he can be a long-term piece for the Grizzlies, or at the very least add to his trade value. Therefore SB Nation's Grizzlies blog Straight Outta Vancouver writes that holding Gasol out to give Thabeet more playing time is a "excellent move for the franchise."

This move was probably inevitable since the Grizzlies have fallen out of playoff contention and is an excellent move for the franchise. Thabeet's value will only increase with more playing time, which could be important this offseason as the Grizzlies look to Thabeet to either become a impact defender off the bench - like Chris Andersen for the Nuggets - or attempt to trade Thabeet for talent at a position of greater need.