The Jazz Need Hasheem Thabeet

A lot of wishful thinkers in Utah have floated ideas of trades for various superstars. Contrary to popular belief, the Jazz don’t need Amar’e Stoudemire, Vince Carter, Richard Jefferson, or Chris Bosh. The Utah Jazz need Hasheem Thabeet.

Don’t ask me how we’re going to get him. Every mock draft I’ve looked at has Thabeet—Connecticut’s 7’ 3” center—going anywhere from third to fifth in this June’s selection of eligible amateurs. But the improbability of Utah somehow acquiring Thabeet hasn’t put a stop to vivid daydreams of seeing this raw specimen in a Jazz uniform.

Thabeet hails from Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania. While not a polished scorer (13.5 a game), Thabeet dominates the boards (averaging 10.8) and, more importantly, owns the defensive end of the floor. He rejects over four shots a game, including a 36 block rampage in UConn’s last five contests. But Thabeet possesses something beyond simple defensive skill. He’s scary. Thabeet has the ability to change the game, to make opponents hesitate before bringing the ball inside, to make them afraid. Against Syracuse, I watched him swat a shot out of bounds and block another with two hands. UConn’s guards don’t foul frequently because they know they don’t have to—anyone who drives past them will have a frightening confrontation with #34.

In 25 games, Thabeet has fouled out just once and has earned four fouls in a game only three other times, meaning he rarely gets himself into trouble. The kid is still learning on the offensive end, but he knows how to defend. And that’s something the Jazz lack. As currently assembled, the Jazz simply aren’t a good enough defensive club to win a championship. That will not change without altering the personnel. Remember, no team without a defensive standout in the middle has won a title since Michael Jordan left Chicago a decade ago. Every champ since has had either Tim Duncan, Shaq, Ben Wallace, or Kevin Garnett on the roster. Thabeet will become that player for some lucky NBA team.

I don’t really know how the Jazz could get Hasheem Thabeet. I’ve been too busy wiping drool from my chin to figure that part out. Too busy retrieving my own jaw from the floor every time I see Thabeet violently swatting an opponent’s weak effort into orbit. Many teams will want him—whoever takes Oklahoma’s Blake Griffin first will make a huge mistake in not selecting Thabeet. The Jazz do have New York’s number one pick in the 2010 draft. Maybe we can package that pick and this year’s number one, along with Carlos Boozer (or anyone else on the roster except Deron Williams) for Thabeet. The Jazz would need to find a foolish trading partner, but the NBA has its share of those. After all, Boston got Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen for nothing, which is also what the Lakers gave up for Pau Gasol. Any chance the Jazz could be half as lucky?