Portland introduces Jonny Flynn and Hasheem Thabeet
During a press conference on Monday afternoon in Portland, Acting GM Chad Buchanan and Interim Coach Kaleb Canales welcomed the newest Trail Blazers who they acquired at the trade deadline last week, point guard Jonny Flynn and center Hasheem Thabeet.
Both players have not seen a lot of minutes during their time switching from their old clubs and the D-League, but both are expected to see some playing time as they make their Rose Garden debut against the Milwaukee Bucks on Tuesday.
Flynn, who is 23 years old, 6-foot-0, 185 lb. guard in his third year out of Syracuse University, will wear No. 3. He was drafted 6th in the first round of the 2009 NBA Draft to the Minnesota Timberwolves. He spent 2009-11 with the ‘Wolves before being traded to the Houston Rockets and suffered an extensive hip surgery that he is still working on getting back to top form.
Thabeet is a 25-year-old 7-foot-3 (tallest active player in the league), 263 lb. center in his third year out of UConn and will wear No. 34. He was drafted 2nd overall in the first round of the 2009 NBA Draft to the Memphis Grizzlies. He started for Memphis during 2009-11 and during that time was sent numerous times to the D-League and is one of the highest drafted players to ever play in the D-League. As Flynn, he was traded to the Rockets in 2011 while also playing for the Rio Grande Vipers.
photo courtesy of nba.com/blazers
Nicholas Filipas