A native of the Republic of Tanzania and a collegiate product at Connecticut, (Hasheem) Thabeet had no say in his three previous pro stops. The Memphis Grizzlies drafted him and eventually traded him to the Houston Rockets, who dealt him to the Portland Trail Blazers.

Three teams in three years equaled no fun and little success.

“Definitely this is a great opportunity for me,” Thabeet said. “Every situation in the past doesn’t really matter. The present is what I’ve got to face. I’ve got to deal with what I can control, come in and work hard and just be a part of the team.

“It’s another situation, so I’ve got to come in with a different mentality and be ready to work hard.”

via John Rohde of The Oklahoman