Thabeet’s available; Mayo draws interest, but Heisley’s reluctant

Grizzlies general manager Chris Wallace said the organization doesn’t feel any pressure to make a deal.

“We’re active,” Wallace said. “We’re trolling around. Maybe it leads to something, maybe it won’t. It’s tough to put a percentage on whether we’re doing a deal. Right now, I’d say it’s about 50/50.”

Indications are that the Griz are more likely to consummate a minor transaction, if any, mainly as a result of fruitless discussions with numerous teams.

It is believed that second-year center Hasheem Thabeet remains the biggest candidate to be moved. The Grizzlies’ desire is to find a Thabeet suitor willing to part with either a long-range shooter, a veteran small forward or a beefy frontcourt player capable of playing power forward and center.

Memphis, however, has not entertained any trade offers for Zach Randolph. The Griz believe they can agree to a contract extension with Randolph before he becomes a free agent this summer.

There was no shortage of suitors for guard O.J. Mayo as of Wednesday night. But the Griz have expressed their intent to keep the third-year guard. Team owner Michael Heisley is said to have declined every potential trade for Mayo, believing the Griz wouldn’t receive fair value in return.

Among the potential deals that didn’t get serious include: a Mayo-for-Kyle Korver with Chicago and a Mayo-for-Anthony Morrow swap with New Jersey.

Wallace would neither confirm nor deny specific trade discussions.

However, the organization is definitely torn regarding Mayo’s future with the team. And while the Griz have aggressively shopped Thabeet, they don’t appear willing to do a deal just to dump players or salary.

“If we don’t do (a trade) we’re comfortable competing for the playoffs with this group,” Wallace said.