Spring Break
The Daily OrangeMBB | Memphis grabs Greene at No. 28, trades him to Houston
By John Clayton, Tyler Dunne
Posted: 6/26/08, 11:19 PM EST Section: Sports
After a draft workout with the Philadelphia 76ers two weeks ago, Donte Greene predicted he would end up a lottery pick in Thursday's NBA Draft.
Not quite.
The former Syracuse forward nearly tumbled out of the first round - and its guaranteed millions - before he was scooped up, 28th overall, by the Memphis Grizzlies and subsequently dealt to the Houston Rockets as part of a three-team deal.
The Rockets gave up the rights to French guard Nicolas Batum, while picking up Greene and a 2009 pick from Grizzlies, as well as the draft rights to former Memphis forward Joey Dorsey (33rd overall) from the Portland Trail Blazers.
The Grizzlies received former Kansas forward Darrell Arthur (27th overall) from Portland to complete the deal.
Greene, who left the Orange after one promising yet erratic year, is the first Syracuse player to go in the first round since Hakim Warrick, who was also picked by Memphis, 19th overall, in 2005.
But Greene, who was not made available for comment Thursday night, had to wait longer than even the most pessimistic of mock draft prognosticators would have predicted.
Greene was the tenth freshman taken in a class considered by many to be the strongest all time (the previous high for freshmen taken in a draft was seven). For the first time ever, freshmen were picked 1-2-3 in the draft. Memphis' Derrick Rose went No. 1 to Chicago, followed by Kansas State's Michael Beasley (Miami) and Southern Cal's O.J. Mayo (Minnesota).
Greene was also the fourth small forward taken Thursday.
Greene joins a Houston (55-27) team that finished fifth in the Western Conference last year and includes superstars Tracy McGrady and Yao Ming.
And by staying in the first round, Greene ensured himself a decent payday.
Per NBA rules regarding first round picks, Greene will receive a guaranteed two-year contract, with team options for the third and fourth years. His salary for his rookie season will be in the neighborhood of $809,300, as dictated by the NBA rookie salary scale for 2008-09. That figure will increase over the next four seasons should Greene remain under contract.
Not quite.
The former Syracuse forward nearly tumbled out of the first round - and its guaranteed millions - before he was scooped up, 28th overall, by the Memphis Grizzlies and subsequently dealt to the Houston Rockets as part of a three-team deal.
The Rockets gave up the rights to French guard Nicolas Batum, while picking up Greene and a 2009 pick from Grizzlies, as well as the draft rights to former Memphis forward Joey Dorsey (33rd overall) from the Portland Trail Blazers.
The Grizzlies received former Kansas forward Darrell Arthur (27th overall) from Portland to complete the deal.
Greene, who left the Orange after one promising yet erratic year, is the first Syracuse player to go in the first round since Hakim Warrick, who was also picked by Memphis, 19th overall, in 2005.
But Greene, who was not made available for comment Thursday night, had to wait longer than even the most pessimistic of mock draft prognosticators would have predicted.
Greene was the tenth freshman taken in a class considered by many to be the strongest all time (the previous high for freshmen taken in a draft was seven). For the first time ever, freshmen were picked 1-2-3 in the draft. Memphis' Derrick Rose went No. 1 to Chicago, followed by Kansas State's Michael Beasley (Miami) and Southern Cal's O.J. Mayo (Minnesota).
Greene was also the fourth small forward taken Thursday.
Greene joins a Houston (55-27) team that finished fifth in the Western Conference last year and includes superstars Tracy McGrady and Yao Ming.
And by staying in the first round, Greene ensured himself a decent payday.
Per NBA rules regarding first round picks, Greene will receive a guaranteed two-year contract, with team options for the third and fourth years. His salary for his rookie season will be in the neighborhood of $809,300, as dictated by the NBA rookie salary scale for 2008-09. That figure will increase over the next four seasons should Greene remain under contract.
Viewing Comments 1 - 3 of 3
chaz
posted 6/27/08 @ 9:50 AM EST
see ya, greene, we hardly knew ya
James
posted 6/28/08 @ 2:38 PM EST
Well, let this be a lesson to every mediocre freshman who thinks he will be a lottery pick. The sad thing is if he had stayed in school and performed at a high level for a year (Greene rarely looked like the best player on the court this year) he would have got a lot more guaranteed money and a much better chance at ever getting out of the NBADL. (Continued…)
Crystal
posted 6/30/08 @ 4:23 AM EST
I don't understand why everyone is hating/turning on Donte for making his own decisions that were, in fact, what was best for Donte and his family. Let the man live! He is actually a great and fun person to be around. (Continued…)
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