Fast Break

Going Down

The Grizzlies' decision last week to demote the No. 2 pick in the draft, 7'3" Hasheem Thabeet (below), to the D-League was an indictment of Thabeet's work ethic. The Memphis coaching staff has grown tired of Thabeet's seeming indifference to being out of the rotation.... Expect the Bucks to be major players this summer and at next year's trade deadline. Milwaukee has significant expiring contracts in Michael Redd ($18.7 million), Dan Gadzuric ($7.2 million) and John Salmons ($5.7 million), which will appeal to teams eager to reduce payroll before a new collective bargaining agreement is negotiated. (The current CBA expires next summer.) Owner Herb Kohl has given G.M. John Hammond a green light to swap the expiring deals for players with long-term contracts.