The Memphis Commercial Appeal is reporting in their version of the story that the first round pick the Rockets will receive for Shane Battier will be both lottery protected and not eligible to be taken until at least 2013. Sure doesn’t feel like much of a return for Battier, granted he was in the last year of his contract and is no spring chicken at 32. The Rockets will have three additional first round picks over the next three years: Phoenix/Orlando’s in 2011, New York’s in 2012, and the Grizzlies in 2013. But none of those picks looks like they’ll be good enough to be anything but another trade chip in Daryl Morey’s satchel.
The Appeal added that the Rockets also received Grizzlies swingman DeMarre Carroll in the trade. Carroll was the 27th overall pick in the 2009 NBA Draft, and he played his way out of Memphis’ rotation with an ugly rookie season that involved a sub-.400 shooting percentage. He had played in just seven games for the Grizzlies this year and will probably be just as much of a non-factor in Houston, as Courtney Lee will likely take Battier’s starting spot and Terrence Williams will likely receive any extra minutes lying around.