by Sam Riches / @sam_riches
At 25 years old, Andris Biedrins is—hypothetically—entering the prime of his career. Three seasons ago, Biedrins was emerging as one of the best pivots in the League, a 7-footer with world class athleticism, a double-double machine and a crucial piece of the Warriors epic 2007 Playoff run.
Then things got weird.
A series of injuries combined with a drop in confidence resulted in his game taking a meteoric plummet into the world of ‘lost potential.’
But now the Houston Rockets believe they can resurrect the Latvian big man.
From the Bay Area News Group:
“For Warriors fans, who have been hoping for Biedrins’ departure for some time, that means the Warriors just may be able to move Biedrins. That was once thought to be impossible considering the drastic decline in his production and the three years, $27 million he has left on his contract. But apparently, Houston is a taker.
[..]
I’ve been told the Rockets have offered Hasheem Thabeet and Jordan Hill. Haven’t confirmed if they were offered as a package, but the figures add up.”
Seven-footers with Biedrins’ skill set are far and few between, and if he’s able to get his body and his mind back on track, he could return to his days of corralling loose rebounds and being an active defensive presence. With a limited supply of agile big men in the League, there will certainly be teams willing to take on his contract and attempt to resurrect his talent.
