Memphis Bought Seattle's Newly Drafted Guard
On June 24, 2004, the Memphis Grizzlies obtained the draft rights to Texas Tech wing Andre Emmett after Seattle selected him with the thirty-fifth overall choice. Memphis paid cash and surrendered a second-round selection in the 2005 draft. The Grizzlies' official historical transaction record confirms both parts of the compensation. Emmett had been a prolific college scorer, making him an attractive second-round candidate. Seattle instead preferred the financial payment and another chance to select a prospect one year later. No established NBA rotation player changed teams on draft night.
Emmett's Grizzlies Stint Lasted Eight Regular-Season Games
Emmett signed with Memphis during July 2004 and joined the organization for his rookie season, but his NBA opportunities were limited. He appeared in eight Grizzlies regular-season games in 2004-05 and never became a dependable rotation wing. He later left the team in a separate multi-club transaction and pursued opportunities elsewhere in basketball. His college points and professional performances after Memphis are not receiving-team output created by this exchange. The club got a genuine player audition, though an extremely small number of NBA appearances for the rights it had purchased.
Seattle Turned the 2005 Selection Into Gelabale
The 2005 second-rounder arrived at No. 48, and Seattle selected French forward Mickaël Gelabale. He continued overseas for another season before joining the SuperSonics, then appeared in 70 games in 2006-07 and 39 more in 2007-08. His 109 Seattle appearances were a delayed but measurable return on the incoming pick, alongside the money the team had already collected. The timing matters: Gelabale was selected in 2005 and debuted in the NBA in 2006, not as an immediate piece of the 2004 Memphis trade. That chain is fully documented by draft records.
The Sonics Won Through a More Useful Follow-Up Pick
Memphis acquired a scorer worth investigating but did not find a lasting NBA contributor. Seattle accepted the risk of a future second-round selection and received a reserve wing who eventually played far more games in a SuperSonics uniform than Emmett did for Memphis. Neither athlete became a star, and Gelabale's later appearances outside the Seattle franchise aren't part of this return. Still, a 109-game reserve plus cash was a better outcome than an eight-game audition. The original equal grades overlooked the delayed draft pick and should favor Seattle without exaggerating either side's value.
Final Verdict
SuperSonics Win. Seattle earns B+ for the cash payment and the 2005 No. 48 pick that became Mickaël Gelabale, who played 109 SuperSonics regular-season games. Memphis receives D+ because Andre Emmett played only eight Grizzlies games after the rights purchase. The original 2004 draft choice was less valuable than the delayed selection Seattle acquired.